Elizabeth P. Kessler

Elizabeth "Liza" P. Kessler has more than 25 years of experience in complex litigation including multijurisdictional cases and class actions, including leading joint defense teams. She defends manufacturers of products such as medical devices, vehicles, paints and chemicals in cases involving complex disease causation and economic damage models. Her experience covers matters involving scientific, technological and medical issues with claims in consumer fraud, false advertising, breach of contract, strict liability, public and private nuisance, medical monitoring, duty to warn and preemption.

Ms. Kessler defended Sherwin-Williams from claims of injury from lead paint exposure in public nuisance lawsuits and served as lead trial counsel for R.J. Reynolds, including as trial counsel where the jury returned a complete defense verdict after less than an hour spent deliberating. She serves as lead lawyer for a global retailer in consumer class action litigation and lead counsel in a mortgage services class action. She also was lead counsel in a full defense win in a toxic tort case alleging health damage from environmental exposure to specialty chemicals. Ms. Kessler was a trial team member in a $2 billion class action that was named a "Top Defense Wins of the Year" by The National Law Journal.

Ms. Kessler is partner-in-charge of the Columbus office of Jones Day. Her community involvement includes serving on the Columbus Partnership and on the John Glenn Columbus International Airport board. She also serves on nonprofit boards such as the Wexner Center Foundation and was appointed by Governor Kasich to the Ohio Board of Regents for a term that ran from 2013-16.

Ms. Kessler earned her Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University and her Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Michigan.

She and her husband, Greg Henchel, live in New Albany, Ohio.

Appointed by:  Gov. John R. Kasich
Term:  06/11/2018 – 05/13/2027