John Moenk practices primarily in the areas of business and school law. As an associate in the school law practice group, John regularly defends and advises schools on all legal, regulatory and compliance matters.

Before practicing law, John worked in special education, first as an educator and then as a school principal in Parma, Ohio. John also served as program director for the Acute Partial Hospitalization Programs for the Barber National Institute in Erie, Pennsylvania, which serves children and adults with intellectual disabilities and behavioral health challenges. This background gives John a unique perspective to understand, evaluate, and efficiently address the issues facing schools.

John also provides legal counsel to small business owners and their executives and assists the attorneys who lead the firm’s municipal law practice.

Principal practice areas

• Business and corporate law
• School law, including special education matters, due process complaint defense and discipline disputes.
• Public sector law – civil litigation defense and prosecutorial

Representative experience

• Negotiation of commercial real estate leases for publicly held companies
• Advising charter school boards on compliance and operational matters
• Counseling schools and families on IEP matters including writing, implementation, and supervision of student IEPs
• Drafting ETRs (evaluation team reports) and participation in ETR meetings
• Defense of municipalities in both litigation and nonlitigation matters

Bar admissions

• Ohio Supreme Court (2020)

Career and educational background

• Associate, Nicola, Gudbranson & Cooper (2020-present)
• University of Akron School of Law (JD, 2020)
• Principal, STEPS Academy, Parma, Ohio (2015-2018)
• Program Director, Barber National Institute (2014-2015)
• Cleveland State University (M.ED, 2009)
• Mount Union College (BA, communications, 2006)

Professional and civic activities

• Member, Ohio State Bar Association
• Member, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association