CLYDE BENNETT II
Clyde is a trial lawyer. He is a regionally recognized criminal defense attorney dedicated to defending individuals and businesses facing all levels of state and federal investigations and prosecutions. He is exclusively interested and committed to the practice of criminal defense. He strongly believes that individuals and companies charged with the commission of a crime are entitled not just to a defense, but a strong, passionate defense - and a victory.
He has maintained a lengthy, consistent record of achieving success for his clients in all aspects of state and federal criminal defense throughout the midwest region. He is regarded as one of the most successful criminal defense attorneys based on his results at trial in some of the most contested, difficult, high-profile cases.
Clyde brings extensive experience, skill and aggressiveness to difficult criminal cases and challenging legal situations. As a result of his representation, many individuals and companies charged with the most serious crimes (capital offense, aggravated murder, manslaughter) and federal offenses have been found not guilty. Click here to view some of those cases. Clyde provides zealous representation to all of his clients regardless of the seriousness of the charge and/or the publicity associated with the case. Click here to view some of those cases.
Clyde is admitted to the Ohio Bar and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Cincinnati Bar Association, the Dayton Bar Association, the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Greater Cincinnati Defense Lawyers Association.
By way of background, Clyde attended the University of Cincinnati where he received a B. S. in Bio-Chemistry in 1987. He entered the University of Dayton School of Law in 1989. In 1990 he was a law clerk at the Cincinnati law firm of Waite, Schneider, Bayless and Chesley, working in the area of civil litigation. In 1991 he was a law clerk at the Dayton law firm of Pickrel, Schaeffer and Ebeling, again working in the area of civil litigation.
Clyde graduated from the University of Dayton School of Law in 1992. Upon graduation from law school Clyde was an associate with the Dayton law firm of Freund, Freeze and Arnold, where he practiced municipal liability, medical malpractice defense, and insurance defense. Thereafter, Clyde was an associate at the Cincinnati law firm of Dinsmore and Shohl, where he practiced medical malpractice defense, general civil defense litigation and criminal defense. As a civil litigant he defended corporations, hospitals, universities and municipalities on the state and federal level in civil pre-trial and trial matters.
After becoming a full-equity partner at Dinsmore and Shohl Clyde focused his practice exclusively on criminal defense, criminal law and white collar crime at the state and federal level. Federally, he successfully defended individuals and corporations in criminal investigations, grand jury proceedings and criminal trials. He successfully defended many federal criminal cases by way of jury trial. He also advised individual and corporate clients on white collar criminal issues. He practiced federal criminal law in New York, Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. On the state level, he successfully defended serious criminal offenses up to and including aggravated murder and capital offense cases (death penalty cases).
In September 2007 Clyde resigned from the law firm of Dinsmore and Shohl. Click here to view the details of Mr. Bennett's temporary absence from the practice of law and why it has made him a better criminal defense attorney.
MISSION STATEMENT
Mr. Bennett is committed to zealously and successfully defending individuals and businesses facing all levels of state and federal investigations and prosecutions. He believes defending the accused is one of his God-given purposes. He exclusively practices criminal defense because it is his interest and passion. He believes it is a privilege to protect, defend and prevail on behalf of the accused. His mission is to provide his client with representation to the fullest extent of the law - and to win. Accordingly, he brings dedication, commitment and passion to his cases along with experience, skill and aggressiveness.
With respect to practicing criminal defense, Mr. Bennett provides the following:
"I didn't go into the practice of criminal defense out of necessity or by accident. Defending people comes natural to me. Unlike some criminal defense attorneys, I have never prosecuted anyone. Prosecuting an individual or organization is unnatural to me. I have been exclusively devoted to defending individuals and organizations accused of crimes and facing civil claims my entire legal career. It is my passion and purpose."
"I take it personally and I feel it personally when my client is investigated or charged with commiting a crime. The results I have obtained for my clients reflect this mentality and commitment. My goal for every case is to obtain a dismissal of the charge or investigation or to win the case at trial."
As a result of his mission, many individuals charged with the most serious cases (capital offense, murder, manslaughter, etc.) have been found not guilty. Click here to view why Mr. Bennett is regarded as one of the most successful criminal defense attorneys based on his results at trial in the most contested, difficult, high-profile cases. Mr. Bennett exhibits the same commitment and willingness to fight in less heralded and/or less serious cases. Click here to view the results he has achieved in some of those cases.