Matthew D. Besser

Matthew D. Besser is a Principal at Bolek Besser Glesius LLC, where his practice focuses on representing individuals in employment and civil rights cases. Prior to joining the firm, he worked for several years at a large Cleveland law firm representing companies in employment disputes, which helps him offer a unique perspective to individuals with employment law claims. Besser has experience in every aspect of employment law, from negotiation to trial, and then final appellate review. Besser holds the prestigious “AV Preeminent”® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting that his peers in the legal community rate him as possessing the highest level of legal skill and ethics. For 2014 and 2015, Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine named him to its list of Cleveland “Super Lawyers” in Employment Law. Before that, the publication named him a “Rising Star” in the field several different times. Besser is active in the legal community. He is frequently invited by legal groups to speak on employment law topics. He is also a member of the Judicial Selection Committee and the Certified Grievance Committee of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. In addition, Besser serves a member of the Ohio State Bar Association’s Counsel of Delegates. In 2013, he received the Ohio State Bar Foundation’s Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 & Under in the Cleveland District. Previously, Besser taught appellate advocacy at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Besser is a summa cum laude graduate of The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he received awards for the highest grade in Trial Advocacy, Civil Litigation, Disability Discrimination, and Evidence. Immediately after law school, Besser worked as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Richard L. Nygaard on the United States Court of Appeals. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Matthew D. Besser included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors The Donald S. Teller Memorial Award, 2003 The Judge Joseph H. Harter Memorial Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, 2004 Rising Star in Employment Law, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009 - 2013 Ohio State Bar Foundation, Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 & Under, District 12, 2013 - Present Super Lawyer in Employment Law, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2014 - Present Other Sources of Feedback About Matthew D. Besser Included on the 2026Ohio Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2024 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2023 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2021 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2020 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2019 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2018 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2016 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2015 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2014 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2013 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2012 Ohio Super Lawyers list 2009 Ohio Super Lawyers list

• Principal

• Appellate Advocacy, Case Western Reserve School of Law, 2008 - 2009
• Prop 8 and the Future of Same-Sex Marriage, Panel Moderator, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, January, 2011
• Recent Developments in Employment Discrimination, Dayton Bar Association, April, 2010
• ADA Titles II & III: Public Accommodations and Services, CLE Presentation, 2008
• Determining if an Individual is 'Qualified' Under the ADA, CLE Presentation, 2007
• How to Lose Your Ticket: Mishandling Client Funds, Case Western Reserve University School of Law New Lawyer Training Seminar, 2014 - Present
• Social Media for the Federal Employment Litigator, Federal Bar Association Northern District of Ohio Chapter, Federal Labor & Employment Law Seminar, 2013 - Present
• Social Media at Trial, Ohio State Bar Association Midwest Labor & Employment Law Conference, 2013 - Present
• Emerging Issues in FMLA Litigation, Ohio Association for Justice, Annual Convention, 2013 - Present
• Discovery of Social Media, Ohio Association for Justice, Annual Convention, 2012 - Present
• Social Media at Trial, Ohio State Bar Association, Annual Convention, 2012 - Present
• Why Social Media is a Nightmare for Attorneys and What to do About it, Ohio Employment Lawyers Association, Annual Seminar, 2012 - Present
• Social Media and the Law, Cleveland Employment Lawyers Association, Annual Seminar, 2011 - Present

• Ohio, 2004
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 2005
• U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 2005
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2005
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2014

• Ohio State Bar Association, 2011 (Member, Leadership Committee)
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (Member)
• Cleveland Employment Inn of Court (Associate & Membership Committee)
• Northeast Ohio Chapter of the American Constitution Society, 2009 - 2013 (Member, Executive Committee)
• Ohio State Bar Association (Council of Delegates)
• Ohio Employment Lawyers Association
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (Judicial Selection Committee)
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (Certified Grievance Committee)
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, 2013 - 2014 (Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee)