Office of Priscilla Hapner

About Us 

Priscilla Hapner has over thirty years of experience in advising and representing management in organizations of all sizes in the private, public and non-profit sectors concerning compliance with state and federal employment statutes.  This includes the Family and Medical Leave Act; statutes prohibiting employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation; and laws affecting compensation, trade secrets, non-competition, whistleblowing, hiring, firing, layoffs, union relations, record-keeping, affirmative action, and privacy.  

Ms. Hapner also has significant experience in the area of business and commercial litigation and disputes, including disputes involving contracts, privacy, First Amendment, news-gathering, and civil contempt of court orders.

Her career highlights include:    

    • Successfully arguing before the Supreme Court of Ohio and the 10th District Court of Appeals.

    • Significant trial and evidentiary hearing experience in state and federal courts and administrative agencies.

    • Obtaining summary judgments on behalf of employers.

    • Successfully mediating resolutions of employment and commercial disputes.

Ms. Hapner began her career as an associate at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart in Pittsburgh, was a senior associate and partner at Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur in Columbus, and counsel at the Columbus office Frost Brown Todd before forming her own firm.   

Find her on  LinkedIn.   

Court Admissions

  • State of Ohio
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 


Education and Certifications

  • The Ohio State University College of Law, summa cum laude

    • The Ohio State Law Journal, Articles Editor

    • Student Funded Fellowship, President and Trustee (providing public interest law fellowships for law students) 

 

  • The Ohio State University, Honors in the Liberal Arts


  • Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) by HRCI (2006-2011)

Professional Associations

  • Columbus Bar Association

    • Professional Ethics Committee (2005-08)

    • Chair of the Delivery of Legal Services Committee (promoting pro bono legal services) (2000-02)

    • Volunteer Mentor (2005-06) 

  • Ohio Supreme Court Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program (Volunteer Mentor, 2010, 2013-14) 

  • Ohio State Bar Association (2001-24)  

    • Labor & Employment Section Council (2015-20)

  • Human Resources Association of Central Ohio (Newsletter and Program Committees) (2002-09) 

  • South Central Ohio Human Resources Council (2006-23)

  • Ohio Public Employer Labor Relations Association (2004-07) 

  • Pittsburgh Personnel Association (1993-96)

Community Involvement

  • Bexley Chamber of Commerce (2015) 

  • Stoddart Avenue Community Garden (Founder, Board member and Garden Manager) (2009-19. 2022) 

  • United Way of Central Ohio Management Advisory Committee (2004-07)

    • Chair, Staff Development Workgroup (2006) 

  • United Way of Central Ohio Accountability Committee (2007-10)

    • Chair, Staff Development Sub-Committee (2007-09) 

  • Actor's Theatre (i.e., Shakespeare in Schiller Park) Board of Trustees (2001-04) (President, 2003-04) 

  • Columbus Light Opera Board of Trustees  (1998-02) (Secretary, 1999-01) 

  • Steering Committee of the Winter Clothes Out for the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh (1992, 1994-95)

  • Franklin County Children’s Services (volunteer mentor) (1997-01)

  • Volunteer, Mississippi Conference UMC Disaster Response (April-May 2007)

  • Leadership Columbus (Class of 2002) 

 

The Office of Priscilla Hapner is an EEO Employer.