Overview
In private practice for more than 14 years, Greg Lestini utilizes his experience within multiple levels of government to help clients navigate complex legal, legislative, and regulatory structures. As a member of the firm’s government relations team, he focuses on using the levers of public policy to the advantage of insurance companies, public corporations, trade associations, and private businesses. Greg is Chair of the Financial Services/Insurance Industry Group. In that role, he leads the strategic direction of the insurance practice and represents insurers, from small mutuals to large stock companies in a variety of corporate and regulatory matters.
Greg has served as a legislative aide in the Ohio Legislature and at Columbus City Council. In addition, he was chief of staff for the Ohio Senate Minority Caucus, helping lead strategy, talent development, public policy, and other critical initiatives for the minority leader and caucus. In addition, he worked with the AmeriCorps Legal Service Corps following law school, representing low/no-income renters in eviction defense and conditions cases in Toledo and throughout northwest Ohio.
Greg is an active community member, participating on many boards throughout central and southeast Ohio. He is a member of the firm’s Racial Equity Task Force and was also responsible for reinventing a firm-hosted art show, featuring artists in recovery from and dealing with mental health and addiction challenges. Greg also regularly contributes to updates on legal and business developments in the insurance space as it relates to finance and insurance technology by public and private entities.
Known for his accessibility and responsiveness, clients can typically reach Greg after hours, while he’s in his kitchen, practicing the guitar, or building elaborate and structurally questionable Lego projects with his daughters.
Industries & Practices
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law J.D. (2002); Moot Court Chief Justice
The Ohio State University, B.A., political science and international peace studies, magna cum laude (1999)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America® – Administrative/Regulatory Law; Government Relations Practice; Insurance Law (2022–2025)
Ranked, Chambers USA – Insurance: Band 3 (2022–2024); Band 2 (2021)
Rising Star, Super Lawyers®, part of Thomson Reuters® – Ohio, Government Relations; Legislative & Governmental Affairs; Land Use/Zoning; Administrative Law (2018)
Member, Federation of Regulatory Counsel (FORC)
Member, Board of Trustees, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (Franklin County At-Large), Executive Committee
Member, Ohio State Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association
Board Member, Greater Columbus Sister Cities International
Member, Advocacy Committee, YWCA Columbus
Member, Board of Trustees, iBelieve Foundation
Secretary/Treasurer, iBelieve Foundation
Member, Bricker Graydon's Southeast Ohio Team
Immediate Past Chair, Insurance Regulation Committee, American Bar Association (ABA) - Tort Trial & Insurance Practice (TIPS)
Experience
Insights
News
- Bricker Graydon Attorneys Recognized in Columbus CEO's Top Lawyers of 2024Firm News
- Bricker Graydon Practices and Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA for 2024Firm News
- ColumbusCEO Magazine Reveals Top Lawyers of 2023, Noting 22 Bricker Graydon AttorneysFirm News
- Bricker Graydon Attorneys Recognized for 2024 “Best Lawyers” ExcellenceFirm News
- Bricker Graydon Practices and Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA for 2023Firm News
- Bricker lawyers featured in Demotech magazineFirm News
- Greg Lestini appointed to the Board of Directors for the National Conference of Insurance Legislators' Industry Education CouncilFirm News
- Bricker attorneys recognized for “Best Lawyers” excellenceFirm News
- Chambers USA includes Bricker practices, attorneys in 2022 rankingsFirm News
- Bricker names Gregory Lestini team lead for Financial Services and Insurance groupFirm News
- Best Lawyers 2022 recognizes 66 Bricker & Eckler attorneysFirm News
- Lestini to chair American Bar Association Insurance Regulation General CommitteeFirm News
- Lestini recognized as Regulatory Counsel Member by FORCFirm News
- Chambers USA includes Bricker practices, attorneys in 2021 rankingsFirm News
- Bricker hosts Cambridge Chamber event at Zane StateFirm News
- Lestini, Flahive unpack blockchain and its impact on the insurance industryFirm News
- Bricker attorneys recognized in 2018 Super Lawyers listFirm News
- Schmenk and Lestini’s economic and community development briefing featured in Kenton, Ohio, newsFirm News
- Greg Lestini quoted in Columbus Business First article about drone usage for businessesFirm News
- Bricker & Eckler elects new partnersFirm News
- Bricker & Eckler opens law office in MariettaFirm News
- Bricker & Eckler creates Local Government Task Force, Online resource centerFirm News
Resource Centers
Blog Posts
- A Closer Look at Kentucky's 2024 General ElectionBlog Post
- Ohio Ethics Commission annual report highlights top five categories for investigations in 2022
- 2022 General Election Update
- 2022 August Primary Election Results and Analysis
- July 21 is the Pre-Primary campaign finance filing deadline for the August 2 Primary Election
- Conference ethics considerations
- Ohio Ethics Commission announces the top five categories for investigations in 2021
- First half 2022 review, General Election, and preview of Lame Duck Session
- 2022 Primary Election Update
- Tidying up: Spring cleaning for your PAC
- Ohio’s campaign finance laws permit use of peer-to-peer payment systems
- Ohio Ethics Commission calls for enhanced penalties for ethics violations
- Governor DeWine signs House Bill 51 into law, allowing for virtual public meetings until July 1, 2022
- Ohio Elections Commission determines foreign national cannot contribute to a ballot issue PAC
- Ohio Redistricting Commission adopts revised House and Senate maps
- Ohio Supreme Court invalidates revised state House and Senate maps
- Ohio Redistricting Commission adopts new four year House and Senate maps
- Ohio Supreme Court invalidates state’s newly redrawn congressional districts
- Ohio Supreme Court orders Redistricting Commission to draw new state House and Senate district boundaries
- 2021 second half year-end review and 2022 preview
- 2021 general election results
- Ferrara v. Trumbull County Board of Elections
- Ohio’s capital budget process will soon be underway
- Federal and local COVID-19 updates
- Ohio 11th and 15th congressional district special primary election results
- H.B. 110 FY 2022-2023 biennium budget overview and review of first half of 2021
- Ohio House Bill 2 signed into law
- Ohio’s COVID-19 health order to be removed June 2
- Ohio Governor DeWine issues three-week statewide curfew
- 2020 general election update
- Legislative review and 2020 legislative and electoral preview
- Governor DeWine delivers his first State of the State address
- DeWine announces several new cabinet picks
- 2018 lame duck summary and 2019 budget and legislative preview
- 2017 Ohio election update
- 2016 post-general election update
- Ohio voting rules under debate
- Toledo mayor wants city’s own economic development agency
- Officials plan to ask Kentucky for a three-year extension on its tax credit for the Newport on the Levee entertainment complex
- State: port authority is required to repay grant when company fails to create jobs
- Gov. Kasich appoints Tracy Intihar as the executive director of the Office of Workforce Transformation
- Gov. Kasich is finalizing new incumbent workforce training program
- Ohio Housing Finance Agency releases report on housing in Ohio's Appalachian counties
- Report highlights impact of lack of broadband access on Appalachian business
- Governor Kasich overhauls Ohio's workforce development system
- Belmont County, Ohio experiences expansion in drilling
- Southeastern Ohio demonstrates ideal conditions for Marcellus and Utica shale industry
Podcasts
Champions & Challengers
- AI Convergence: Navigating Innovation and ResponsibilityEpisode 16
- AI Revolution: Connecting People to Digital Intelligence (Part 1)Episode 15
- Building Resilience: Preparing for, Managing, & Recovering from Disruptive Cyber EventsEpisode 20
- Controlling the Data in Your WorldEpisode 4
- Decision Making: Connecting the Human and the MachineEpisode 2
- Empowering Growth: Navigating Business Strategy and Cybersecurity13
- Growth - It's More Than Just MarketingEpisode 7
- Growth - It's More Than Just Marketing (Part Two)Episode 8
- Helicopters to High-Tech: Revolutionizing Document ManagementEpisode 17
- Human-Centered Fintech: Customizing Digital ExperiencesEpisode 14
- If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, a Video is a Thousand PicturesEpisode 1
- Innovation in the Insurance IndustryEpisode 11
- Insur-tech: Then vs. NowEpisode 3
- Insuring the Future: Navigating Fintech FrontiersEpisode 12
- Leading the Way in Insurance Regulation with Commissioner Jon GodfreadEpisode 23
- Navigating Change: Stefanie Altman on Marketing Strategies, Technology, and the Evolving Insurance LandscapeEpisode 21
- The Nexus Between Banks and FintechEpisode 5
- Tips for Insur-Tech StartupsEpisode 18
Presentations & Publications
Speaking Engagements
- Webinar: Higher Education COVID-19 Update - Impacts of COVID-19 and Recent Developments on College AdmissionsWebinar
- Bricker & Eckler's Ohio Insurance Cybersecurity SeminarSeminar
- Bricker & Eckler's Ohio Insurance Cybersecurity SeminarSeminar
- OII/OAMIC/B&E Fall SeminarSeminar
- 2016 OACTE Connections to Education ConferenceSpeaking Engagement
- Corporate Counsel SummitSeminar
- ***SOLD OUT*** Government Affairs CLE & ReceptionSeminar
- Government Affairs Quick Hits CLE Seminar & ReceptionSeminar
- Government Affairs Quick Hits SeminarSeminar
Publications
- 2024 Kentucky General Election UpdateArticle
- 2024 General Election Results and AnalysisArticle
- 2024 Campaign Finance Reporting Deadlines UpdateAlert
- 2024 Primary Election Results and AnalysisArticle
- 2023 Second Half Year End Review and 2024 PreviewArticle
- Kentucky 2023 General Election Preliminary ResultsArticle
- Ohio 2023 General Election Preliminary ResultsArticle
- Artificial Intelligence - There's Nothing Fake About ItArticle
- Ohio Ethics Commission annual report highlights top five categories for investigations in 2022Article
- 2022 General Election UpdateArticle
- Ohio Supreme Court rules prosecutors need not wait for investigation by OECArticle
- 2022 August Primary Election Results and AnalysisArticle
- Conference ethics considerationsArticle
- Ohio Ethics Commission announces the top five categories for investigations in 2021Article
- First half 2022 review, General Election, and preview of Lame Duck SessionArticle
- 2022 Primary Election UpdateArticle
- Ohio Ethics Commission calls for enhanced penalties for ethics violationsArticle
- Ohio’s campaign finance laws permit use of peer-to-peer payment systemsArticle
- Ohio Redistricting Commission adopts revised House and Senate mapsArticle
- Tidying up: Spring cleaning for your PACArticle
- Ohio Elections Commission determines foreign national cannot contribute to a ballot issue PACArticle
- Governor DeWine signs House Bill 51 into law, allowing for virtual public meetings until July 1, 2022Article
- Strange bedfellows? Insurance and political protests clash in the era of COVIDArticle
- Ohio Supreme Court invalidates revised state House and Senate mapsArticle
- Ohio Redistricting Commission adopts new four year House and Senate mapsArticle
- Ohio Supreme Court invalidates state’s newly redrawn congressional districtsArticle
- Ohio Supreme Court orders Redistricting Commission to draw new state House and Senate district boundariesArticle
- 2021 second half year-end review and 2022 previewArticle
- 2021 General Election resultsArticle
- Ferrara v. Trumbull County Board of ElectionsArticle
- Ohio’s capital budget process will soon be underwayArticle
- Federal and local COVID-19 updatesArticle
- Decision science & life insuranceArticle
- Ohio 11th and 15th congressional district special primary election resultsArticle
- H.B. 110 FY 2022-2023 biennium budget overview and review of first half of 2021Article
- Everything old is new againArticle
- Ohio House Bill 2 signed into lawArticle
- Ohio’s COVID-19 health order to be removed June 2Article
- 2020 lame duck summary and 2021 previewArticle
- Hearing discusses future pandemic risk managementArticle
- Ohio Governor DeWine issues three-week statewide curfewArticle
- 2020 General Election updateArticle
- DeWine announces statewide mask mandate, HB6 repeal developments and broadband updatesArticle
- DeWine announces statewide facial covering requirement and travel advisoryArticle
- Governor DeWine addresses the state; Level 3 county updates; new local mask ordinancesArticle
- DeWine announces new counties with mandatory mask requirement; plans for colleges and universities to reopen; education COVID plan implementation fundingArticle
- DeWine announces new county-specific mask requirements, general business and social distancing and industry specific orders extendedArticle
- Ohio Governor and General Assembly updatesArticle
- Coronavirus and captives...the new future of insurance?Article
- Ohioans Protecting Ohioans order issuedArticle
- DeWine announces more Ohio reopeningsArticle
- Auto policy may be cancelled if policyholder misstated information when applyingArticle
- RestartOhio in full swingArticle
- Gov. DeWine announces 2020 fiscal year reduction in budget expendituresArticle
- Ohio COVID-19: Stay Safe Ohio orderArticle
- 2020 Ohio Primary Election: Results and summaryArticle
- Governor DeWine outlines Responsible Restart Ohio planArticle
- Chubb CEO warns retroactive business interruption claims could be fatal to insurance industryArticle
- Governor DeWine looks to reopen Ohio amid COVID-19Article
- Business interruption insurance coverage and COVID-19Article
- Ohio extends Stay At Home orderArticle
- Ohio COVID-19 legislationArticle
- Understanding Ohio's Stay at Home OrderArticle
- COVID-19 in Ohio: A government relations updateArticle
- Legislative review and 2020 legislative and electoral previewArticle
- 2019 General Election resultsArticle
- H.B. 166 FY20-21 Biennium Budget OverviewArticle
- State operating budget update: Temporary budget enactedArticle
- Governor DeWine delivers his first State of the State addressArticle
- 2018 lame duck summary and 2019 budget and legislative previewArticle
- 2017 Ohio election updateArticle
- Governor Kasich presents annual State of the State addressArticle
- DOL’s notice to suspend fiduciary rule to be reviewed by OBMArticle
- 2016 lame duck summary and 2017 budget previewArticle
- 2016 post-general election updateArticle
- Newly established FAA Drone Advisory Committee holds inaugural meetingArticle
- New FAA rules just the beginning for drone regulationArticle
- DOL releases long-awaited final ruleArticle
- MetLife's SIFI designation deemed improper by a U.S. Federal CourtArticle
- Private ownership in Cuba? What this means for insurersArticle
- Big oil going high techArticle
- Who owns the air?Article
- Insurance providers investigate drone operationArticle
- Governor Kasich presents yearly State of the State AddressArticle
- U.S. Senate adjourns without passing TRIA reauthorizationArticle
- Ohio Senate adopts redistricting reform measure, House concurrence expectedArticle
- 2014 post-general election updateArticle
- 2014 post-general election update – State Board of EducationArticle
- Ohio election update – Results of key statewide racesArticle
- U.S. Supreme Court delays start of early voting in OhioArticle
- Ohio’s mid-biennium review budget bill releasedArticle
- A Tale of Two Budgets: Competing Views on How the Biennium Budget Will Impact Businesses in OhioArticle
- The Journey of Medicaid Expansion from the Affordable Care Act to OhioArticle
- Ohio Governor John Kasich Signs Ohio's $62 Billion Budget for FY 2014-15Article
- Ohio Governor Kasich Discusses Budget, Taxes, Education and Health Care Reform During the 2013 State of the StateArticle
- Ohio Supreme Court Rules That Redrawn Districts are ConstitutionalArticle

Admissions
- Ohio
- U.S. District Court – Northern District of Ohio