Incoming CBA President Faith Whittaker didn’t grow up in Cincinnati, so she doesn’t have that “what high school did you go to” connection that Cincinnatians are oddly obsessed with, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t consider the city home. It’s been a long and winding road that brought her to the Queen City, yet the unorthodox path she took is exactly why she is the perfect person to hold up the CBA as a shining beacon, a lighthouse, that the region’s legal community can always rely on to provide a warm welcome.
As shown by the Dayton Flyers thermos adorning a conspicuous shelf in her spacious office at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP—where she is a practicing partner specializing in labor and employment law as well as the Chair of the Employment Practices Group—she’s fully transparent that her original career plans did not include law, but rather began as a pre-med undergraduate. Yet far before these undergraduate years, Faith was a devoted ballet dancer, taking classes as early as Kindergarten all the way through law school. Her skill led her to a spot on the Toledo Ballet Company and she even performed as part of the University of Dayton’s ensemble.
So how does a former ballet dancer and aspiring medical student become partner at one of the most prestigious law firms in the Greater Cincinnati area? A humbling experience of trial (no pun intended) and error. “When I took Pre-Calculus everyone around me seemed like they knew what was going on. I was furiously lost and barely got by, but I really liked my American History class. My brother’s roommate was a history major with pre-law focus and I thought ‘Okay. That sounds cool.’ That’s literally how the switch went.” So, she immersed herself in the History department, working closely with professors and guiding students as a Teacher’s Assistant. While the birth of our nation lured her away from the hard sciences, those initial pre-med classes—steeped in diligent research, technical writing, and rigorous analysis—taught her many of the same principles she still relies on this very day to maintain a successful practice.
In hindsight, the interest in history that emerged during college makes complete sense. Appreciation of history is always on Faith’s mind. Much of that interest centers around how laws evolve over time, but more importantly, a fair portion of her intrigue can be attributed to how the legal profession has changed in a relatively short time. She does not take for granted the opportunities she has today when it wasn’t too long ago that a woman wearing pants in the male-dominated workplace would be considered ‘unladylike.’
In addition to those who came before her, she’s also quick to point out that how much of what she’s been able to accomplish has been a collaborative effort. She had plenty of help along the way, which is why she knows firsthand how important it is to have a professional support system that can be relied upon to provide a solid stepping stone or a safe harbor where aspiring attorneys can find true fellowship. This sense of community is what she hopes to impart during her year as CBA President.
Faith’s dedication to making sure every member sees the CBA as a home comes from her own personal experience. After graduating from the University of Dayton with her bachelor’s in history, Faith kept traveling down I-75 and attended NKU’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law. Here she was, far from her hometown of Toledo, with no family in the vicinity. Encouraged by Judge Michael Newman, Faith attended her first CBA event: a social held at Via Vite. It was here that the CBA became Faith’s first significant connection to Greater Cincinnati’s legal community. “The CBA was a place where I could network with other people and a place where I could get involved in leadership roles.” And get involved she did. First, as Social Chair of the CBA’s Young Lawyers’ Section, rising to YLS Chair. Then as Secretary and eventual Chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group. Taking an active role in the CBA soon paid off in spades. She booked speakers for special events. She presented in front of roomfuls of colleagues at professional seminars. She liaised with keynote guests. “These are all things you want to do as a lawyer, that I got the opportunity to do because of the CBA.” Before long she was on the CBA’s executive board.
Through years of participation in CBA events, Faith has gained mentors, built relationships with opposing counsel and created lasting bonds with respected colleagues. “[The CBA] ended up being an extension of home for me.”
Now, as the President for 2024-2025, she’s hoping to craft a CBA that provides for others what was so magnanimously given to her. “I respect the CBA so much. It’s meant so much to my career and to what I do as a lawyer here in Cincinnati. To have the honor of being president is just amazing.”
As she sees it, the way to create a home for new and existing CBA members is simple:
First, foster understanding. Sure, the CBA is an excellent resource for logging CLE credits, but there are so many other offerings that are geared towards bringing participants together with other colleagues in their specific practice groups or other subject areas.
Second, build appreciation. The CBA provides new and aspiring members with unique possibilities for collaborating with judges. The value of having access to the “black robes up at the podium” is an asset that cannot be understated.
Third, strengthen the community. By utilizing the CBA, newer members have the chance to position themselves into leadership roles (such as serving in board positions) at an early stage in their career. This can create deeper ties within the legal community and promote better understanding across the legal community.
For all the aspirations Faith has for her time as president, she’s quick to affirm that the Cincinnati legal community is already quite strong, welcoming, and collegial. “Let’s just say that whenever I have a case with anybody in Cincinnati, I’m never doing a face palm. I’m never groaning.” Rather than try to flush out any bad seeds, she’s hoping instead to shine a light on the abundance of gems that are already available to those seeking mentorship, leadership, or old-fashioned friendship.
At the core of each of these -ships is the idea of connection. Television shows like to portray lawyers as cutthroat, vicious, malevolent bulldogs. It makes for good drama. But while these fictionalized tropes might be good for Nielsen ratings, that attitude rarely helps in the real world. Faith is a staunch advocate of the golden rule ‘treat people how you want to be treated.’ Without respect, the chances at forging a worthy connection are slim. As Faith says, “The biggest thing that I’ve learned and the most important thing, is building relationships. That is standard across the board for this profession. It’s going to help you in so many ways. Not just to get business, but also with opposing counsel, with your judges, with your own internal folks. Build relationships and don’t be disingenuous about it. You never know what’s going to happen later. Some of my biggest clients have come from things that wouldn’t have been on my radar, but it was a connection I made and relationship that I nurtured that ended up being beneficial, but it wasn’t the goal.”
Finally, Faith stresses the importance of carving out time for yourself. “Our profession is very challenging,” she says. “You have to know the law. You have to stay on top of deadlines. You’ve got to get clients. You’ve got to keep clients.” We have to give ourselves a healthy outlet for alleviating stress. Whether it be working out, meditation, running, crocheting, whatever…don’t push away the activities that can keep us on an even keel. This is especially crucial for Faith to keep in mind given how busy she can find herself on any given day. In addition to the plethora of duties for Dinsmore and the CBA, she’s also on the Board of Trustees for the Cincinnati Ballet and a volunteer for Family Promise of Hamilton County. In addition, at home she has two vivacious children, Georgia (8) and Xavier (6), currently in the throes of elementary school chaos that can keep her on her toes more than any ballet class.
Today, her love of ballet is expressed through her involvement with the Cincinnati Ballet’s executive committee as their secretary and development chair. The pictures of Faith and her family at the Cincinnati Ballet’s Center for Dance that accompany this article aren’t solely for the aesthetic beauty. They also express the importance that ballet has played and continues to play in Faith’s life.
Regardless of how high her career continues to ascend during and after her presidency, her beginnings at the CBA are always close to her heart. Sitting next to that Dayton Flyers thermos? A beautiful ceramic mug hand-crafted by former CBA president and an early mentor of Faith’s, the late Steve Richey. So trust that she knows from experience. In the end, Faith understands that all of us can be pulled in many different directions, but she is adamant about reminding us that the CBA is always there when we need help. She left one home and, at the CBA, found a place that offers many of the same comforts. Her mission is to make sure everyone else knows that the CBA is there for them, too.
Richardson is a communications specialist for the CBA. Thank you to the Cincinnati Ballet’s Center for Dance for providing the perfect space for our photos.