Our Attorneys
Fortney & Klingshirn is a member of the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys. Membership is reserved for:
the most distinguished law practices - those that have achieved the highest "AV" rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. The "A" signifies the highest levels of legal ability, while the "V" denotes "very high" adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence. This rating is the result of a peer review system based upon the confidential opinions of practicing attorneys and judges.
Foreword, Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys.
Brief History of the Firm
Michael L. Fortney and Neil E. Klingshirn began their practice with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, a national law firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Since then, Neil and Mike have maintained an employment law practice. Mike has also developed a construction law practice and an expertise in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.
In 1993 Mike and Neil formed their current firm. For more information about Michael L. Fortney or Neil E. Klingshirn please click on their names or scroll down this page.
Michael L. Fortney
Mike Fortney graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1979, and received his law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1985, graduating summa cum laude. Because of his experiences both before and after becoming a lawyer, Mike brings a unique perspective to his practice.
Before law school, Mike worked as a chemist, served as the president of a local union, and worked as a carpenter for a general contractor. During law school, Mike received a number of awards and honors, including the Federal Bar Association award for the outstanding law school student in the Sixth Federal Appellate District, and an appointment to the Law Review.
After working for the Law Reform division of the Cleveland Legal Aid Society during law school, Mike began his law practice with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, one of Cleveland's largest law firms, concentrating in labor and employment law. He continued his practice with Millisor & Nobil, continuing his concentration in employment law and litigation, while developing a practice in construction law. He now maintains areas of expertise in employment and labor law, litigation, construction law and ADR.
Mike has extensive experience in alternate dispute resolution. His is a member of the ADR Federal Court Panel for the Northern District of Ohio. He as an arbitrator on the employment and construction panels for the American Arbitration Association, and serves on the Construction Advisory Council of the AAA. Mike has been an arbitrator and mediator on many construction and employment disputes and has been an advocate in numerous ADR proceedings involving construction and labor disputes.
Mike has developed an extensive practice representing non-union contractors waging battle against trade unions in "salting" campaigns. He has counseled contractors in developing procedures to effectively deal with salts, and has successfully litigated unfair labor practice charges filed with the NLRB by unions in salting campaigns.
Mike has lectured on issues relating to employment law, construction law, and arbitration. Given his experiences, both as a lawyer and before becoming a lawyer, Mike brings an uncommon understanding and perspective to his practice.
When he is not practicing law, Mike and his family operate a tree farm from his home in Medina County. Mike coaches youth baseball and basketball, and is active in other community and civic organizations.
Neil E. Klingshirn
Neil E. Klingshirn is one of the first attorneys in Ohio to be OSBA Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law. To achieve this certification, Neil demonstrated substantial and continuing involvement in employment law, submitted individual references from judges and other employment law specialists and passed a rigorous written examination.
Neil began his legal career in the labor department of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, where Michael Fortney was also an associate. In 1988 Neil and Mike joined the labor specialty firm of Millisor & Nobil. Neil and Mike formed Fortney & Klingshirn in 1993. Today, Neil's practice includes representation of businesses and individuals in all aspects of employment law.
Professionally, Neil is the Secretary and Treasurer of the Ohio State Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section. He is also the Editor of the OSBA's Labor and Employment Law Newsletter. In the business community Neil is Vice President of Leadership Akron's Class XIII. He previously served on the Executive Board of the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Council and Chaired its Legislative Affairs Committee. Neil served on the Members' Benefits Committee and the joint Greater Akron Chamber/Canton Regional Chamber Workers' Compensation Advisory Board.
Neil is a 1986 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Law. Neil was an Articles Editor of the Ohio State Law Journal and a founder and Trustee of the Student Funded Fellowship. He graduated with Honors in Law, and is a member of the prestigious Order of the Coif.
Neil graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's of business administration in accounting from Kent State University in 1983. Kent State University honored Neil that years as its Outstanding Senior of the Year.
Neil lends his employment law expertise to his community as well, where he is the Chair of the Personnel Advisory & Appeals Board (i.e., Civil Service Commission). In 1998 Neil served as Finance Chair for the Hudson Local Schools' ballot levy and in 1993 co-chaired the successful merger of the Village of Hudson and Hudson Township.
Neil and his family are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where Neil is a Member of the Finance Council. Neil also coordinates the annual Father/Child Canoe trip. In 1995 Neil co-chaired a major capital campaign and, in 1994, guided a complex land sale and rezoning initiative to a successful conclusion.
When Neil is not at work for his firm, community or church you can find him playing ball with his kids, building an ever expanding garden pond, attracting wild birds or grilling out on pleasant summer evenings.
Joseph R. Spoonster
Joseph R. Spoonster is an associate of Fortney & Klingshirn. Joe brings a unique experience to the firm's practice. After receiving a biology degree from Hiram College in 1993, Joe investigated new anti-cancer compounds at the National Cancer Institute. Joe's research resulted in several national and international publications and presentations.
Joe received his law degree from the University of Akron in 1999. During law school, he represented the university at the American Bar Association appellate moot court competitions in Philadelphia and New York City and also worked as an extern for Justice Deborah Cook of the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Joe's practice is focused on business, construction, commercial, real estate, and bankruptcy litigation. His success is rooted in his ability to understand complicated legal and factual issues and present them effectively.
Joe's experience in construction disputes includes representing contractors in all aspects of construction law. He has experience prosecuting and defending delay and schedule impact claims, differing or changed conditions claims, change order claims, mechanic's lien claims, payment bond claims, and construction-related collection actions.
He has represented businesses and shareholders in state and federal court in business disputes involving contract litigation, dissolutions, shareholder fiduciary rights, and enforcement of restrictive employment covenants. Joe has counseled minority and majority owners on their fiduciary obligations and rights and favorably prosecuted actions where those obligations have been broken.
Joe has successfully represented home sellers and buyers in claims of fraudulent misrepresentations. He has consistently obtained dismissals for sellers prior to trial and has won verdicts for both buyers and sellers at trial.
His bankruptcy experience includes business liquidation actions to adversary proceedings involving the defense and prosecution of creditor and debtor claims. Joe was one of the first lawyers to try a jury trial in the United States Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Ohio, successfully obtaining a jury verdict against a large regional bank for negligent misrepresentation against a commercial debtor.
Joe is a member of the Akron Bar and Bath Business Associations and is a committee member of the bar association's business section. Joe and his family reside in Bath. When not hard at work, you can find Joe playing soccer, looking for a Corvair to restore, or working on remodeling his home.
