Mark C. Willis

PUTTING PEOPLE’S LIVES BACK TOGETHER

Since the beginning of my legal career, I have dedicated my skills to putting people’s lives back together.  My typical client finds his or her life torn apart as a result of someone else’s carelessness, negligence, recklessness, or greed.  Injuries are not always just a physical component. They are mentally exhausting. Often they create financial and emotional stress as well.

I have successfully represented clients against insurance companies, banks, mortgage companies, real estate companies, trucking companies, Fortune 500 companies and local businesses as well as other individuals.  I have been on the cutting edge of obtaining insurance coverage for clients where insurance companies have claimed no coverage existed.  I have had success in making insurance companies pay more than they claim they have in coverage.  I have had success against these interests at all levels of the judicial system from the Supreme Court on down.  I have obtained multiple seven figure recoveries for clients. With 35 years experience in litigating cases, I have the experience and the resources to obtain justice for my clients.

I graduated from high school in rural West Virginia and went on to college in West Virginia.  I moved to Akron, Ohio in 1983 to attend law school.  I began working at age 13 and by the age 17, I was working full-time.  I worked full-time through the remainder of high school and all the way through college and law school.  I have always had a strong work ethic and I work hard for my clients.

When I am not practicing law I can be found working at the Richfield Fire Department or working on our family farm.

Bar Admissions

• Ohio, 1987
• West Virginia, 1987
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit

Education

• University of Akron – Medina Career Center, Medina, Ohio
  • Fire Fighter, Level 2 Certification – April, 2012
  • Fire Fighter, Level 1 Certification – April, 2009
• Summa Hospital Systems, Akron, Ohio
  • Emergency Medical Technician, Basic Level – April, 2008
• University of Akron School of Law, Akron, Ohio
  • J.D. – May, 1987
• Concord College, Athens, WV
  • Bachelors of Science – May 1983
• Princeton High School, Princeton, West Virginia – June, 1979

Classes/Seminars

• Instructor, Ohio Association for Justice Trial Practice Series, 2007, 2021
• Instructor and Moderator, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Conventions, 1999, 2000, 2015
• Instructor, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Evidence/ Discovery Seminar, 1999
• Instructor, Akron Bar Association Personal Injury Series, 1998
• Instructor and Moderator, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Annual Conventions, 1997
• Moderator, Summit Country Trial Lawyers Association Trial Practice Series, 1997, 1998, 2013,
• Instructor, Akron Bar Association Consumer Law Series, 1997
• Instructor, Mahoning Trumbull Country Trial Lawyers Association Annual Trial Practice Seminar, 1994
• Instructor, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers Insurance Law Seminar Series, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2014
• Instructor, Summit Country Association for Justice Trial Practice Series, 2021

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Association for Justice
• Ohio Association for Justice (formerly Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers)
• Ohio Bar Association
• West Virginia Bar Association
• Summit County Association for Justice (formerly Summit County Trial Lawyers Association)
• Akron Bar Association
• Cleveland Academy of Trial Lawyers
• American Association for Justice, Task Force Representative Dover, Delaware, 1992
• American Association for Justice, Task Force Representative Newark, New Jersey, 1991
• American Association for Justice, City Task Force Drive and Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Chair, 1999
• American Association for Justice, City Task Force Drive and Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Chair, 1996
• American Association for Justice, City Task Force Drive and Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Chair, 1995
• Summit County Trial Lawyers Association, President, 1999 – 2000
• Summit County Trial Lawyers Association, Vice President, 1998 – 1999
• Summit County Trial Lawyers Association, Secretary, 1997 – 1998
• Summit County Trial Lawyers Association, Treasurer, 1996 – 1997
• Summit County Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Trustees, 1996 – Present
• Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Consumer Law Section, Chair, 1998 – 2001
• Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Board of Trustees, 1997 – 2001
• Ohio Association for Justice, Board of Trustees, 2020 – 2021
• Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, Environmental Law Section, Chair, 1997
• The Supreme Court of Ohio, Ohio Association for Justice, Amicus Curiae Representative, 1995
• The Supreme Court of Ohio, Ohio Association for Justice, Amicus Curiae Representative, 1998
• The Supreme Court of Ohio, Ohio Association for Justice, Amicus Curiae Representative, 2007
• Summit County Association for Justice, Amicus Curiae Representative, 2014
• Richfield Firemen’s Association, 2017 to Present
• Summit County Fire Fighters Association, 2017 to Present

Pro Bono Activities

• Consultant to the Board – Bonyo’s Kenya Mission, 2010 – Present
• Board Member Pastoral Counseling Services, 2010 – Present
• Committee Member, Akron Chapter, Ducks Unlimited, 1993 – 2015
• Executive Chairman, Akron Chapter, Ducks Unlimited, 1996 – 1998
• Property Committee Chairman, Bethel Lutheran Church, 2008 – 2009
• Bethel Lutheran Church, Property Committee, 2006 – 2009
• Bethel Lutheran Church, Budget Committee, 2006
• Bethel Lutheran Church, Budget Committee, 2005
• Council President, Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2003
• Council President, Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2001 – 2003
• Bethel Lutheran Church, Long Range Planning Committee, 2013 & 2018
• Bethel Lutheran Church, Debt Reduction Committee, 2014
• North East Ohio Brain Injury Foundation, Board Member 2018 – Present