Henrique A. Geigel

Henrique is an associate in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the firm’s nationally recognized Vorys eControl practice.  His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, as well as general business litigation, and he is a member of the national toxic torts defense team for several Fortune 500 companies.  Henrique also serves as Ohio counsel in the defense of toxic tort litigation arising from alleged asbestos and benzene exposures, as well as other product and premises liability cases.

Henrique has over ten years of experience as a litigator, mostly on the defense side, and is savvy on all aspects of trial practice, focused on helping clients mount thorough trial defense strategies while posturing cases towards a prompt and efficient resolution.  Occasionally, he has assisted clients prosecuting cases as plaintiffs.  He also has criminal prosecutorial experience and successfully secured hundreds of convictions in drug trafficking and RICO cases as specially appointed county prosecutor.

Career highlights include:

• Successfully defending a client against numerous statutory and constitutional challenges asserted under the recently enacted Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program
• Successfully briefing and presenting oral argument in Ohio appellate courts
• Serving as second chair in a two week long, multimillion dollar trial in Federal court, securing a favorable result for client
• Responsible for the successful execution of the first-time state-issued interception warrants (wiretaps) in several counties across Ohio

Henrique is a proud naturalized U.S citizen.  He started his legal career in Caracas, Venezuela as an associate in the litigation group of a transnational law firm.  He then relocated to Miami, FL, where he practiced insurance defense, litigating complex commercial and personal lines, first and third party property claims and bad faith actions, in both state and federal court.  Upon relocating his family to Ohio, Henrique served as an associate assistant attorney general with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.  As an assistant attorney general with the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission and staff attorney for the Ohio Attorney General’s Heroin Unit, assisting federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with the investigation and prosecution of large scale drug trafficking operations and combatting Ohio’s opioid epidemic.  Henrique also served as pension counsel for the Ohio state retirement systems, five large multibillion dollar institutional investors, representing and advising the pensions in state and federal litigation, compliance, legislative initiatives and matters arising under Ohio’s sunshine laws.

Henrique received his J.D. cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, and his J.D. from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello.

Professional & Community Activities

Hispanic National Bar Association, Region X (Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee) President, 2018-2020

Immigration Justice Campaign, Pro Bono Volunteer

Dublin Soccer League, Volunteer Recreational Coach

Teaching/Speaking Engagements

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law L.L.M. Program Adjunct Professor for Analysis of Client Files Course (Fall 2020)

Interception Warrants/Wiretaps, Ohio Legislative Service Commission CLE on Fourth Amendment and Privacy Issues

4th Amendment and Protection of Privacy Rights, Electronic Surveillance Roundtable, Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA)

Co-Instructor, Electronic Surveillance Certification Class, OPOTA

Electronic Surveillance Workshop, Cincinnati Police Academy