Rebecca J. Bennett

Rebecca J. Bennett is a shareholder at Ogletree Deakins in Cleveland, where she focuses her practice on defending employers in complex labor and employment matters nationwide. A skilled trial lawyer, she is recognized for building strong defenses through careful analysis of allegations, evidence, and risk assessment, guiding clients toward favorable resolutions or trial success.

Rebecca earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in journalism, summa cum laude, from The Ohio State University. In 1998, she received her Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. During law school, she served as Business Editor of the Cleveland-Marshall Law Review and was a member of the award-winning Moot Court team, laying the foundation for her litigation career.

Over the course of her career, Rebecca has represented employers across diverse industries, including health care, manufacturing, higher education, technology, hospitality, and construction. She provides defense in discrimination, whistleblower, and wage-and-hour claims, as well as unfair competition, restrictive covenant, and data privacy disputes. Her experience also includes advising on artificial intelligence tools in the workplace, GDPR and CCPA compliance, and crisis management for issues such as workplace violence, fraud, and data breaches.

Beyond litigation, Rebecca delivers practical guidance on employment policies, union relations, executive contracts, and diversity and inclusion programs. She also creates customized training for clients and is a frequent presenter, having delivered hundreds of webinars, speeches, and podcasts on employment law developments.

Widely respected in the legal community, Rebecca J. Bennett has been recognized in Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Chambers USA, including selection as one of the top 25 female lawyers in Cleveland and top 50 in Ohio. Her leadership extends to community service and mentoring, reflecting her dedication to empowering professionals and supporting the legal profession.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins
• Member, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
• Vice Chair, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Women In Law Section
• Member, Ohio State Bar Association
• Member & Vice President, Federal Bar Association, Northern District of Ohio Chapter
• Member, Cleveland Employment Inns of Court
• Member, Labor & Employment Relations Association (LERA)
• Member, Defense Research Institute
• Member & Board of Directors, Berea’s Animal Rescue Fund, Inc.
• Member & Board of Directors, Saint Joseph Academy
• Member & Board of Directors, The Gathering Place

Licensed State

• Ohio

Education

• Cleveland Marshall College of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Ohio State University
  BA with Summa Cum Laude

Awards & Badges