Marks only third such transition in over 30 years, first to new generation of leaders
December 3, 2020 – DAYTON and CINCINNATI, OHIO – Erin Rhinehart and Brian Wright have been
named Co-Managing Partners of Faruki PLL (Faruki+), a premier business litigation firm with offices
in Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio, that specializes in complex commercial litigation on behalf of Fortune
500 companies and large privately held businesses throughout the country.
Collectively with Faruki+ for more than 30 years, Rhinehart and Wright expand their partnership roles
to lead the 19-attorney firm, marking its transition to the next generation of leadership that will carry
on the legacy and vision of the firm’s founding partners.
The pair succeeds Jeff Ireland, one of the firm’s founders and its Managing Partner since 2015.
Ireland will remain a partner with the firm but is stepping back from managing partner duties to
dedicate more time to serving the firm's clients.
“Erin and Brian have been tremendous leaders at the firm,” Ireland said. “They are accomplished
litigators who have contributed meaningfully to our growth, and their vision and embodiment of our
core values – excellence, respect, candor, and service – make them the ideal team to lead Faruki+
into the future. I am proud to pass the baton to these proven and capable leaders.”
Rhinehart joined the firm in 2004. Her litigation practice focuses on class action defense, breach of
contract, non-compete, tortious interference, and health care and environmental litigation matters.
She also leads the firm's media and communications practice. In addition to holding extensive trial
expertise and producing demonstrated results on behalf of clients, she plays an active role in state
and national professional organizations.
Rhinehart is President-Elect of the Ohio Women’s Bar Association; is an Executive Editor of the
American Bar Association Section of Litigation's premier publication, the Litigation Journal; has sat
on the editorial board for the Law360 Media & Entertainment Law publication; and speaks regularly
on media law issues, general litigation, and negotiating skills.
Wright first joined Faruki+ in 2002 and returned to the firm in 2019 after spending three years as
General Counsel and Vice President of Innovation with longtime client Henny Penny – a leading
global supplier of food service solutions. He litigates in Ohio and across the United States dealing
with individual and class action disputes involving business torts, trade secrets, restrictive
covenants, products liability, false advertising, contract and warranty disputes, securities,
employment, and intellectual property matters. He also is uniquely positioned to serve as outside
general counsel to businesses in need of strategic legal guidance.
As Co-Managing Partners, Rhinehart and Wright will lead the firm’s continued strategic growth. The
shared responsibilities will allow both attorneys to continue their busy and expanding individual
practices and maintain their strong client relationships.
Longtime firm leader and partner, Jeff Cox, added: “In addition to building tremendous practices and
making names for themselves among the law community, Erin and Brian have been integral to the
growth and success of Faruki+ over the last two decades. I look forward to working with them and
am excited to see where their leadership, tenacity, and foresight compel the firm over the next 20
years.”
Faruki+ was founded by trial lawyers in 1989. Recognized by peers and clients as one of the leading
firms in Ohio, the firm has earned its well-deserved reputation for tackling the most complicated and
nuanced problems for their clients in state and federal courts across the country.
About Faruki+
Faruki+ (www.ficlaw.com) is a litigation firm with offices in Dayton and Cincinnati that handles complex
disputes, including intellectual property, class actions, competition-based litigation, employment, antitrust,
privacy, commercial litigation, and arbitration. You can find Faruki+ on LinkedIn
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/faruki-ireland-&-cox-p-l-l-/) and Twitter at @FarukiMediaLaw. Also, visit
https://www.ficlaw.com/blog/ the business litigation blog site, for the latest developments in business
litigation, intellectual property, data security, communications and media, class actions, and employment.
