Education

  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., 1986
  • Brandeis University, B.A. 1983, with honors

Civic Involvement

  • American Friends of Ogen-Israel Free Loan Fund, President
  • Brandeis University Alumni Association, Past Board Member
  • Brandeis University Hillel, Board Member
  • Chaverim of Cleveland, Board Member
  • City of University Heights, Member of the Board of Zoning Appeals
  • Cleveland Hillel Foundation, Past Board Member
  • Cleveland Jewish News, Past Board Member
  • Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, Member of the Executive Committee
  • Fuchs Mizrachi School, Model UN Advisor and Past Board Member
  • Green Road Synagogue, Board Member and Past President
  • Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, Past Member of the Executive Committee
  • Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Volunteer and Past Board Member
  • Jewish Learning Connection, Board Member
  • John Carroll University, Past Community Liaison Panel Member
  • Junior Achievement, Volunteer
  • Legal Aid Society, Member of Volunteer Lawyers Program
  • Mandel Jewish Community Center, Past Secretary
  • Wexner Heritage Foundation, Seminar Graduate

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Case Western Reserve School of Law, Law and Medicine Center, Charter Member of Advisory Committee
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Member, Past Member of Certified Grievance Committee
  • Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Arbitrator and Business Mediator
  • Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District, Life Member

Bar / Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Ohio
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • District of Columbia, Court of Appeals
  • Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States Tax Court

Awards

  • Selected to Ohio Super Lawyers 2013-2018
  • Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, Yanowitz Leadership Award
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence

Presentations & Publications

  • Author of several articles in the fields of securities law, estate planning and healthcare litigation
  • “Health Insurance Litigation,” National Health Lawyers Association, Presenter
  • “Litigation for Paralegals,” American Law Institute / American Bar Association, Presenter
  • “Representing Estate and Trust Beneficiaries and Fiduciaries,” American Law Institute / American Bar Association, Presenter

Media Mentions

Ari H. Jaffe

Of Counsel

ahj@kjk.com 216.736.7209 216.621.6536

Overview

Over his nearly 20 years with KJK, Ari’s legal work has spanned a broad range of litigation, arbitration and corporate matters for individuals, investment firms, banks, manufacturers, real estate developers, title companies and businesses ranging in size from start-ups to publicly traded Fortune 10 companies. His substantive expertise is likewise diverse and includes securities, insurance, real estate, employment, ethics, professional liability and healthcare law.

Prior to joining KJK, Ari served as in-house counsel for a major health insurance company and then was associated with a small law firm, all along creating client relationships that have spanned decades. He has earned a reputation among his clients for being able to tackle even the most complex cases requiring multifaceted negotiations, trials and appeals.

Ari has served as Special Counsel to the State of Ohio.

Civic involvement and volunteerism have been an integral part of Ari’s life since high school with much of his work benefitting Northeast Ohio’s Jewish community. He has held leadership positions with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Mandel Jewish Community Center, Fuchs Mizrachi School, Green Road Synagogue, Cleveland Hillel Foundation and the Cleveland Jewish News.

“I am fortunate that my parents and grandparents instilled in me a duty of public service.” – Ari H. Jaffe

Representative Experience

“Ari is one of the most ethical and knowledgeable individuals I have ever met of the legal profession. He consistently strives to ensure positive outcomes for his clients. Ari has represented me at various times throughout my life and career. He is always available for consult, and makes sure that one is kept in the loop at all times.”

  • Representing major investment firm in defense of numerous customer and employment lawsuits and arbitrations
  • Helping individuals and families successfully recover assets lost through investment fraud and Ponzi schemes through negotiation, arbitration, litigation, class actions and multi-district litigation
  • Defending client in the sale of an investment advisory business faced with investigations by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Ohio Department of Commerce
  • Representing an online learning company in its sale to a major publisher
  • Representing an employer in successfully recovering insurance premiums wrongly collected by a third-party administrator
  • Guiding many long-term clients through company start-up, finance, growth, sale, acquisition and merger