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Attorney Megan J. Frantz Oldham obtains NBTA board certification
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: February 16, 2021
As a student at Mansfield Senior High School in Ohio, attorney Megan J. Frantz Oldham knew she wanted to make a difference in the lives of others.
“My goal was to be in a position to help enact change,” said Frantz Oldham, now a partner in the northeast Ohio firm Tzangas Plakas Mannos. “I believed obtaining a legal degree would open doors to enact that change and it definitely has.”
Since joining the firm in 2005, she’s represented numerous plaintiffs and their families in personal injury and wrongful death cases, securing settlements and jury verdicts to help them pay for medical and other expenses.
“It’s sad, hard work, but insanely fulfilling,” said Frantz Oldham, who became a partner in 2014. “Along with the amazing team at our firm, I am in a position to help people through what is often the worst time in their lives and achieve change. If an injury or death is caused by negligence, our firm seeks to hold the individuals and entities involved accountable so hopefully no one else has to suffer.”
Recently Frantz Oldham put her extensive trial experience to the test, successfully completing an extensive application and testing process to obtain board certification as a civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA).
Approximately 3% of American lawyers are board certified; in the case of Frantz Oldham she is now one of four females in the state of Ohio board certified by the NBTA.
In an email, NBTA Membership Director Julie Tomasetti wrote, “This is the only national board certification program in the country. Megan Frantz Oldham is a member who has met rigorous standards and requirements. Members must recertify every five years to maintain membership.”
“Board certification is one of the highest honors a trial attorney can achieve,” said Frantz Oldham, whose certification took effect in November 2020. “I am absolutely thrilled to have this certification, which further validates the work we do.
“I am now able to let clients know that their cases are in the hands of a board certified trial advocate, which you can only ethically do once you complete the process.”
Tzangas Plakas Mannos Managing Partner Lee Plakas said he isn’t surprised by Frantz Oldham’s latest achievement.
“When she joined our firm directly out of law school in 2005, it was obvious to us that she had the talent, intelligence and work ethic to rise to the top of her field,” said Plakas.
“A guiding principle to which our firm adheres is Aristotle’s statement: ‘We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, it is a habit.’ Megan Frantz Oldham’s professional life is a confirmation of the truth of Aristotle’s lesson.
“The fact that Megan is only one of four female attorneys in the entire state of Ohio to hold the designation of being board certified as a civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy speaks volumes about Megan’s commitment to excellence.
“When I was first certified as a civil trial advocate by the NBTA in 1998, our profession had not yet started to realize the effectiveness of talented and committed female trial advocates,” said Plakas. “Our firm, with its high proportion of accomplished female attorneys has always recognized juries’ receptiveness to talented female attorneys and we hope that Megan’s well-known success will inspire others to take the same path.”
Born in Akron and raised in Mansfield, Frantz Oldham majored in finance and decision sciences at Miami University in Ohio.
She initially began working at Tzangas Plakas Mannos as a law clerk while a 3L at The University of Akron School of Law.
While distinguishing herself as a civil trial advocate has been on her to-do list for some time, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown that she had the time to start the process.
“There were essentially no civil trials taking place and I was home with my husband Judge Jon Oldham, three children and our two dogs,” she said. “We were working from home and while I was still plenty busy I was able to set aside time to begin the process.
“I knew I had all the requirements, but it is very time-consuming to compile and submit the required documents to prove that I was eligible to take the exam,” said Frantz Oldham.
Applicants are required to demonstrate substantial trial experience, including serving as lead counsel in at least five jury cases and actively participating in 100 contested matters. They must also submit judicial and peer references, including those from opposing counsel, legal writing documents, proof of good standing and attendance of continuing legal education courses.
The final leg of the process involves taking a full day exam.
“It was my first test since the bar over 15 years ago,” said Frantz Oldham. “While it was challenging, it was manageable with the vast range of cases and legal situations I’ve experienced.
“I am very fortunate that my firm provides a supportive environment for female attorneys, who are given ample opportunity to get the trial experience necessary to apply for board certification.”
Now that she’s earned board certification, she’s hoping to be a role model to other women at the firm and around the state.
“Our managing partner Lee Plakas helped inspire me to achieve recognition,” said Frantz Oldham. “He’s been a role model to me and many others. He does the right things for the right reasons.
“We only take cases that we truly believe in and that’s one of the things I love about the firm,” she said. “For example, Lee and I argued a case before the Ohio Supreme Court involving a hospital’s refusal to turn over a medical record.
“The case was Griffith v. Aultman Hospital,” she said. “At issue was a patient’s right to know what was in their medical record regardless of where it was stored. Thankfully, the Ohio Supreme Court held that medical providers do not get to unilaterally decide what is or is not a medical record.”
In addition to her work at the firm, Frantz Oldham serves as an Ohio Association for Justice trustee and is a former Akron Law Alumni Association president.
Moving forward she said her goal is simple. “I plan to keep doing exactly what I’m doing. The work is extremely fulfilling and challenging with an amazing team and I absolutely love it,” said Frantz Oldham.