Joseph C. Benton

Joe Benton was born and raised on a small tobacco and cattle farm in the hills of eastern Kentucky. The strong work ethic he inherited from his parents and refined through the “no work–no eat” truism continues to serve him well.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Morehead State University through its pre-law program, focusing on Political Science, Philosophy and English.
Joe’s first introduction to the business world was completing Radio Shack’s management training program in the mid-1970s. He then managed stores in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky during the days while he attended law school in the evenings. This experience piqued an early interest in business law.

Following graduation from law school in 1979, Joe accepted a position as in-house counsel with Ashland Oil, Inc. – at that time a Kentucky Fortune-50 corporation. Over the next 15 years he provided legal support for several of Ashland’s divisions, eventually serving as Vice President of Law for Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Inc.

Entering private practice in 1994, Joe concentrated on corporate, business and contract law; employment law; franchise and licensing law; commercial real estate and construction law; professional practice law; and nonprofit law.

Also in 1994, Joe began representing Fazoli’s family of companies. What evolved over the following 29 years has been a team approach with a group of Fazoli’s staff members who seek out and readily follow legal advice and counsel, always placing the best interests of Fazoli’s name and goodwill at the forefront of their efforts. Joe is a highly revered advisor to Fazoli’s and is admired for his soft, steady and logical approach when sought out for counsel.

He practiced law through Slone & Benton PSC until 2022, when he semi-retired, transferring his now part-time practice to a home-office where he continues to represent Fazoli’s and a few of his other long-term clients.

Joe considers as his most rewarding work pro bono legal support for a number of charitable organizations, including Ben Norby Kentucky Autism Foundation, Children’s Charity Fund of the Bluegrass, Estep Home for Boys, Habitat for Humanity, Memory Hill Foundation, Paint Lick Family Clinic, Ruby Bailey Family Service Center, WaysMeet Healing Arts Center, and Mephibosheth.

Personal interests include woodworking, genealogy, studying textual criticism of the New Testament, and spending family time with his wife, two daughters, five grandchildren and one great grandson.