Defense of professional, product and general liability claims and commercial litigation are the primary areas of focus in associate Charles E. Hatch’s practice.  

Throughout law school, Mr. Hatch clerked for Judge Stacy L. Cook of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. Prior to clerking for Judge Cook, Mr. Hatch was employed as a law clerk for another firm. He utilizes his experience handling pre-trial and trial management, drafting opinions, and conducting legal research in his practice at Eastman & Smith.  Mr. Hatch is part of the Firm’s Professional Liability, Product Liability and Business Litigation Practice Groups. 

Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Hatch was employed in the criminal justice system as a corrections officer and a probation officer. These experiences shaped Mr. Hatch’s legal practice by requiring him to adapt in environments that require strong negotiation practices, build working professional relationships and utilize critical thinking skills to manage client obstacles. 

During his tenure at the University of Toledo College of Law, Mr. Hatch had the opportunity to travel to China as a participant in the International Beijing Foreign Studies University-Wanhuida Cup Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition in 2019.  Participants were tasked with arguing issues in a hypothetical Chinese patent infringement matter. Mr. Hatch’s experience as a moot court participant served as an excellent opportunity to orally argue before internationally recognized judges and develop cultural competencies to practice with non-U.S. common law trained lawyers. 

Also in law school, Mr. Hatch served as Student Bar Association vice president, president of the Night Student Association, student ambassador to the Office of Admissions and a member of the Student Legal Services Board.  

Mr. Hatch enjoys traveling and is an avid scuba diver. He resides in Temperance, Michigan, with his wife.

Community/Professional Affiliations

• Ohio State Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan
• Toledo Bar Association

Honors & Awards

• Listed in Best Lawyers^®: Ones to Watch in America, 2024 (encompasses attorneys who show “outstanding professional excellence”).
• University of Toledo Student Bar Association Student Involvement Award, 2019

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