Cathleen M. Bolek
Bolek Besser Glesius LLC
Monarch Centre, Suite 302
5885 Landerbrook Drive
Phone: 216.464.3004 Fax: 866.542.0743
E-mail: cbolek@bolekbesser.com
Website: http://www.bbgohio.com/
Areas of Practice:
Employment litigation, including all forms of statutory discrimination and harassment claims, wage and hour violations, wrongful discharge, contract disputes.
About:
Cathleen is consistently recognized as one of the best attorneys in Ohio. The Best Lawyers in America selected her as its 2021 Cleveland Employment “Lawyer of the Year” for her work representing individuals in employment discrimination cases. That magazine has previously named her to its “Best Lawyers” list for Cleveland Employment Law – Individuals every year since 2012. Super Lawyers Magazine has repeatedly recognized Cathleen as well, and has listed her as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in Ohio and included her among the Top 50 Women Attorneys in Ohio for five years straight. For its part, attorney rating service Martindale-Hubbell gives Cathleen its highest rating, “AV,” describing her legal abilities and professionalism as “Preeminent.” Avvo.com gives Cathleen its highest rating, “Superb.” Her law firm, Bolek Besser Glesius LLC, is listed in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms as a “First-Tier” employment law firm in the Cleveland area.
Cathleen is also a recognized leader in the legal community. She is a CATA past President and current Board member, a founding member of the Cleveland Employment Inns of Court, and a former member of the Executive Committee of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Board of Trustees. She has also chaired several CMBA committees, including the Bar Admissions Committee, the Lawyers’ Mental Health and Wellness Committee, and the Small Firm & Solo Practitioner Section. In addition, Cathleen is a past Chair of the Employment Law Section of the Ohio Association for Justice and served on the Board of Trustees for that organization.
Some of Cathleen’s recent legal successes include:
- Along with Matthew Besser, winning a unanimous $986,605.21 verdict in a Cuyahoga County age discrimination trial against one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers.
- Winning a $1,000,000 arbitration award in an employment contract dispute between our client and her former employer.
- Obtaining a $700,000 settlement of a retaliation claim.
- Reaching a $360,000 settlement for a woman who was terminated while she was pregnant.
Because of her reputation for skill and integrity, Cathleen is a published author and is frequently invited to speak at seminars in the fields of employment law and legal ethics.