BMCO - Baasten McKinley & Co LPA

08/26/2026

Baasten, McKinley & Co. is pleased to share that Attorney Rachel Reight will present the East Central Ohio Education Association Fall Legal Update on Monday, October 19, at Hartville Kitchen.

The program is open to all ECOEA members and will provide timely legal information relevant to Ohio educators and local association leaders.

Registration begins at 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. and the program at 6:30 p.m. A professional development hour will be available.

ECOEA members may register by scanning the QR code in the graphic. We appreciate the opportunity to support Ohio educators by helping them understand the legal developments affecting public education and employee rights.

Join us for an informational evening regarding legal updates for educators presented by OEA Attorney Rachel Rachel Reight!

Register today using the 🔗 posted below in the comments

08/21/2026

As summer comes to a close, we are saying goodbye to two great members of the BMCO team, Gabby Johnson and Holden Harrod.

Gabby brought a thoughtful and professional approach to her internship and spent the summer getting an inside look at the day to day work of a labor and employment law practice. We appreciated her willingness to learn, take on new assignments, and contribute wherever she was needed.

Holden helped us with projects involving office templates and workflows while also learning that practicing law involves far more than what happens in a courtroom. His curiosity, attention to detail, and willingness to tackle whatever we put in front of him made him a valuable part of the office this summer.

Thank you, Gabby and Holden, for your hard work and for spending your summer with BMCO. We enjoyed having you as part of our team and wish you both a successful school year and all the best in what comes next.

08/17/2026

Social media can create real professional and legal consequences for educators, often long after a post is made.

Today, Baasten, McKinley & Co., L.P.A. attorney Abbey Bashor will make 2 presentations titled “When a Post Becomes a Problem” to the Westlake Teachers Association, addressing the issues educators should consider when their online activity intersects with the workplace.

We appreciate the opportunity to provide practical legal education to the educators and associations we serve.

08/07/2026

Baasten, McKinley & Co., L.P.A. is pleased to announce that Rachel M. Reight has been selected to the 2027 Ohio Super Lawyers list.

This recognition reflects Rachel’s commitment to her clients, her leadership within the legal profession, and her extensive work in labor, employment, and education law. Throughout her career, Rachel has remained focused on providing thoughtful, practical, and determined representation to educators, public employees, labor organizations, and other clients navigating complex workplace matters.

Super Lawyers selections are made annually through a patented, multiphase process that combines peer nominations and evaluations with independent research. Candidates are assessed using 12 indicators of professional achievement and peer recognition, and only 5 percent of attorneys in each state are selected to the Super Lawyers list.

We are proud to see Rachel’s work and professional contributions recognized by her peers and the legal community. Please join us in congratulating her on this well deserved honor.

07/27/2026

Today, Monday, July 27, 2026, Rachel Reight is presenting at National Business Institute's upcoming course, "The Ultimate Guide to FERPA Compliance for Lawyers and Educators".

07/26/2026

BMCO was proud to serve as a Champion Level Sponsor of the 2026 Ohio Education Association Educational Foundation Gala and to join educators and public education advocates from across Ohio for this important event.

The OEA Educational Foundation supports programs that strengthen public education by encouraging creativity and innovation, community outreach, student and educator well being, and diversity. Through its grants and initiatives, the Foundation helps educators develop meaningful learning opportunities, address student needs, and enhance educational experiences in communities throughout Ohio.

Our firm’s work is grounded in a commitment to public education and the professionals who serve Ohio’s students. We were honored to support the Foundation and to celebrate its continued investment in educators, students, and public schools.

Thank you to the OEA Educational Foundation and everyone who helped make this year’s Gala a success.

07/23/2026

BMCO is pleased to share that attorney Abbey Bashor will present two sessions at the NEOEA Summer Leadership Conference on July 23, 2026.

Abbey will present a "Legal Update", a practical overview of significant legal developments affecting educators and unions. The session will address recent case law, statutory changes, SERB decisions, discipline trends, and emerging issues in public education, with a focus on how these developments affect member rights, day to day representation, and organizational risk.

Abbey will also present “When a Post Becomes a Problem: Social Media, the First Amendment, and Member Conduct.” This session will examine how social media activity and off duty conduct can result in employee discipline, when employee speech may be legally protected.

Both sessions will provide labor relations professionals and union leaders with practical guidance and concrete strategies for advising and protecting members.

We are proud to support NEOEA’s Summer Leadership Conference and Abbey’s continued work on behalf of public educators and their unions.

07/18/2026

Attorney Rachel Reight recently presented at the OEA Skills Development Seminar, a program tailored for association leaders who are considering future Labor Relations Consultant positions.

Rachel’s session focused on several core areas of public sector education labor relations, including teacher termination, reductions in force, past practice, State Board of Education investigations, and nonrenewal.

These topics require not only a strong understanding of the law and collective bargaining agreements, but also careful judgment, strategic advocacy, and practical problem solving. Thank you to OEA for the opportunity to support the development of future labor relations leaders.

07/15/2026

BMCO is thrilled to participate in the recent Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses legal clinic, helping local entrepreneurs navigate some of today's most pressing legal landscapes!

Our team presented on two critical pillars of workplace compliance:

Employee Handbooks: Setting clear expectations and protecting your business culture.

Independent Contractor vs. Employee Classification: Navigating the complex rules to avoid costly missteps.

We were also proud to make this a true family affair! Following the presentation, our own legal team was joined by Rachel Reight Harrod’s husband, Brian Harrod, patent attorney from Renner Otto, who met one-on-one with small business owners to answer their intellectual property and legal questions.

Supporting the growth, resilience, and compliance of our local business community is at the heart of what we do. Thank you to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program for hosting such an impactful event!

07/07/2026

Baasten, McKinley & Co., L.P.A. is proud to support the Ohio Education Association Educational Foundation Gala as a Champion Level Sponsor.

Public education is at the heart of strong communities, and we are honored to stand with the OEA Educational Foundation in its work supporting educators, students, and meaningful learning opportunities across Ohio. This year’s gala will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at COSI in Columbus, bringing together supporters of public education for an afternoon of celebration, connection, and purpose.

We are grateful for the opportunity to help advance the Foundation’s mission and to support the educators who make a lasting difference in the lives of Ohio students.

Public Education Matters — the heart of it all.

The 2026 Foundation Gala, held in partnership with OEA - Retired, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Ohio Education Association Retired Members organization. The event will take place on July 25, 2026, at COSI in downtown Columbus—a fitting venue whose mission to “engage, inspire, and transform lives and communities” reflects the work of public educators across Ohio.

Through innovation and diversity grants, the OEA Foundation supports opportunities that foster student growth and learning. Join us as we celebrate this milestone and affirm that Public Education Matters.

‼️ The virtual auction is now open, with a live auction during the program.

For event details, sponsorship opportunities, or to purchase tickets, visit ohea.org/foundationgala

Ohio's New Educators OEA Aspiring Educators COSI - Center of Science and Industry