Robert W. Briggs
Chairman Emeritus & Partner | Akron (Fairlawn)
Assistant | Lisa B. Stayer : [email protected]
About Robert:
I am a partner, chairman emeritus and former CEO of Buckingham. My areas of focus are business, trusts and estates and nonprofits.
I have experience serving in leadership roles for both local and national foundations where I have led entities through key transitions including board restructuring, investment changes and overall directional shifts. My involvement in foundation leadership, collaboration and team-building allows me to provide our clients with exceptional strategic advice and comprehensive legal counsel.
My professional experiences are diverse and include my own entrepreneurial endeavors. Such experiences have helped me develop important and sophisticated perspectives that enable me to better serve our clients. I am also a licensed realtor in Ohio and Michigan. I have extensive experience in buying and selling real estate both personally and professionally.
- Served as counsel for numerous businesses and foundations
- Serves on the Distribution Committee of the GAR Foundation (2012 to present)
- Served as former CEO of Buckingham
- Joined the law firm of Herndon & Bartlo in 1970, which merged with Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC in 1971, and elected shareholder in 1974
- Served on the board of managers for the firm from 1985 to 2000, president and CEO from 1990 to 2000, and chairman of the board from 2000 to 2004
- Served as a staff judge advocate with the United States Air Force from 1967 to 1970
- Served as president/executive director of the GAR Foundation from 1996 to 2011
- Served as president of the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education (2014-2016)
- The Ohio State University College of Law, Columbus, Ohio (J.D., 1966)
- Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (B.A., 1963)
- Licensed Realtor in Ohio and Michigan
- Admissions
- New York Bar
- Ohio Bar
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. Tax Court
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America® (2008-2021)
- Named Best Lawyers in America® "Lawyer of the Year" for Corporate Law (2017)
- Ohio State University Law Alumni Award (2016)
- Recognized in Best Lawyers Business Edition® for Trusts and Estates Law (2015)
- Selected for inclusion in Ohio’s Super Lawyers® (2004-2005), as voted by his peers
- Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of AV® Preeminent™, which is the highest possible rating in both legal and ethical standards as established by confidential opinions from members of the Bar.
- Crain’s Cleveland Business Power Pack, as one of Northeast Ohio’s most influential business leaders (2002, 2007)
- Named to Inside Business Magazine’s Power 100 (2008-2011)
- Honorary Chair: The Summit County Historical Society’s 2013 Summit Awards (2013)
- Named to the Power 100 List (2013)
- Named Crain’s Cleveland Business Difference Maker (2011)
- Named to Crain’s Cleveland Business Who’s Who: 150 names to know in Northeast Ohio (2010)
- Recipient: Project Love / Purple America’s Gordon E. Heffern Award for Values, Ethics and Community (2013)
- Recipient: Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Akron (2012)
- Recipient: Ohio Grantmakers Forum Philanthropy Award (2011)
- Recipient: Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award (2010)
- Recipient: Sir Thomas More Award (2009)
- Recipient: Honorary Doctorate, Baldwin Wallace College (2008)
- Recipient: Northeast Ohio Regional Leadership Task Force Regional Vision Award (2006)
- Recipient: 1st Annual H. Peter Burg Regional Vision Award, Team NEO (2006)
- Recipient: Honorary Alumni Award, University of Akron (2002)
- Recipient: Community Service Award, Great Trail Council of the Boy Scouts and the Northwest Summit County Rotary (2001)
- Recipient: Distinguished Service Award, Akron Community Foundation (2001)
- Recipient: Hope Award, Northeast Ohio Chapter of Multiple Sclerosis Society (2001)
- Emeritus Director: Great Lakes Biomimicry
- Board Member and Chair: Summa Behavioral Leadership Council
- Board Member: Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis
- Honorary Director: Values in Action, Project Love/Purple America
- Member: The 50 Club
- Member: Catawba Island Club
- Member: Firestone Country Club
- Member: Portage Country Club
- Member: Shoreby Club
- Member: Bay Harbor Yacht Club
- Member, Board of Directors: Buckeye Producing Co.
- Member, Union Club
- Trustee and Chair: Invent Now, Inc. fka National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation
- Co-Chair: 2016 Aspire!, Boys & Girls Club Signature Event
- Co-Chair: 2015 Summa Sapphire Ball
- Director: Stonebridge Tower Homeowners Association
- Member, Board of Directors: FirstMerit Corporation, Risk Management Committee and Executive Committee
- Board Member: Independent Sector
- Board Member: Akron Bar Association Foundation
- President and Member, Board of Directors: Akron City Club
- Secretary, Trustee and Two-Term President: Akron Community Foundation
- Member, Board of Directors: Akron Neonatology, Inc.
- Member, Board of Directors: Akron Porcelain and Plastics Co.
- Board Member: BancOhio National Bank, Akron
- Co-Chair, Board of Overseers: Blossom Music Center
- President and Member, Board of Directors: Cascade Club
- Trustee: Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Foundation
- Member: Congress Lake Club
- Chair and Member: Fund for Our Economic Future
- President: GAR Foundation
- Chair and Trustee: The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
- Campaign Chair and Member: Law Enforcement Foundation
- Chair: Multiple Sclerosis Society (Northeastern Ohio Chapter)
- Trustee: Musical Arts Association (Cleveland Orchestra)
- Board Member: National City Bank, Northeast
- Board Chair: National Inventors Hall of Fame
- Trustee: Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, subsequently President and CEO 2014-2016
- Trustee: Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition
- Member: Northeast Ohio Universities Collaboration & Innovation Study Commission
- Board Member: Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges
- Co-Chair and Member: Ohio Venture Capital Authority
- Vice President and Trustee: Old Trail School
- Co-Chair and Trustee: One Cleveland dba One Community
- Trustee: Summa Health System
- Trustee: Summa Health System Foundation
- Trustee: Summit Education Initiative
- Chair and Member: Walsh Jesuit High School Board of Trustees
- Board Member: Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron
- Associations
- Member: Akron Bar Association
- Member: New York State Bar Association
- Member: Ohio State Bar Association
- Member: American Bar Association
- Emmet Association of Realtors
- Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors
- Ohio Realtors
- National Association of Realtors
- Presentations:
- Lorain Community College Commencement (2014)
- “Northeast Ohio: It’s Up To You,” Akron Roundtable (2011)
- Baldwin Wallace University Commencement (2008)
- “Northeast Ohio’s Regional Economy and the Progress Fund for Our Economic Future,” Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Meeting
- “The Fund for Our Economic Future,” Cleveland City Club Forum (2005)
- “Fund for Our Economic Future,” Cleveland Plain Dealer (2008)
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Our attorneys will provide a collaborative, thoughtful approach to your legal needs. We look forward to connecting with you.
