Joseph J. Morford

Joe Morford is the firmwide Managing Partner of Tucker Ellis LLP, a role he has held since 2010.

In addition to his firm leadership role, Joe maintains an active practice focused on the representation of major corporations in complex mass tort, business litigation, and product liability matters both in Ohio and in courtrooms throughout the United States.

A true believer in (and frequent commentator on) non-hourly fee arrangements, Joe’s results-driven approach provides clients with predictability and cost savings by reducing needless motion practice, discovery, and work on client files. His focus is always on understanding how the litigation at hand impacts the client’s business as a whole and on preparing his matters efficiently for trial, which interestingly often leads to more prompt and favorable settlements for our clients. This approach has twice led him to be named Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" in Cleveland, Ohio – once for Mass Tort Litigation and once for Class Action Litigation – as well as regularly named a "Local Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation and included on the list of Ohio Super Lawyers® and The Best Lawyers in America©.

For 18 years, Joe served as a volunteer magistrate judge for the City of Shaker Heights Juvenile Court Diversion Program. He has served on numerous community Boards of Directors and has been active in many community organizations.

Joe and his wife are the proud parents of four children – all of whom are likely too old to continue to warrant mention in his firm bio. That said, they are noteworthy, as their escapades have been the source of decades of his material (mostly intended to be humorous, but still illustrative) on leadership, accomplishment, and focusing on what’s important in work and in life. While they are fast approaching adulthood, he remains their biggest fan, and he enjoys watching them slowly become a driving force for good in their communities. This will (he hopes) ultimately be his proudest life accomplishment.