For over 17 years, Nicole Hunter has focused her law practice on exclusively representing the interests of businesses and employers. She defends businesses throughout Ohio and Kentucky who face pending or ongoing litigation related to employment matters, workers’ compensation, unemployment defense, and general business matters.  She strives to develop personal relationships with her business clients to provide cost containment solutions for existing matters and risk containment strategies for the future.

Nicole has a diverse workers’ compensation and risk management practice in Ohio and Kentucky. The primary focus of her practice is representing self-insured employers, state-funded employers, and insurance companies in workers’ compensation matters before the Industrial Commission of Ohio, the Kentucky Department of Workers’ Claims, and courts throughout Ohio and Kentucky.

Nicole represents employers in many industries, including manufacturing, construction, healthcare, staffing, retail, service, and transportation. She defends employers in the full spectrum of workers’ compensation issues, including initial claim allowance, additional conditions, treatment and compensation matters, permanent partial disability, permanent total disability, death cases, and violation of specific safety requirement (VSSR) cases.

Nicole’s workers’ compensation practice also includes advising Ohio employers, third party administrators, PEO’s, and healthcare providers throughout the country before the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation regarding contested coverage, employee classification, self-insurance compliance, and provider certification issues.

Nicole also helps employers develop transitional work programs to help employers keep their employees engaged in the workforce after an injury and reduce lost-time costs. She prepares Drug Free Safety Programs for Ohio employers and she educates employers regarding effective use of post-accident drug testing. She also works with employers to improve their workplace safety programs to reduce safety violations and OSHA issues.

Nicole routinely works with businesses to ensure that their employment practices best effectuate the goals of the company and promote a productive and thriving work environment for employees. She regularly prepares and revises industry-specific, tailored employee handbooks for employers to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. She also assists employers with common business concerns, such as non-competition agreements, confidentiality agreements, and implementation of progressive discipline programs. Finally, Nicole represents Ohio and Kentucky employers in contested unemployment compensation disputes.

Education

Miami University, B.S., Business Administration, 2002 -Double Majors in Operations Management and Purchasing/Procurement -Minor in Decision Sciences

University of Dayton School of Law, J.D., 2006 -Moot Court Board finalist, Moot Court Corporate Law Team

Professional Activities

Ohio State Bar Association

Cincinnati Bar Association - Workers' Compensation Committee Board Member

OSIA - Ohio Self-Insurers Association

SWOSIA - Southwest Ohio Self-Insurers Association

Northern Kentucky Bar Association

Blog Posts

Cincinnati Ballet Dancer Sponsorship Committee

Anderson Township Economic Development Committee

Clermont County Chamber Meet the Buyer Committee Member