216.696.8700
Jon W. Groza
Partner
216.736.7255
Contact CSC button
Download My VCF Card
Download MY PDF Bio
Visit My Linkedin Profile

Jon W. Groza

Partner
216.736.7255
pdf logo
VCF logo
VCF logo

OVERVIEW & EXPERIENCE

Jon is a trusted advisor and counselor to a wide variety of private and public corporations. He often serves as outside general counsel on behalf of clients including manufacturers, value added distributors, real estate developers, private equity groups and their portfolio companies, family offices, financial institutions and technology companies, among others. Jon Chairs KJK’s eCommerce Practice Group, helping clients protect their brands and profit margins when selling on Amazon and other e-commerce marketplaces. Jon is also part of KJK’s leadership team, serving as Hiring Partner to oversee the recruitment and development of top talent in the firm.

In his role as outside general counsel, Jon helps privately held, family-owned companies protect and grow their businesses, leveraging KJK’s full-service corporate platform. His extensive background in business litigation includes contractual issues, trade secrets and securities fraud in federal and state courts. Jon assists businesses in the enforcement and defense of restrictive covenants, including non-compete/non-solicitation agreements, and advocates on behalf of clients seeking and defending against temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and other forms of emergency relief. Many of Jon’s clients rely on him for risk management counseling and oversight of their claims handling processes. Jon also advises businesses in out-of-court resolutions, including mediation and arbitration.

Jon’s client service philosophy prioritizes proactive thinking, responsiveness and efficiency. A history buff, Jon often applies lessons of the past when helping clients strategize, assess risks and engage in long-term thinking.

After four years practicing law in Washington, D.C., Jon returned to his hometown of Cleveland in 2012. His love for the city compels him to invest his civic energies with organizations that serve young people in Northeast Ohio and inner-city Cleveland, including Saint Martin de Porres High School, MetroHealth, the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, and his alma mater, Saint Ignatius High School. He’s also a lifelong Cleveland sports fan and the grandson of long-time Cleveland Browns offensive tackle and place-kicker Lou Groza, who was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

Representative Experience
  • Filed suit and negotiated a favorable settlement on behalf of an international lighting manufacturer against an unauthorized reseller, protecting profit margins and brand value
  • Negotiated the sale and succession plan of a second-generation development company
  • Assisted with the negotiation of a multi-million dollar credit facility on behalf of a family-owned technology service provider
  • Negotiated a collective bargaining agreement on behalf of a distribution client with the Teamsters
  • Defended a European automotive parts manufacturer in a UCC/contract dispute as first-chair trial counsel, obtaining a complete dismissal of plaintiff’s claims and an award of sanctions
  • Prosecuted claims on behalf of alternative investment funds against fraudulent transferee investors who wrongfully obtained funds through a Ponzi scheme
  • Represented a national mortgage servicing company in multiple federal litigation matters, obtaining the dismissal of all plaintiffs’ claims prior to trial
  • Assisted with the acquisition and subsequent sale of an industrial warehouse
  • Obtained the reversal of a default judgment entered against a German industrial printer client and negotiated the favorable settlement of plaintiff’s remaining claims
  • Defended a national financial institution in multiple employment discrimination actions, enforcing its employment agreements and obtaining favorable settlements following mediation before the American Arbitration Association
  • Served as lead counsel for employers in multiple grievance arbitrations filed by Teamsters and union members
  • Advised real estate investors on the formation, operation and governance of limited liability companies
  • Successfully defended efforts to secure a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order against a European dental implant manufacturer and its employee
  • Secured a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order against the rogue employee of a national mortgage servicing company
  • Successfully defended a global manufacturer and distributor of concrete tunnel and sewer pipes; defeating an injunction and enabling the company and its new employee to commence operations in the Ohio market
  • Defended a privately held manufacturing business in a shareholder derivative lawsuit
  • Obtained summary judgment and complete dismissal of all plaintiff’s claims on behalf of a publicly traded national retailer
AWARDS & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, 2018 – 2024
  • Selected To Ohio Super Lawyers, 2020 – 2024
  • Selected to Ohio Rising Stars, 2016 – 2018

Professional Affiliations

  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association
BAR / COURT ADMISSIONS
  • Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland
    • Young Professionals Association, Former Board Member
  • Bluecoats, Inc.
    • Member
  • Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland
    • Former Bridge Board Member
  • Cleveland Leadership Center
    • Class of 2013 Graduate
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association 3Rs Program (Rights, Responsibilities, Realities)
    • Former Volunteer and Team Leader
  • College Now Greater Cleveland
    • Former Mentor
  • Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, Member
    • Board of Directors
  • Junior Achievement of Cleveland
    • Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Former Member
  • The Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
    • Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Member
  • MetroHealth Foundation
    • Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Member
  • Rocky River Youth Lacrosse
    • 5th – 6th Grade Coach
  • Saint Ignatius High School
    • Bellarmine Committee, Member
  • Saint Martin De Porres High School
    • Board of Directors and Advancement Committee, Member
MEDIA MENTIONS
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
  • “Protecting Your Brand on Amazon,” Enceiba, KJK, TrackStreet [webinar], Nov. 9, 2023

PRACTICE AREAS

EDUCATION

  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., 2008
  • Miami University, B.A., History, 2005

RECENT KJK INSIGHTS

AI Tells the Dangers of Having it Write Amazon Reviews

AI Tells the Dangers of Having it Write Amazon Reviews

Amazon has been at war with unscrupulous actors and a new contender just entered the battlefield. An examination of various sites reveals the presence of AI-generated reviews. These reviews consistently incorporate the statement "As an AI language model," a frequently...

I strive to develop long-term relationships with clients, which affords a deep understanding of their businesses and goals. This enables me to provide value beyond the scope of legal services.

Jon W. Groza
Partner