Bio

Steve Bell has been resolving complex disputes for more than 25 years. As a practicing lawyer, Steve has represented individuals, corporations and governmental entities in a wide variety of claims in federal and state courts. His rich experience as a trial lawyer has provided him with a unique understanding of the risks, expenses and emotional turmoil inherent in litigation. As a mediator, Steve's goal is to assist the parties to find solutions that will allow complex disputes to be fully and finally resolved in a manner that significantly reduces the risks and uncertainties of litigation.

Steve Bell began his legal career as a sole practitioner. He became Chief Trial Attorney for the City of Akron, Ohio, where he handled the City's wrongful death, civil rights and employment discrimination litigation. In 1984, he was appointed as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. In a distinguished career with the Department of Justice, Bell became Chief of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office. He represented the government in environmental, civil rights, discrimination and constitutional claims. In recognition of his handling of these cases, Bell twice received awards from the Attorney General of the United States.

Bell next became a partner in Janik & Bell, a firm that had offices in Ohio and Southern California. Bell's clients included several of the United States' largest insurance companies. Bell handled first-party claims against these insurers, including insurance coverage disputes and bad faith claims.

Steve then became a partner at Ulmer & Berne LLP, one of the largest law firms in Ohio. Steve chaired the firm's environmental practice. He represented a class of plaintiffs in a toxic tort case involving the illegal disposal of radioactive waste in a residential neighborhood. He also represented a statewide class of plaintiffs in an ERISA case brought against one of Ohio's largest health insurance companies. He was also appointed as a Special Assistant Ohio Attorney General in order to investigate a money-laundering scheme perpetrated by an Ohio political organization and numerous elected officials.

In 1999, Bell was nominated by President Clinton to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio. The Senate took no action on his nomination.

Steve practices in Brecksville, Ohio - 15 miles south of downtown Cleveland. Bell has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America, is rated "A-V" by the Martindale-Hubbell legal directory, and has been named as an "Ohio SuperLawyer" by Cincinnati Magazine. He appears on the list of "Leading Lawyers" published by Ohio Inside Business magazine. He has been a member of the adjunct faculty at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and lectures frequently on legal topics.