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Joseph A. Gerling
Partner

In January 2022, Joseph A. Gerling joined Weston Hurd from Lane Alton as a Partner. Joe began his professional career as an engineer for Batelle, one of the largest private contract research facilities in the world. He uses his technical background to represent clients in products liability claims involving fires and explosions, asbestos and toxic substance exposures, and complex construction lawsuits. Since 2003, Joe has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® in Product Liability Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation.  From 2014-2015, Joe was named The Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year in Product Liability-Defendants, and in 2018, 2021, and 2025 Joe was named Lawyer of the Year in Personal Injury-Defendants. Beginning in 2004, Joe has been named an Ohio Super Lawyer in Civil Litigation-Defense by Thomson Reuters. Columbus CEO Magazine named Joe one of its Top Lawyers 2023 in Personal Injury and Product Liability. He is an AV-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.  Active in professional organizations, Joe is a national board member for the American Board of Trial Advocates, past president of ABOTA’s Ohio Chapter, and past president of the Columbus Defense Association. In 2013, Joe served as a faculty member of the International Association of Defense Counsel’s National Trial Academy. His professional affiliations also include membership in the Columbus, Ohio State, and American Bar associations, the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, the Defense Research Institute, and the International Society of Barristers. Joe is admitted to practice in Ohio, the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. After obtaining his B.S. cum laude in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, Joe received his J.D. cum laude from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

AV Preeminent Badge

Email

614-280-1123

Columbus

Linkedin

Education

  • University of Notre Dame, B.S. cum laude in Chemical Engineering, 1974
  • The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D. cum laude, 1977

Experience

Joe began his professional career as an engineer for Batelle, one of the largest private contract research facilities in the world.

Professional Associations

Columbus Bar Association

Ohio State Bar Association

American Bar Association

American Board of Trial Advocates

Ohio Chapter President 2011
ABOTA National Board Member 2014-present

Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys

Defense Research Institute

Columbus Defense Association

Past President

International Association of Defense Counsel

Faculty, National Trial Academy, 2003

International Society of Barristers

Honors, Awards and Civic/Community Involvement

AV-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell
Best Lawyers in America (Product Liability Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation) - since 2003
Ohio Super Lawyers - Civil Litigation-Defense (Thomson Reuters) - 2004-present
Top Lawyer, Personal Injury and Product Liability (Columbus CEO Magazine), 2023
Best Lawyers in America - "Lawyer of the Year" for Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants - 2018, 2021 & 2025
Best Lawyers in America - "Lawyer of the Year" for Product Liability-Defendants - 2014-2015

Bar Admissions

Ohio
United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit


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