Navigating the labyrinth of state agencies, federal regulators and municipal bureaus can feel like fighting a legal Rorschach test—every shade of gray hides a potential pitfall. In 2025, Ohio businesses faced a 38 % surge in administrative hearings, and more than half of those disputes were resolved only after securing seasoned counsel. Whether you’re challenging a licensing denial, defending a compliance audit, or appealing a municipal ordinance, the right administrative lawyer can turn a costly battle into a strategic advantage.
1. Michael J. Harrington
Based in downtown Cleveland, Michael J. Harrington is a partner at Harrington & Associates, a boutique firm that concentrates on administrative and regulatory law. He has successfully defended more than 120 agency decisions, earning the 2024 Ohio Bar Association’s “Outstanding Administrative Litigator” award. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law, he also holds an MPA from Cleveland State University and is fluent in English and Spanish.
Phone: (216) 555‑0123
Email: mjharrington@harringtonlaw.com
2. Laura K. Sinclair
Laura K. Sinclair practices at Sinclair, McCormick & Lee, located in the University Circle district. Her focus spans health‑care licensing, environmental permits, and workers’ compensation administrative hearings. She received the 2023 “Top 10 Women in Administrative Law” distinction and authored a widely cited treatise on Ohio’s Administrative Procedure Act. Sinclair earned her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and speaks English and Mandarin.
Phone: (216) 555‑0198
Email: laura.sinclair@smlelaw.com
3. Daniel R. Patel
Daniel R. Patel is a senior counsel at Patel & Wright, an established Cleveland firm known for its robust government‑relations practice. He specializes in tax administration, securities regulation, and public‑utility adjudications, having won a precedent‑setting ruling at the Ohio Supreme Court in 2022. Patel graduated magna cum laude from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Akron. He is fluent in English and Hindi.
Phone: (216) 555‑0234
Email: drpatel@patelwright.com
4. Emily S. Novak
Emily S. Novak serves as a partner at Novak & Partners, a firm with offices in Cleveland and Akron. Her practice covers education‑policy appeals, zoning disputes, and nonprofit compliance matters. In 2024 she was honored with the “Civic Impact Award” for her work on affordable‑housing regulatory reform. Novak earned her J.D. from Cleveland‑Marilyn Law School and a Master’s in Public Policy from Ohio University. She speaks English and Polish.
Phone: (216) 555‑0345
Email: enovak@novakpartners.com
5. Thomas L. Greene
Thomas L. Greene is a founding member of Greene, Marshall & Associates, a Cleveland‑based firm that concentrates on administrative litigation for construction and infrastructure projects. He has secured over $30 million in settlements for clients challenging wrongful permit denials. Greene holds a J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law and a B.A. in Civil Engineering from Ohio State University, and he is proficient in English and French.
Phone: (216) 555‑0456
Email: tgreene@greenelegal.com
6. Samantha J. Ortiz
Samantha J. Ortiz practices at Ortiz & Gill, a firm located on the East Side of Cleveland. Her expertise lies in immigration administrative hearings, public‑benefit adjudications, and employment‑law agency disputes. She received the “Emerging Leader in Administrative Law” award from the Ohio Immigrant Advocacy Council in 2023. Ortiz earned her J.D. from Cleveland State University College of Law and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Phone: (216) 555‑0567
Email: sjoritz@ortizgill.com
7. Victor M. Lee
Victor M. Lee is a partner at Lee, Sanders & Co., a Cleveland firm that focuses on environmental compliance and natural‑resource administrative litigation. He played a key role in the 2025 settlement that limited excessive dredging permits on Lake Erie. Lee holds a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University and an M.S. in Environmental Science from Kent State University. He speaks English and Korean.
Phone: (216) 555‑0678
Email: vlee@leesanders.com
8. Karen A. Fletcher
Karen A. Fletcher works out of the downtown office of Fletcher & Benson, a firm renowned for its public‑sector administrative representation. Her practice includes municipal code challenges, election‑law appeals, and open‑records disputes. She was recognized by the Cleveland Bar Association in 2022 as “Attorney of the Year – Government Law.” Fletcher earned her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and is fluent in English and German.
Phone: (216) 555‑0789
Email: karen.fletcher@fletcherbenson.com
9. Aaron D. Montgomery
Aaron D. Montgomery is a senior associate at Montgomery Legal Services, a Cleveland practice dedicated to consumer‑protection administrative cases. He has successfully appealed over 80 unfair‑trade practice rulings before the Ohio Department of Commerce. Montgomery graduated from Cleveland State University College of Law and holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Findlay. He is bilingual in English and Arabic.
Phone: (216) 555‑0890
Email: amontgomery@montgomerylaw.com
10. Natalie R. Chavez
Natalie R. Chavez serves as counsel at Chavez & Ward, a firm with a strong focus on labor‑board and occupational‑safety administrative hearings. In 2024 she secured a landmark decision that expanded the definition of “reasonable accommodation” for employees with disabilities. Chavez earned her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and a Master’s in Labor Relations from Cleveland State University. She speaks English and Spanish.
Phone: (216) 555‑0901
Email: nchavez@chavezward.com
11. Patrick J. O’Connor
Patrick J. O’Connor is a partner at O’Connor, Malone & Greene, a Cleveland law firm that handles complex tax‑administrative disputes and corporate compliance investigations. He was instrumental in a 2025 settlement that reduced penalties for a Fortune 500 company by 45 %. O’Connor holds a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management. He is fluent in English and Italian.
Phone: (216) 555‑1012
Email: poconnor@oconnorlaw.com