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Ohio State is in the process of revising websites and program materials to accurately reflect compliance with the law. While this work occurs, language referencing protected class status or other activities prohibited by Ohio Senate Bill 1 may still appear in some places. However, all programs and activities are being administered in compliance with federal and state law.

Brandon J. Lester, JD

Senior Associate General Counsel
Associate Secretary for the Board of Trustees
Portrait of Brandon Lester

In Brandon's role as senior associate general counsel, he advises university leadership on a wide range of faculty and academic issues, including in the areas of labor and employment law, constitutional law, governance, policy development and management, conflict resolution, and litigation, and also work extensively with the University Senate on matters of shared governance and rulemaking. In his role as associate secretary of the Board of Trustees, Brandon works closely with the trustees on large-scale strategic and governance issues facing the university. Prior to joining Ohio State in 2016, Brandon practiced labor and employment law in the Pittsburgh office of Jones Day, where he represented employers in individual and class litigation; handled labor arbitrations; and counseled clients on labor and regulatory issues.  He also previously served as the Simon Karas Fellow/Deputy Solicitor in the Appeals Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, where he briefed and argued civil and criminal matters before the United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Ohio, and served as a law clerk for the Honorable Chief Justice Thomas Moyer of the Supreme Court of Ohio. 


Education: 
J.D. and Certificate in Dispute Resolution, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
B.A., West Virginia University, English and Communication Studies

Administrative Support: 
Ally Hennelly