Wade M. Fricke

Wade M. Fricke

Employment Law - Management

5.0 (1 reviews)
Cleveland, Ohio
36+ years experience
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC
Updated:

Contact Information

Key Tower, Suite 4100, 127 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44114
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Bio

Wade Fricke has practiced management-side labor and employment law since 1989. He was one of three attorneys who founded the Cleveland office of the firm. Prior to joining the firm, Wade was a partner in Cleveland’s oldest law firm, and before that, he worked for the Cleveland office of a national full-service law firm.Wade represents companies of all sizes across the country in virtually all aspects of employee relations in union and non-union settings. In both settings, Wade’s practice focuses on issue avoidance and positive employment practices. In union settings, Wade has extensive experience in contract negotiations and, where necessary, grievance resolution and arbitration, and strike management and resolution. His experience in non-union settings includes extensive employment relations auditing, supervisor training, union representational election work, drafting and reviewing employee handbooks and work rules, sexual harassment and other training, and most aspects of preventative-maintenance labor and employment counseling regarding state and federal regulation of the workplace. Wade’s employment counseling experience includes practice before the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board. Wade is one of eight attorneys serving on the steering committee of the firm’s 125-plus member Traditional Labor Practice Group. Wade Fricke has practiced management-side labor and employment law since 1989. He was one of three attorneys who founded the Cleveland office of the firm. Prior to joining the firm, Wade was a partner in Cleveland’s oldest law firm, and before that, he worked for the Cleveland office of a national full-service law firm.Wade represents companies of all sizes across the country in virtually all aspects of employee relations in union and non-union settings. In both settings, Wade’s practice focuses on issue avoidance and positive employment practices. In union settings, Wade has extensive experience in contract negotiations and, where necessary, grievance resolution and arbitration, and strike management and resolution. His experience in non-union settings includes extensive employment relations auditing, supervisor training, union representational election work, drafting and reviewing employee handbooks and work rules, sexual harassment and other training, and most aspects of preventative-maintenance labor and employment counseling regarding state and federal regulation of the workplace. Wade’s employment counseling experience includes practice before the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board. Wade is one of eight attorneys serving on the steering committee of the firm’s 125-plus member Traditional Labor Practice Group.

Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management

Awards & Recognition

  • Lawyer of the Year: Employment Law - Management, Cleveland (2022)
  • Lawyer of the Year: Labor Law - Management, Cleveland (2019)
  • Recognized: Employment Law - Management
  • Recognized: Labor Law - Management
  • Special Focus: Management
  • Ohio Super Lawyers
  • Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
  • AV rated with Martindale-Hubbell

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2008

Education

  • Washington and Lee University, J.D., graduated 1989
  • Princeton University, AB, graduated 1984

Reviews

S

Sarah Smith

2 weeks ago

A Strategic Partner for Complex Employment Matters

Our company faced a complex, multi-plaintiff discrimination lawsuit that threatened significant financial and reputational damage. We engaged Wade Fricke on the recommendation of our corporate counsel, and it was the best decision we could have made. Wade's 36 years of dedicated management-side experience were immediately apparent. He didn't just react to the lawsuit; he conducted a thorough internal assessment, crafted a nuanced defense strategy, and guided our leadership team through every step with remarkable clarity. His deep understanding of labor law, honed since he began practicing in 1989, allowed him to anticipate opposing counsel's moves and navigate the procedural complexities with ease. Wade's foundational role in establishing Ogletree Deakins's Cleveland office speaks to his leadership and deep roots in the Ohio legal community. The case was resolved favorably through a strategic motion that led to a very reasonable settlement, far better than we had dared hope. His recognition as a 'Lawyer of the Year' is clearly well-deserved. Wade is more than an attorney; he is a trusted advisor who protects your business with formidable expertise and genuine partnership.

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