Jonathan R. Todd

Jonathan R. Todd

Vice Chair, Transportation & Logistics Practice Group

Overview

Supply chains are the lifeblood of client businesses. Jonathan Todd knows the players, the playbook, and the value in quickly mobilizing. He is personally Chambers USA National “Band 1” ranked and has grown the best bench of lawyers around.

Jonathan’s clients include manufacturers, retailers, technology companies, carriers of all modes, freight forwarders, and property brokers. He has spent his entire career focused on handling transportation, logistics, warehousing, fulfillment, procurement, sales, and import or export matters.

His portfolio of experience includes industry mergers and acquisitions, contract drafting and negotiating of all forms, government license and permit management, business operations counsel, new business lines, new market entry, geopolitical risk management, regulatory compliance counsel and enforcement defense, claims, and dispute resolution.

Perspective is everything among attorneys. Jon has served the industry on advisory committees and councils by appointment of the Transportation Secretary, Commerce Secretary, TSA Administrator, and Ohio Governor. He previously served as senior counsel and officer for a global transportation, logistics, and customs brokerage provider. Along the way, he received a graduate degree in supply chain management, a certificate in international law, a customs broker license, and a fellow designation from the Association for Supply Chain Management. 

Jon is a national authority on supply chain management, transportation and logistics, and international trade matters. He frequently speaks at events nationwide and his commentary is widely published including in: NPR, Forbes Newsroom, Nasdaq TradeTalks, Vogue Business, Bloomberg Law, National Law Journal, Law360, Inbound Logistics, Supply Chain Dive, and FreightWaves. He is a Crain’s “Notables in Law” recipient, a two-time JD Supra “Reader’s Choice Award” recipient, and a Supply & Demand Chan Executive’s “Pro to Know” recipient.  

Benesch’s National Band 1 ranked Transportation & Logistics Practice Group also holds the title of national “Law Firm of The Year” in Transportation Law for 2025, the seventh award of that title in ten years.

You are welcome to reach out and discuss any issue, big or small, any time at 1-216-363-4658 or https://www.beneschlaw.com.

Featured endorsements

Experience

Credentials

Education

St. Louis University, 2013, MBA
  • Supply Chain Management
St. Louis University School of Law, 2008, J.D.
  • International Law Certificate
Westminister College, 2003, B.A.
  • Political Science

Clerkships and Bar Admissions

Ohio
U.S. Customs Broker
APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional Fellow (CSCP-F)

More

  • Member, Air Forwarders Association (AFA) – Regulatory Compliance Committee; Contributor to “At The Bar” Column
  • Member, American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS)
  • Member, American Trucking Associations (ATA) – Supply Chain Security Policy Committee
  • Member, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP)
  • Boardmember – District Export Council for Northern Ohio

  • Member, Institute for Supply Chain Management (ISM)
  • Member, National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA)
  • Member, Transportation Lawyer’s Association (TLA)
  • Boardmember – Truckload Carrier Association (TCA)

  • Voting Member – TSA Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee

  • Ranked Band 1 Nationally for Transportation: Road (Carriage/Logistics), Chambers 2024, 2025
  • Ranked Band 2 Nationally for Transportation: Road (Carriage/Logistics), Chambers 2023
  • Listed, Crain’s Cleveland Notables in Law, 2022
  • Recipient, Top Author Award, JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards, 2021, 2025 
  • Listed, Pros to Know, Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine, 2021
  • Listed, Chambers USA Leading Lawyers, Transportation: Road (Carriage/Logistics) Nationally, 2020-2022

Hobbies/Activities

Desert hiking, baseball and hockey games, and watching almost any movie (particularly documentaries)

Favorite Quote

“A problem well-defined is a problem half solved.” – John Dewey

Related News & Insights

Press Releases 2.2.26

Benesch Advises Revelar Capital on Acquisition of Lettermen’s Energy, Building National Propane Platform

Benesch is pleased to announce that it represented Revelar Capital, a leading private equity firm investing exclusively across the healthcare services, business services and specialty manufacturing sectors, in its acquisition of Lettermen’s Energy, a national propane distributor serving residential and commercial markets across the United States. The transaction marks Revelar’s fifth platform investment in the past 18 months and positions Lettermen’s for continued growth as a national market leader.