About Michael
Michael Fortney is an Ohio-licensed attorney who leads Fortney Law. He earned his J.D. from Cleveland State University College of Law in 2014. He studied law in Cleveland and completed his degree in the mid-2010s, then began his legal career in Ohio courts.
Early in his career Fortney moved into roles that mixed client work with practice management. He took on cases, advised clients, and handled courtroom matters while also learning the administrative side of running a small firm. Over time those duties expanded. In 2021 he became president of Fortney Law, a role that places him at the intersection of legal work and firm leadership.
As president he handles administrative responsibilities and sets firm priorities. That includes supervising case workflow, coordinating with staff, and participating directly in client matters. Colleagues and clients encounter him in the office and in court. He splits time between overseeing operations and engaging on substantive legal issues.
Fortney’s career spans the years since his law degree. He has spent those years working within Ohio’s legal system and building a practice out of his Cleveland-area training. The path from law school to firm president was neither abrupt nor ceremonial. It involved steady work on cases, an accumulation of practical tasks and management duties, and a willingness to take on leadership responsibilities when the firm required it.
His work touches both litigation and client counseling. He prepares filings, appears in hearings, and meets with clients to explain options. He also handles daily business tasks that are part of running a law office, such as budgeting, staffing decisions, and client intake. The combination gives him a broad view of how small firms operate and what clients expect from counsel in Ohio.
Fortney practices through Fortney Law and maintains a focus on serving clients in Ohio courts. He continues to split his time between case work and running the firm, overseeing the legal work that comes through Fortney Law and managing the office’s business side.
