James Robenalt

James David Robenalt (born 1956) is a Cleveland-based lawyer for the firm Thompson Hine LLP. He is the author of two books: Linking Rings, William W. Durbin, the Magic and Mystery of America (2004) and The Harding Affair: Love and Espionage During the Great War (2009).

Early life and education

James (Jim) Robenalt was born in Lima, Ohio in 1956. His mother was involved in education and local politics, while his father was a lawyer.[1] Robenalt attended Miami University where he majored in political science. During his time at MU he spent one semester in a study abroad program in Luxembourg. In 1978 he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.[2] Robenalt, like his father before him, went to Ohio State University College of Law and graduated in 1981. At the time of his graduation he was Order of the Coif.[1]

Law career

When Robenalt graduated from Ohio State in 1981 he took a job with Thompson, Hine and Flory. The firm is now known as Thompson Hine LLP. In 1989 he was made partner.[1] The Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Business Lawyers named Robenalt as one of America’s leading lawyers.[3] He focuses on legal issues related to construction, professional malpractice and tax.[3]

Robenalt won large verdicts for several clients. He won an $81 million jury verdict for Avery Dennison, who he began to represent in 1997, on an international espionage case.[4] The case drew international attention since it was the first prosecution under the Economic Espionage Act of 1996.[1]

He also won a $68 million arbitration award for Atlanta-based Solvay Pharmaceuticals on a dispute about drug co-promotion agreements.[5]

Watergate CLE

Together with John W. Dean, President Nixon’s White House Counsel, Robenalt created a continuing education program on the national level called “The Watergate CLE.”[2] This continuing legal education program, which was launched in Chicago in June 2011, has Robenalt teaching legal ethics and the representation of an organization under new Model Rules 1.13 and 1.6. John Dean plays the role of a fact witness while Watergate is used a case study.[6]

Books

In June 2004 Robenalt, with the Kent State University Press, published Linking Rings, William W. Durbin, the Magic and Mystery of America.[7] The book is a biography of Robenalt’s great-grandfather, W.W. Durbin, head of the Ohio Democratic Party during the era of William Jennings Bryan’s campaign in 1896 until the second term of Franklin D. Roosevelt.[1]

Robenalt published The Harding Affair: Love and Espionage During the Great War in 2009 under the Palgrave Macmillan Trade publishing company.[8] Robenalt wrote the book using bootleg microfilm copies of letters written by President Harding to his long-time mistress, Carrie Fulton Phillips. The thesis of the book is the possibility that Phillips may have been a German spy.[9][10]

Media

On July 26, 2014, Robenalt was interviewed on National Public Radio about Warren Harding's relationship with Carrie Fulton Phillips. During the interview NPR's Scott Simon discussed the love letters of Harding and Phillips, which are about to be released for the unhindered perusal by the public; and speculated about the possibility that Phillips was a German spy during World War I.[11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "About the Author". The Harding Affair. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "James D. Robenalt-Partner". Thompson Hine. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "James D Robenalt Thompson Hine LLP - Cleveland". Chambers & Partners. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Robenalt, James. "Avery Dennison: A Case Stud y in Trade Secret Theft". Thompson Hine Report. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Thompson Hine Wins $68 Million Award for Major Pharmaceuticals Company". The Free Library by Farlex. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Biographies". Thompson Hine-The Legacy of Watergate. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "About: James D. Robenalt". The Kent State University Press. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "The Harding Affair: Love and Espionage during the Great War". Amazon. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  9. ↑ Smith, Sarah (2014-07-22). "President Warren Harding family: Letters out too soon". Politico. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  10. ↑ SMITH, JORDAN MICHAEL (July 7, 2014). "The Letters That Warren G. Harding’s Family Didn’t Want You to See". New York Times. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  11. ↑ Simon, Scott. "Lover's Letters To President Harding Pushed German Cause". National Public Radio. Retrieved 28 July 2014.