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Our Practice

McGown & Markling is dedicated to providing comprehensive legal services to public entities such as school boards, educational service center governing boards, counties, and municipalities, as well as their public officials and employees, throughout the State of Ohio. Our award winning team of attorneys is knowledgeable and adept in a wide array of practice areas such as education law, litigation, labor and employment, civil rights, discrimination, sexual harassment, tort defense, and many more. 

Each member of McGown & Markling’s team shares a common commitment: To provide comprehensive, innovative legal services using a practical and results-driven model, as economically as possible. We pride ourselves on being accessible and responsive to our clients throughout the State of Ohio. And we are prepared to represent you every step of the way, from classroom, to boardroom, to courtroom.

McGown & Markling is very proud to be among the select few law firms to consistently receive a Tier 1 Ranking by U.S. News–Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” in the areas of education, employment, and labor law, as well as municipal, labor, and employment litigation. The rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes thousands of clients, highly skilled lawyers, and law firm representatives.

McGown & Markling remains among the select few law firms selected for inclusion in the Best’s Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys® for every year since our law firm was established.

McGown & Markling holds an AV® Preeminent™ Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ in recognition of its overall legal excellence, including professionalism, ethical standards, and legal ability.

McGown & Markling managing director Matt Markling is among the less than one percent of Ohio attorneys who have earned the prestigious distinction of being renowned as an Ohio State Bar Association Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law.

Matt Markling has consistently been selected by his legal peers as one of The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice area of Education Law. For over a quarter of a century, Best Lawyers® has been regarded–by both the profession and the public–as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States. Selection to Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than 2.8 million confidential evaluations by the top attorneys in the country.

Matt Markling has earned both the “NITA Advocate” and “NITA Master Advocate” designations by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy in recognition of his dedication toward trial advocacy.

Matt Markling has been awarded the Outstanding Leadership Award by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association in recognition of his legal leadership to Ohio Educational Service Centers and their school districts.

Matt Markling has been bestowed the lifetime distinction of Master Board Member Award by the Ohio School Boards Association for his services as an elected member of the Lakewood City School District Board of Education.

Matt Markling is inducted into the Gahanna Lincoln High School Alumni Hall of Fame in recognition of his exemplary public service and professional achievement which serves to inspire and provide leadership to future graduates to achieve and serve in the same distinguished manner.

To review our Affirmative Action Statement, click here.

To review our EEO Policy Statement, click here.