Kevin O'Donnell Stanek

An adept problem solver, Kevin represents clients on policy matters and other legal issues as a registered lobbyist before the Ohio General Assembly, executive agencies, and state boards and commissions. His representation includes regulatory or administrative enforcement defense and advocacy, capital and operating budget appropriation requests, and administrative rule-making promulgation. He also represents clients on various other matters, including corporate governance and transactions, local economic development projects, campaign finance and election law, and white collar investigations and defenses. Kevin has served as bond and disclosure counsel on bond offerings for various political subdivisions in Ohio.

Prior to rejoining Barnes & Thornburg, Kevin served as the chief legal counsel for the Ohio House of Representatives. In this role, he was the main policy adviser on issues related to criminal and civil justice, the administration of Ohio’s court system, election law and campaign finance, and matters of political administration. He further oversaw ethics compliance and financial disclosure filings for all majority caucus members and senior staff, and advised the House speaker and majority leadership on House rules applicable to session and committee hearings.

Kevin also previously served as an assistant chief counsel and assistant policy director for asset management for Ohio Gov. John Kasich. In these roles, he provided oversight regarding the fiscal stability of agencies, management of public records compliance and counsel regarding ongoing litigation, personnel matters and legislative developments applicable to the governor's policy goals. Kevin also oversaw the veto process for two biennial state budgets, the largest legislative effort in each two-year general assembly session, by working with agencies to identify issues of concern to the administration, determining what language should be excised, and crafting the relevant veto message.

Prior to law school, Kevin served as a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives for three years, where he was responsible for the legislative efforts, communications and constituent relations of a southwestern Ohio House district.