Resume of Michael L. Fortney, Arbitrator and Mediator

posted by Michael Fortney  |  Dec 21, 2009 10:16 PM in Arbitration and Mediation

Arbitrator and mediator in employment, commercial and construction disputes

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 construction law, business and employment law representation.

Educational and employment experience

Graduated from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1985, summa cum laude.  Practiced with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey from 1985 until 1988, practiced with Millisor & Nobil until forming Fortney & Klingshirn in 1993.

Areas of expertise

As an attorney, maintains areas of expertise in construction law, employment and labor law, litigation, business disputes and ADR.  Has successfully litigated and served as an arbitrator and mediator in cases involving construction disputes, commercial business disputes, and employment disputes.  Commercial and business experience includes representations of parties or service as a neutral in disputes involving property issues, employment disputes, business sales and services, business ownership, and business formation and operation.

Construction experience includes the representation of owners, general contractors and subcontractors and serving as a neutral in disputes involving competitive bidding, 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. 

Employment experience includes representation of parties or service as a neutral 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.

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).  Member of the large complex case (LCC) panel for AAA; Member and former Chair of the Construction Advisory Council of the AAA (term ending in 2007).  Member of the panel of arbitrators for the NASD and National Arbitration Forum (2000 to present).  Has been an arbitrator and mediator for many employment, construction and business disputes and has been an advocate in numerous ADR proceedings.  Served as Arbitration Panel Chair for several large and complex cases.

Frequent lecturer on issues relating to construction law, ADR, and employment law.  

References available on request.


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