Paul-Michael La Fayette

Paul-Michael La Fayette is a Partner at Freeman Mathis and Gary's Columbus office and Co-Chair of the firm's Real Estate national practice team. Mr. La Fayette concentrates his practice on professional liability defense, including the defense of dentists, physicians, real estate agents and attorneys. He represents professionals in administrative licensure proceedings before their professional Boards. In addition to professional liability, he regularly represents governmental entities in litigation and as general counsel. Mr. La Fayette has extensive experience in representing clients in lawsuits involving professional malpractice, premises liability, contracts, employment, construction, civil rights, zoning, wrongful death and products liability.

11th Circuit Court of Appeals 

Florida

Ohio

U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio

U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio

U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma

United States Supreme Court

• “Patient Dies Following Root Canal” PSIC Physicians’ Connection (2024)
• “Responding to EEOC and OCRC Complaints” – Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Assn. (2020)
• “What to Expect When You Are Not Expecting” PSIC Physicians’ Connection (2020)
• “Case Studies in Dental Malpractice” – LawPractice CLE (2020)
• “OSHA, HIPAA and More: Are Your Insureds in Compliance?” – MPL (2019)
• “Legal Considerations in Dental Treatment” – WD Miller Dental Society (2019)
• “Dental Practice Purchase: Non-Binding Asset Purchase” (2018)
• “Board Actions: Stories from the Trenches” – MPL (PIAA) (2018)
• “Dental Malpractice 101” – MyLawCLE (2018)
• “Dentistry and the Law” – The Ohio State University College of Dentistry (2005-present)

• Columbus Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute (DRI)
• MPL Association (formerly PIAA)
• Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association

•  2023-2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^®
• AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
• Named an “Ohio Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine (2012-2022)
• Law Director for Village of Plain City
• Solicitor for Village of New Holland
• Solicitor for Village of Chesterhill

• “Collaborative Patient Safety Principles” (2025)
• “Common Real Estate Liability Claims to Look Out For” co-presented with Catherine Carson-Freymann and Jason Suh (2024)
• “War Stories – MPL Dental Workshop” (2024)
• “Defending Federal and State Education Law Claims and Cases Based on Allegations of Sexual Assault or Sexual Harassment” (2023)
• “COVID – Qualified Immunity Issues”  (MPL 2022)
• “Realtors Association – Broker Advisory Forum” (2022)