Michael L. Fortney is the founding
partner of Fortney & Klingshirn, an AV rated law
firm concentrating in construction law, ADR and
employment law. The firm’s AV rating by
Martindale-Hubbell signifies that "our legal
abilities are of the very highest standard and that our
professional ethics and conduct are above question."
Fortney & Klingshirn provides sophisticated
employment law, business and construction law
representation.
Educational and employment
experience
After graduating from the
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1985, summa cum
laude, Mike practiced with Squire, Sanders &
Dempsey from 1985 until 1988, and with Millisor &
Nobil. Mike formed Fortney & Klingshirn in
1993.
Areas of expertise
As an attorney, Mike maintains areas of
expertise in construction law, employment and labor law,
litigation, business disputes and ADR. Mike has
successfully litigated and served as an arbitrator and
mediator in cases involving construction disputes,
commercial business disputes, and employment disputes.
Mike's commercial and business experience includes
representations of parties or service as an arbitrator
in disputes involving property issues, employment
disputes, business sales and services, business
ownership, and business formation and
operation.
Mike's construction experience includes
the representation of owners, general contractors and
subcontractors and serving as an arbitrator and mediator
in disputes involving competitive bidding disputes,
contract formation, unforseen and differing site
conditions, scope of work disputes, changed or extra
work disputes, quality of work issues, timeliness of
completion, delay, acceleration, liquidated damage
claims, completion of work, mechanic’s lien claims, and
non-payment issues.
Mike's employment experience includes
representation of parties or service as an arbitrator
and mediator in disputes under age discrimination, race
discrimination, sex harassment, disability
discrimination, cases brought under state civil rights
statutes, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the ADEA,
the ADA, the NLRA, cases alleging wrongful discharge,
cases seeking the enforcement of non-competition
agreements, small business ownership issues, and
disputes between shareholders in closely held
corporations.
Mike is a frequent lecturer on issues
relating to ADR, employment law, construction law, and
arbitration.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Experience
Mike has extensive experience in
alternate dispute resolution. Member of the ADR Federal
Court Panel for the Northern District of Ohio (1996 to
present); Member of the panel of arbitrators for the
American Arbitration Association, serving as an
employment (1996 to present) and construction and
commercial arbitrator (1995 to present). Served on the
Construction Advisory Council of the AAA, being elected
Chair for the 2000 - 01 term. Member of the panel of
arbitrators for the NASD and National Arbitration Forum
(2000 to present).
Mike has been an arbitrator
and mediator for many employment, construction and
business disputes and has been an advocate in numerous
ADR proceedings. Mike has served as Arbitration Panel
Chair for several large and complex cases.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Training
AAA Training: AAA Arbitrator Continuing Education, 3/04; AAA
Arbitrator II Training, Pittsburgh, 8/02; AAA
Construction Industry Arbitrator Training, Cleveland,
8/00; AAA Employment Arbitrator Training, Cleveland,
5/98; AAA Fast Track Training, Cleveland,
7/96
AAA Fast Track Orientation, Cleveland,
3/96; AAA Introductory Arbitrator Training Workshop,
Cleveland, 11/95; Advanced Training for Federal Court
Panelists, Cleveland, 10/03, 7/01, 10/99;
Federal Court Panel Training:
Federal Court ADR Panel
Refresher Training, Cleveland, 10/98, 9/96; Federal
Court Initial Panel Training, Cleveland, 6/96;
NASD Training: NASD Arbitrator Training, Cleveland,
6/01.
Contact Michael L.
Fortney.
