Fadi V. Nahhas

With nearly 25 years of experience as a business lawyer, professional negotiator, and former professor of organizational behavior and change, Fadi V. Nahhas is recognized for bringing a strategic, business-minded perspective to complex transactions and client counseling. His sophisticated practice and client service have earned recognition in Mergers and Acquisitions in both Chambers USA and The Legal 500, reflecting his reputation as a trusted advisor to middle-market and closely held businesses.

Mr. Nahhas served as chair of Eastman & Smith’s Executive Committee for several years and regularly acts as outside general counsel to companies across a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, telecommunications, and service sectors. Clients rely on him for practical guidance on high-stakes transactions, governance matters, and strategic business decisions. Throughout his career, he has handled numerous novel and complex transactions, including the sale of one of Ohio’s first cannabis businesses and the sale of the region’s only licensed hazardous waste facility.

In response to the growing international needs of the Firm’s clients, Mr. Nahhas built Eastman & Smith’s immigration practice to support businesses engaged in foreign direct investment and cross-border operations in Northwest Ohio. One of only a handful of corporate immigration attorneys in the region, he advises employers on strategic immigration solutions as part of an overall corporate strategy to manage complex cross border and foreign direct investment transactions.

Prior to practicing law, Mr. Nahhas taught international business and managerial skills courses at Northern Kentucky University and published several articles related to small business development. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law where he was a senior book review editor at the University of Cincinnati's Human Rights Quarterly, a member of the executive board of the University of Cincinnati Moot Court Board and a member of the Order of Barristers. He received a master of organizational behavior from Brigham Young University and a B.S., summa cum laude, in management and international studies from Northern Kentucky University.