Standing up for Ohio workers and the families they support.
Kapitan Legal Services is a boutique Akron firm helping employees fight wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and unpaid wages — and serving Northeast Ohio with estate planning, probate, and civil litigation.
Focused work in three areas where it matters most.
Each case gets the attention it deserves. We take on fewer matters so we can dig into the facts, the law, and the strategy that fits your situation.
Employment Law
Wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, FMLA, and wage & hour disputes. If something at work isn't right, we'll help you figure out what to do about it.
Learn moreEstates & Probate
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and probate administration. Practical estate planning for Ohio families and small business owners.
Learn moreCivil Litigation
Contract disputes, business conflicts, and civil claims in state and federal court. Clear-eyed counsel on whether to settle, negotiate, or fight — and how to do it.
Learn moreEmployment Law
Representing employees across Northeast Ohio in disputes with current and former employers.
When work goes wrong — a sudden firing, a hostile manager, missing overtime, a refused medical leave — the path forward isn't always obvious. Many employment claims have short deadlines (in some cases as little as 180 days), and the right first move depends on the specifics of your situation.
We help employees understand their rights under Ohio and federal law, evaluate the strength of potential claims, and pursue the remedies that actually fit the harm — whether that's a negotiated severance, an EEOC charge, or a lawsuit.
- Wrongful termination
- Workplace discrimination (race, sex, age, disability, religion, national origin)
- Sexual harassment & hostile work environment
- Retaliation & whistleblower claims
- FMLA & medical leave disputes
- Wage and hour / unpaid overtime
- Severance agreement review & negotiation
- Non-compete and non-solicit disputes
Estates & Probate
Practical estate planning and probate administration for Ohio families and small business owners.
A good estate plan isn't about predicting the future — it's about making sure your wishes are clear and your family isn't left guessing. We help clients put the right documents in place to protect assets, name decision-makers, and keep things out of court whenever possible.
When probate is unavoidable, we guide executors and family members through the Ohio probate process step by step, so administering an estate doesn't become a second crisis on top of a loss.
- Wills & last testaments
- Revocable living trusts
- Durable powers of attorney
- Healthcare directives & living wills
- Probate administration & estate settlement
- Beneficiary & asset designation review
- Estate planning for small business owners
- Updates after major life events
Civil Litigation
Representation in contract, business, and civil disputes in Ohio state and federal court.
Most disputes don't need to end in a courtroom — but you'll get a better result if your other side knows you're ready to go there. We approach civil litigation strategically, weighing the cost, time, and likelihood of success against what you're actually trying to achieve.
Whether you're pursuing a claim or defending against one, we'll give you a candid read on the case and a clear plan for the next move.
- Contract disputes & breach of contract
- Business & partnership disputes
- Construction & service contract claims
- Collections & debt recovery
- Pre-litigation negotiation & demand letters
- State court litigation
- Federal court litigation
- Settlement & mediation representation
One attorney. Your case, start to finish.
Kapitan Legal Services is intentionally small. You'll work directly with the lawyer handling your matter — not a rotating cast of associates, paralegals, and intake staff.
Robert B. Kapitan
Robert Kapitan has counseled management and employees in work related legal matters for over 25 years. The first four years of his practice was dedicated exclusively to representing management in labor arbitration disputes, collective bargaining and general counseling. In 2006, Robert opened his own practice and expanded to include the representation of employees in workplace disputes involving contracts, non-compete agreements, wage and hour claims, and wrongful termination. He also represented union members in grievance arbitrations and contract negotiation. In addition, Robert continued to represent large and small businesses in employee and contract disputes. In 2012, Robert accepted the position of general counsel of an international labor union. In that position, he represented clients in over 40 states and settled or won over 250 arbitration cases. Robert also successfully litigated over a dozen federal lawsuits, including arguments before federal district and circuit courts. But his representation was not limited to arbitration and civil litigation. Robert also represented his clients before federal agencies such as the NLRB, DOL, and EEOC. He was also responsible for counseling his clients on regulatory matters, including the creation of multi-employer health insurance and retirement plans. Lastly, Robert also participated in the negotiation of over 50 collective bargaining agreements, including lock-outs and strikes.
Currently, Robert maintains his own practice and is of-counsel with the Lazzaro Law Firm which specializes in class action wage and hour litigation. He has presented seminars on a variety of topics, was recognized by the Ohio Super Lawyers, and is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Ohio Employment Lawyers Association and the Labor Employer Relations Association. He earned a finance degree from Miami University and his law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class and was a member of the Journal of Law and Health, and President of the International Law Students Association.
Robert lives in Richfield, Ohio with his wife and five youngest children on a small hobby farm raising chickens and pigs. His oldest daughter is an elementary school teacher in Cleveland City Schools. He is a member of St. Paul’s Orthodox Church in North Royalton and is Vice President of the Richfield Township Board of Zoning Appeals. He has the honor of being on the Board of Directors for NCC Solutions, a non-profit that provides housing and support services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
Education
- Cleveland Marshall College of Law, J.D., cum laude
- Miami Univeristy, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- State of Ohio
- U.S. District Court — Northern District of Ohio, Souther District of Ohio, Western District of Michigan
Memberships
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Akron Bar Association
Areas of Focus
- Employment Law
- Estate Planning & Probate
- Civil Litigation
Three steps to a clearer path forward.
Hiring a lawyer shouldn't feel like a leap of faith. Here's what to expect from the first phone call onward.
Free consultation
Tell us what's going on. We'll listen, ask questions, and tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.
Strategy & plan
If we take your case, we'll lay out the realistic outcomes, the timeline, and the costs — before any work begins.
Steady representation
From demand letters to depositions to trial, you'll have one attorney in your corner who knows your file cold.
A small firm built around the client, not the billing model.
Big firms have layers. We don't. When you hire Kapitan Legal Services, you work with the attorney handling your case — start to finish.
Plain-spoken advice
No legalese for its own sake. You'll know what's happening in your case and what your real options are.
Responsive communication
Calls and emails returned promptly. You won't be left wondering what's going on with your case.
Direct attorney access
You talk to the lawyer, not an intake screener or junior associate handing you off.
Akron & Northeast Ohio
Local knowledge of the courts, the agencies, and the employers that matter in your case.
Tell us what's going on.
The initial consultation is free and confidential. Most cases are time-sensitive, so the sooner we talk, the more options you're likely to have.
Call
Calls are returned promptly during business hours.
Please don't send confidential information until we've established representation in writing.
Office
843 N. Cleveland Massillon Rd., 11C
Akron, Ohio 44333
Hours
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday — Closed