John H. Gibbon

Partner

Professional Experience

A partner in the firm, John is also currently the law director for the City of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, which has historically been on the cutting edge of many municipal legal issues. He also served as law director for the City of Aurora, Ohio, for six years. He has represented numerous public entities including municipalities, counties and regional councils of government throughout Ohio and has served as special counsel to those entities on nearly all aspects of public law.

John is a past president of the Cuyahoga County Law Director's Association and a member of the Ohio Municipal Attorney's Association (OMAA) and the International Municipal Attorney's Association (IMLA).

John has represented numerous public entities—including municipalities, counties, housing authorities, nonprofit corporations, regional councils of government and insurance defense pools—throughout Ohio and has served as special counsel to those entities on nearly all aspects of public law.

Areas Of Emphasis

Municipal Law

John's extensive public law experience includes:

More than 25 years experience as Law Director for both a developing community and a large inner ring suburb.
Legal counsel to numerous cities, villages, townships, regional council of government and not-for-profit organizations on a wide range of issues including insurance defense pools, environmental, administration, land use, anti-trust, economic development, employment, civil rights, First Amendment, contracts, code enforcement and criminal prosecutions.

Professional & Community Associations

John is an active participant in numerous community associations. His professional involvement includes:

American Bar Association - Former Chair, Cable Television and Telecommunications subcommittee
Cuyahoga County Law Director's Association - Past President
Ohio Municipal Attorney's Association (OMAA)
International Municipal Attorney's Association (IMLA)
Ohio Chamber Orchestra - Former President
Conover Workshops Scholarship Fund - Former President
National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA)

Presentations

"New Technologies for Municipal Development", Annual Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association Conference, July 2005
"Current Issues in Telecommunications Affecting Ohio Municipalities and Right-of-Way Regulation", co-presented with William R. Hanna for the Ohio Municipal Attorney Association, May 13, 2005 Seminar
"Ohio's Sunshine Law & Council Rules of Procedure," Kent State University, February 3, 2004
“Telecommunications,” Lorman Education Services, September 10, 2003
“Cable Television Franchise Renewal Battles in the Heartland During the Last Three Years: The Tale of 10 Ohio Communities,” Annual Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association Conference, July 2003
“Right-of-Way Control,” Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association Seminar, May 9, 2003
“Telecommunications,” Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association Seminar, May 3, 2002
“The Legal Environment of Municipal Government,” Kent State University, February 13, 2002
“Telecommunications,” Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association Winter Seminar, December 14, 2001

Education

Case Western Reserve University, J.D. , 1972
Oberlin College, B.A. , 1967

Licensed to Practice

Ohio
U.S. Supreme Court
Federal district and appellate Courts

Awards & Recognitions

AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Articles by John H. Gibbon

April 2005 – Client Briefing on Cable & Telecommunications: Adelphia agrees to be purchased by Time Warner & Comcast

Winter 2004-2005 – Client Briefing on Cable & Telecommunications Law: Recent Developments

Fall 2004 – Client Briefing on Cable & Telecommunications Law: Recent Developments

Spring 2004 – Client Briefing on Cable & Telecommunications Law: Recent Developments

October 2003 – Recent Developments in Cable & Telecommunications Law

April 2002 – Municipal Home rule and the Public Right-of-Way

April 2002 – Cable Television Rates increasing Faster than the Rate of Inflation

March 2002 – Cable Franchise Fees May be Decreased Due to FCC Ruling