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Former US Attorney Benjamin Glassman counsels clients on some of their most difficult and sensitive problems – whether by providing strategic advice, leading internal investigations or representing them at trial or on appeal. He is the managing partner of the Cincinnati office and the deputy chair of the firm’s Government Investigations & White Collar Practice Group.
Ben served as the US Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio from 2016 to 2019, working in both Democratic and Republican administrations. As the chief federal law enforcement official for the more than 5 million Ohio residents across 48 counties, he oversaw the work of more than 60 civil, criminal and appellate Assistant US Attorneys. Under his leadership, the office pursued cases of national and international significance involving economic espionage and national security, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, financial fraud, antitrust, public corruption, hate crimes, controlled substances, the False Claims Act, the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Ben represents diverse clients that are under scrutiny from US enforcement agencies. His experience includes defending clients in investigations led by the Civil, Criminal, Civil Rights, Tax, and Environment and Natural Resources Divisions of the US Department of Justice, multiple US Attorney’s Offices, the CFPB, the SEC and state attorney general’s offices.
Ben also conducts internal investigations into allegations of misconduct and to assess vulnerabilities. This includes investigations on behalf of corporate boards or committees thereof, as well as for corporate management.
A first chair trial lawyer, Ben zealously advocates for clients at the federal trial and appellate levels. He has argued more than 100 federal appeals, including two en banc arguments, and has tried numerous cases to jury verdict. Prior to his role as US Attorney, Ben served as a federal prosecutor for more than a decade.
With significant experience coordinating, managing and working with the media, Ben regularly advises clients on external communications during investigations and litigation. He works closely with internal and external public relations resources to address media interest, prepare public comments and serve as a media contact.
In addition to his investigations and litigation practice, Ben maintains an active pro bono focus, representing indigent criminal defendants at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal courts. He has also served on the Advisory Committee on Rules for the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, as well as on the Local Rules Committee for the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and is an officer of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Prior to his public and private practice, Ben was a law clerk for the Honorable Ronald Lee Gilman of the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and for the Honorable Susan J. Dlott of the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in Cincinnati.
White-collar Defense
- Represented a medical professional who was the target of a federal grand jury investigation into fraud and prescription-related offenses. Following communications with federal prosecutors, the investigation was closed without charges.
- Represented a business professional charged by federal superseding indictment with fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and tax evasion; resolved by plea agreement to tax evasion and the dismissal of other charges.
- Represented subjects of federal grand jury investigations into fraud and tax offenses; investigations completed with no charges against clients.
- Represented a financial institution in a fair-lending investigation by the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division; resolved by settlement and termination of investigation.
- Represented a healthcare industry client in a False Claims Act (FCA) investigation by the US Department of Justice Civil Division; DOJ elected not to intervene and the case was dismissed.
- Represented a financial services company in a consumer-lending investigation by the CFPB; following a NORA submission, the CFPB declined to take any enforcement action against the company and closed its investigation.
- Conducted an investigation into loss and adequacy of internal controls for a US-based publicly traded company.
- Conducted an internal investigation for the governing board of a significant nonprofit entity regarding allegations of misconduct by senior management, including with respect to a substantial potential transaction.
- Argued a Sixth Circuit appeal for civil plaintiffs from the dismissal of consolidated cases involving billions of dollars of damages, securing vacation of dismissal and remand for further proceedings.
- Argued a Sixth Circuit appeal for defendant shareholders in the automotive industry from summary judgment in their favor, securing affirmance.
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 2000
- Rice University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1997
Admissions
- New York
- Ohio
Courts
- U.S. Ct. of App., Second Circuit
- U.S. Ct. of App., Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Ct. of App., Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Ct. of App., District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Dist. Ct., N. Dist. of Ohio
- U.S. Dist. Ct., S. Dist. of Ohio
- U.S. Dist. Ct., E. Dist. of Michigan
- U.S. Dist. Ct., E. Dist. of New York
- U.S. Dist. Ct., S. Dist. of New York
- U.S. Dist. Ct., E. Dist. of Tennessee
- U.S. Supreme Court
- The Best Lawyers in America 2023, 2024 and 2025, Appellate Law
- Quoted, “Jan. 6 Prosecutors Impose Plea-Deal Deadline on Oath Keepers Charged in Riot,” The Wall Street Journal, May 6, 2022.
- Quoted, “DOJ's Top Jan. 6 Felony Charge Faces Legal Test,” Law360, March 16, 2022 (subscription required).
- Quoted, “U.S. Attorney Ken Parker Strives For Justice With Humanity,” Cincinnati Magazine, March 7, 2022.
- Quoted, “He never wanted to do criminal law. Now he's the top prosecutor for Southern Ohio,” Cincinnati.com, February 2, 2022.
- Quoted, “To Prosecute Jan. 6 Capitol Rioters, Government Tests Novel Legal Strategy,” The Wall Street Journal, December 29, 2021 (subscription required).
- Quoted, “'Straw-Buyers' in Illegal Gun Buys Rarely Prosecuted Despite Crackdown,” WCPO, September 28, 2021.
- Quoted, “Supreme Court’s Bridgegate Ruling Casts Shadow on Federal Fraud Cases,” The Wall Street Journal, April 12, 2021 (subscription required).
- Quoted, “Incitement Case Against Trump Would Present Challenges,” The Wall Street Journal, February 21, 2021 (subscription required).
- Mentioned, “Former US attorney Ben Glassman joins law firm that hired John Boehner,” Cincinnati.com, February 20, 2020.
- Quoted, “Supreme Court Throws Out ‘Bridgegate’ Convictions,” The Wall Street Journal, November 4, 2016 (subscription required).