Attorney
Area of Focus
Additional Services
Education
The University of Toledo College of Law, JD, 2010, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
Western Michigan University, BS, 1999
Bar Admissions
Ohio State Bar Association
Toledo Bar Association
American Bar Association
Indiana State Bar Association
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Joseph K. Cole Partner
Contact Information

- Area of Focus
- Education
The University of Toledo College of Law, JD, 2010, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
Western Michigan University, BS, 1999
- Bar Admissions
Ohio State Bar Association
Toledo Bar Association
American Bar Association
Indiana State Bar Association
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Biography
Joe focuses his practice on commercial litigation, insurance recovery, and litigation, information & claims management. As a litigator, Joe represents and advises clients in a variety of matters, including contract disputes, disputes between business partners, business torts, nuisance matters, and employment litigation related to breach of confidentiality agreements and misappropriation of trade secrets claims. Due to his time as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Magistrate Judge Mark J. Dinsmore of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Joe is particularly attuned to jurisdictional issues and has successfully challenged an Ohio court’s personal jurisdiction over a foreign subsidiary of an Ohio based parent company.
For nearly a decade, Joe has been part of a national product liability discovery team that coordinates discovery for a major manufacturer. Joe assists in developing discovery strategies; negotiating protective orders to protect confidential and trade secret information; drafting discovery motions, affidavits, and discovery responses; reviewing depositions for confidentiality; and coordinating the production of responsive documents. Joe also advises clients with respect to their discovery obligations and assists with developing a defensible and cost-effective discovery plan.
As part of his insurance recovery work, Joe represents and assists policyholders with claims submissions, negotiations with insurers, and litigation of coverage disputes. Joe has experience with environmental claims, asbestos and other toxic tort claims, property and business interruption claims, and general liability claims. Recently, Joe represented a client with a self-funded health plan in a dispute with its carrier over stop-loss coverage.
Joe also assists policyholders with the implementation of complex coverage-in-place agreements and coordinates claims management services, from initial filing to claim resolution for policyholders experiencing a high volume of claims or litigation.
- Biography
Joe focuses his practice on commercial litigation, insurance recovery, and litigation, information & claims management. As a litigator, Joe represents and advises clients in a variety of matters, including contract disputes, disputes between business partners, business torts, nuisance matters, and employment litigation related to breach of confidentiality agreements and misappropriation of trade secrets claims. Due to his time as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Magistrate Judge Mark J. Dinsmore of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Joe is particularly attuned to jurisdictional issues and has successfully challenged an Ohio court’s personal jurisdiction over a foreign subsidiary of an Ohio based parent company.
For nearly a decade, Joe has been part of a national product liability discovery team that coordinates discovery for a major manufacturer. Joe assists in developing discovery strategies; negotiating protective orders to protect confidential and trade secret information; drafting discovery motions, affidavits, and discovery responses; reviewing depositions for confidentiality; and coordinating the production of responsive documents. Joe also advises clients with respect to their discovery obligations and assists with developing a defensible and cost-effective discovery plan.
As part of his insurance recovery work, Joe represents and assists policyholders with claims submissions, negotiations with insurers, and litigation of coverage disputes. Joe has experience with environmental claims, asbestos and other toxic tort claims, property and business interruption claims, and general liability claims. Recently, Joe represented a client with a self-funded health plan in a dispute with its carrier over stop-loss coverage.
Joe also assists policyholders with the implementation of complex coverage-in-place agreements and coordinates claims management services, from initial filing to claim resolution for policyholders experiencing a high volume of claims or litigation.
- Professional & Civic Activities
- Ohio State Bar Association, Advisory Council on Diversity Initiatives, July 2020-Present
- Toledo Bar Association, Membership Committee, 2019
- Ohio State Bar Association, Council of Delegates, 2019
- Toledo Bar Association, Secretary, 2022
- Toledo Bar Association LGBTQ Council, Chair, 2019; Steering Committee for LGBTQ Council Formation, 2016; Member, 2016-2019
- Toledo Bar Association Young Lawyers Committee, Secretary 2014, Co-Chair 2015
- ABLE/LAWO Pro Bono Clinic, Volunteer
- Toledo Bar Association Expungement Clinic, Volunteer Attorney
- Articles & Presentations
- Policyholder Attys Eye Ohio Justice's Role in COVID-19 Fight Media Mention, Law360 (February 4, 2022)
- "Managing Supply-Chain Risks Through Insurance" Co-Author Lisa M. Whitacre, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (February 2022)
- "Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace," Co-Moderator Stacy RC Berliner, Brouse McDowell, Webinar (October 5, 2021)
- "Litigation Management - Avoiding Headaches with Early Planning and Defensible Protocols," Co-Author Brandi Doniere, Business Litigation Advisory, Brouse McDowell Blog (August 3, 2021)
- "COVID Coverage Cases Turn On Policy Language," Insurance Coverage Counselor, Brouse McDowell Blog (January 28, 2021)
- "Data Mapping - Why it's Important to Know What Data You Have and Where it Goes," Co-Author Craig Horbus, Corporate TIPS, Brouse McDowell Blog (November 4, 2020)
- “Litigation Considerations if Your Business Experiences a Breach,” Co-Author Craig S. Horbus, Corporate T.I.P.S., Brouse McDowell Blog (May 13, 2020)
- “Ransomware Attack – Is Losing Data Considered a Physical Loss Under Your Insurance Policy?” Corporate T.I.P.S., Brouse McDowell Blog (February 21, 2020)
- “Efforts to Protect Personal Data Continue in 2020 Creating An Ever Complex Maze of Rules for Businesses,” Co-Author Crag Horbus, Corporate T.I.P.S., Brouse McDowell Blog (January 8, 2020)
- "I want it noooow!" Co-Author Amy Shock, Hylant, Insurance Recovery Newsletter Vol XXIV (Fall 2019)
- “Ethical Issues Surrounding Technology and Protecting Client Trade Secrets,” co-speaker with Craig S. Horbus, Dana In-House Seminar CLE, Maumee, Ohio (October 1, 2019)
- “Texas Federal Court Analyzes What Triggers the Breach of Contract Exclusion,” Insurance Coverage Counselor, Brouse McDowell Blog (February 5, 2019)
- "The Almighty Discretionary Power of State Officials Trumps the Equal Protection Clause?" 41 U. Tol. L. Rev. 669 (2010)
- "Preserving Objections in Discovery: Conditional v. Partial Discovery Responses," Ohio Women's Bar Association Network Newsletter, Vol. XXIII, Issue 4 (Fall 2014)
- Distinctions
- News
June 14, 2022Joseph Cole Elected as Secretary of Toledo Bar Association
February 09, 2022Joseph Cole Provides Insight for Law360 on an Upcoming Ohio Supreme Court Decision involving COVID-19 Insurance Coverage
October 07, 2021Joseph Cole Receives UToledo Law Emerging Leader Award
August 19, 2021The Best Lawyers in America 2022 Recognizes 28 Brouse Attorneys in 32 Practice Areas and 6 Attorneys as "Ones to Watch"
August 20, 2020The Best Lawyers in America 2021 Recognizes 28 Brouse Attorneys in 33 Practice Areas and 4 Attorneys as "Ones to Watch"
August 05, 2020Joe Cole Appointed to OSBA's Advisory Council on Diversity Initiatives
July 15, 2020Marc Merklin and Joseph Cole Named as Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
July 29, 2019Joe Cole Appointed as Chair of TBA's LGBTQ Council
July 25, 2018Ohio-based Law Firms Brouse McDowell and Thacker Robinson Zinz Announce Plans to Join Together
- Seminars & Events
- Articles
February 07, 2022Managing Supply-Chain Risks Through Insurance
- Blogs
Business Litigation Advisory Blog
August 3, 2021Business Litigation Advisory: Litigation Management – Avoiding Headaches with Early Planning and Defensible Protocols
Insurance Blog
January 28, 2021Insurance Blog: COVID Coverage Cases Turn On Policy Language
Corporate T.I.P.S. Blog
November 4, 2020Corporate TIPS: Data Mapping - Why It's Important to Know What Data You Have and Where it Goes
May 13, 2020Corporate TIPS: Litigation Considerations if Your Business Experiences a Breach
February 21, 2020Corporate TIPS: Ransomware Attack - Is Losing Data Considered a Physical Loss Under Your Insurance Policy?
January 8, 2020Corporate TIPS: Efforts to Protect Personal Data Continue in 2020 Creating An Ever Complex Maze of Rules for Businesses
February 5, 2019Insurance Blog: Texas Federal Court Analyzes What Triggers the Breach of Contract Exclusion
- Newsletters