An attorney in the firm’s Columbus office, Kevin Shimp focuses his practice on Government Affairs at the Ohio Statehouse with a particular emphasis on technology, education, and business issues including employment law, workers’ compensation, and civil justice reforms. Kevin also regularly interfaces with the Governor’s Office and state executive agencies, while maintaining strong relationships on both sides of the aisle. In addition, he provides association management services to small and mid-size trade organizations.
Before joining Dickinson Wright, Kevin served as the Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s General Counsel and Director of Labor & Legal Affairs. In this role, he worked with the business community, legislators, and government officials to advance the Ohio Chamber’s pro-growth agenda. He also led the Chamber’s amicus brief practice before state and federal courts and has served as Counsel of Record at the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Kevin also served as Executive Director of Ohio’s only non-profit organization focused solely on representing the interests of self-insured employers before the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and Ohio Industrial Commission.
Earlier in his career, Kevin worked in the Ohio Senate as a Senior Legislative Aide and at the Ohio Republican Senate Campaign Committee as the Political Director.
He has been named a Best Lawyer in Columbus by Columbus CEO magazine and received a gubernatorial appointment to the Ohio Industrial Commission Nominating Council. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education and is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association Certified Grievance Committee.
Education & Credentials
Education
Capital University Law School
J.D.- Pro Bono Honors
- Dean’s List
- Presidential Merit Scholarship
The Ohio State University
B.A.- cum laude
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National Political Science Honor Society
Bar Admission
Acknowledgements
- Best Lawyer – Government Affairs Practice | Columbus CEO Magazine | July 2022
Prominent Assignments
- Providing government relations advocacy to a mission-based non-profit organization that honors prominent inventors.
- Authored amicus brief for the Ohio Alliance of Civil Justice and Ohio Chamber in support of healthcare companies involved in multi-district opioid litigation (In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation).
- Expanded access to Ohio’s Quality Community School Support Fund to make more community schools eligible for supplementary state funding” (Ohio House Bill 33, 2023)
- Led coalition of over 50 state based trade associations and secured coronavirus immunity for businesses and medical providers (Ohio House Bill 606, 2020)
- Spearheaded legislative efforts to enact Ohio’s Employment Law Uniformity Act which updated Ohio’s employment discrimination statutes (Ohio House Bill 352, 2020)
- Modernized Ohio’s workers’ compensation laws to include a definition of a qualifying injury for work from home employees (Ohio House Bill 447, 2022)
- Served as Counsel of Record for the Ohio Chamber’s amicus brief in support of NASCAR’s position that Ohio’s Commercial Activity Tax does not apply to their broadcasting contract (NASCAR Holdings, Inc., et al. v. Jeffrey A. McClain, Tax Commissioner of Ohio, et al.)
- Served as Counsel of Record for the Ohio Chamber’s amicus brief in support of Governor DeWine’s decision to terminate federal supplemental unemployment benefits (State ex rel. Candy Bowling, et al. v. Michael DeWine, et al.)
Professional Involvement
- Member, Board of Directors – Ohio Center for Law-Related Education
- Member, Ohio State Bar Association Certified Grievance Committee
Community Involvement
- Chairman, Ohio Capital City Young Republicans
- Member, Franklin County Republican Party Judicial Screening Committee
Publications/Presentations
- Co-Author, “Ohio Legislature Passes Biennial Budget; Governor DeWine Approves Historic Investments in Public Education and School Choice,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, Jul 2023