Sarah Clay Leyshock

Partner Cincinnati

Summary

With extensive experience in the higher education, healthcare, restaurant, and staffing industries, Sarah represents employers in all types of matters involving state and federal employment laws.

She has significant knowledge of FLSA, FMLA, ADA and Title VII compliance, and litigation.  She conducts employee workplace investigations; provides personnel, compliance and risk management advice; drafts employment policies and legal documents; litigates (typically defends) on behalf of the employer; and regularly resolves charges of discrimination filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights.

Throughout the representation, Sarah ensures that clients feel engaged and informed and she is committed to resolving legal issues with her clients’ goals, values, and priorities in mind.

Sarah is admitted to practice law in all state courts in Ohio and Kentucky, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.

Sarah donates her time outside of Taft to working with Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor, a Cincinnati-based organization that provides pro bono legal services for low income individuals. She also offers pro bono services for non-profit corporations through the Pro Bono Partnership of Greater Cincinnati.

Sarah received her B.A. in communication arts and psychology, magna cum laude, from Georgetown College and earned her J.D. from Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law, where she competed on two award-winning trial advocacy teams.

Awards

  • Honoree, Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2014 – present)

  • Honoree, Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment

    (2021 – present)

  • Taft Pro Bono Honor Roll Award

    (2023)

All Service Areas

Education

  • Salmon P. Chase College of Law - Northern Kentucky University (2006)
  • Georgetown College (2002)

Admissions

  • Federal - Southern District of Ohio
  • Federal - Eastern District of Kentucky
  • Federal - 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • State - Kentucky
  • State - Ohio

Notable Matters

  • Advises small, new and family businesses on employment law compliance, personnel issues and employee policies, procedures and legal documents.
  • Represents restaurants in FLSA and Ohio wage and hour lawsuits involving tipped and non-tipped employees (tipping, tip pools, service charges and overtime issues).
  • Advises internal investigators or conducts investigations of harassment, retaliation or other workplace misconduct allegations.
  • Represents clients in matters involving trade secret/non-competition litigation.

Speeches and Publications

Co-Speaker, “SHRM Code of Ethics and Business Conduct,” Northern Kentucky Society for Human Resources Management (NKY SHRM), May 2024.

Quoted, Cleveland Jewish News, “Can businesses mandate vaccines for employees?”, Aug. 11, 2021.

Speaker, “Employment Law Misconceptions,” Southwest Ohio Association of Corporate Counsel, May 2019.

Professional Affiliations

  • Cincinnati Bar Association

    Member, Labor and Employment Section
    Chair, Admissions Committee

  • Kentucky Bar Association

    Member

  • Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers (CALL)

    Member, Class 18 (2013)

  • Northern Kentucky Society for Human Resources Management

    Legislative Co-Chair

Community Involvement

  • Talbert House

    Board Member

  • WE Lead

    Member, Class 12 (2017 – 2018)