Thomas J. Addesa - Columbus, OH
Attorney at Artz, Dewhirst & Wheeler - Attorneys at Law
Family Law Lawyers in Columbus, OH
560 E. Town Street Columbus, OH 43215
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
41
Years
Experience
Columbus Family Law Lawyer
Updated: 02/16/2026
Areas of Practice
- Family Law
- Criminal/Traffic Defense
- Personal Injury and General Civil Litigation
- Surrogacy
Litigation: 100%
Attorney Information
Overview
Thomas J. Addesa began his legal career in 1985 as an Assistant Prosecutor for the City of Columbus, Ohio. In that that role he conducted nearly 100 jury trials. In 1990 he was appointed Assistant City Attorney in the Civil Litigation Section for the Columbus City Attorney’s Office.
Mr. Addesa joined the present law firm of Artz, Dewhirst & Wheeler, LLP in 1998 with a primary focus in litigating Family Law including co-parenting. Tom also assists individuals seeking to have children through the surrogacy process, and provides representation for Carriers who have agreed to be part of that process. In 2005, Tom obtained a specialty certification in family law and has maintained his credentials as an Ohio State Bar Association Certified Family Relations Law Specialist.
Due to his extensive criminal and traffic experience, he continues to provide representation for clients charged with criminal and traffic offenses. He also provides mediation services to individuals with a variety of legal issues, including divorce and family law issues, who seek to resolve disputes outside of the court system. Tom’s 34 years of litigation experience allow him to zealously advocate and protect his clients’ rights, and his lengthy experience as a mediator allows him to assist parties in resolving their disputes without resorting to the litigation process.
Tom is an Adjunct Professor at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. Tom was a trainer for the Ohio Governor’s Commission on Dispute Resolution 1988, and he has an active practice mediating divorce and child custody matters for parents seeking to avoid contracted litigation. He also provides representation to parents/spouses who choose the Collaborative Divorce process.
Awards and Honors
Other Sources of Feedback About Thomas J. Addesa
Included on the 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Capital University Law School,
Columbus,
Ohio, 1985
Juris Doctorate
-
Capital University Law School,
Columbus,
Ohio, 1985
-
Non Legal Education
-
University of Scranton, 1981
B.S. in Public Administration
-
University of Scranton, 1981
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Attorney at Law
-
Ohio Surrogacy Attorney
Past Positions
- Capital University Law School, Adjunct Professor
- Columbus City Attorney's Office, Civil Litigation Section, Assistant City Attorney, 1991 - 1998
- City of Columbus, Ohio, Assistant Prosecutor, 1985 - 1991
Languages
-
English
Classes and Seminars
-
Asst. Prof. - Divorce and Family Mediation, Capital Univ. Law School, 2010 - Present
-
Gay Divorce in Ohio, Columbus Bar Assoc., 2013 - Present
-
Divorce and Family Mediation, Columbus Bar Association, 2011
-
Gestational Surrogacy in Ohio, Columbus Bar Association, 2008
- Capital University Law School, Mediation Clinic, 2006
Pro Bono Activities
- Interfaith Legal Clinic, 2008 - Present
- Various Individual Pro Bono Cases, 1998 - Present
Bar Admissions
- Ohio, 1985
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1990
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1989
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1991
Specialties and Certifications
- Family Relations Law Specialist, Ohio State Bar Association, 2005
Other Affiliations
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Columbus Bar Association
- Prior Board Member of the City of Columbus, Charitable Solicitations Board
- Member of Columbus Bar Association’s Judicial Screening Committee
Photo
Contact
560 E. Town Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-412-6878
Fax: 614-221-2340
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.adwllp.com/
Disclaimer
Your Profile? Update Now
When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.