Stanley M. Chesley

Stanley M. Chesley "is a high profile plaintiff's attorney at Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley in Cincinnati, OH. Touted as one of the nation's best and most successful lawyers by fellow litigators, judges, professional organizations and legal publications, Chesley first emerged on the national mass litigation scene in 1977 when the crowded Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky burst into flames, killing 165 people and injuring another 116.

"Since then he has tried and negotiated settlements in most of the blockbuster torts litigation that has come along: Bendectin, Bjork-Shiley Heart Valve, tobacco litigation, and breast implants. He has represented thousands of victims of hotel fires, airplane crashes, plant explosions and toxic spills. Additionally, the firm represents major pension funds and national corporations in securities and anti-trust litigation.

"Chesley’s philanthropic resume reads even longer.

"He was chairman of the board of the University of Cincinnati (36,000 students and 19,000 employees) for 5 years out of the 9 years he served on its board; was president of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati; has served or currently serves on a number of national boards including the Board of Governors of United Jewish Communities; the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee; Israel Bonds; Executive Committee of AIPAC, Hebrew Union College and American Jewish Committee; and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

"He is a member of the Supreme Court of Ohio, the United States Supreme Court, and many Circuit Courts of Appeals. Chesley served as counsel for the World Jewish Congress and the World Jewish Restitution Organization representing the Claims Conference in the Holocaust litigation which concluded in a successful resolution of approximately $9 billion that included the Swiss banks, the Austrian banks, slave labor and property matters, the Hungarian Gold Train litigation and the historic slave labor settlement with Germany. His firm represented them pro bono.

"Chesley is married to the Honorable Susan J. Dlott, U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Ohio Western Division. They have two children and six grandchildren."

• President, Jewish National Fund