Did you know that more than one‑third of Ohio businesses encounter an administrative law dispute every year, and the outcome often hinges on the expertise of a single attorney? In a city as dynamic as Cincinnati, securing top‑tier representation can be the difference between costly penalties and a clean slate. Below are the 13 administrative lawyers who have consistently delivered results for clients across the region in 2026.
1. Michael J. Hartman
Based in downtown Cincinnati, Michael J. Hartman is a partner at Hartman & Associates, where he focuses on regulatory compliance, licensing, and government‑agency litigation. He has been named a “Super Lawyer” in Administrative Law for five consecutive years and served as chair of the Ohio Bar Association’s Administrative Law Section. Hartman earned his J.D. at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and holds a B.S. in Political Science from Ohio State. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Phone: (513) 555‑0123
Email: mjhartman@hartmanlaw.com
2. Laura K. Sinclair
Laura K. Sinclair practices from the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood as a senior counsel at Sinclair Legal Group. Her practice covers environmental permitting, zoning, and public‑utility disputes. Sinclair was recognized by Chambers USA for “Outstanding Service in Administrative Law” and authored a leading treatise on Ohio’s environmental statutes. She received her J.D. from Miami University’s Walter M. College of Law and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Dayton. Languages: English, French.
Phone: (513) 555‑0198
Email: lksinclair@sinclairlegal.com
3. Daniel P. Ortiz
Daniel P. Ortiz is a litigation specialist at Ortiz & Partners, located in the Clifton area, handling health‑care licensing, Medicaid compliance, and professional‑board proceedings. He earned a “Rising Star” accolade from the Ohio Legal Monthly in 2024 and successfully defended three major hospital systems from sanctions. Ortiz holds a J.D. from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law and an M.S. in Public Health from the University of Cincinnati. He speaks English and Portuguese.
Phone: (513) 555‑0234
Email: dortiz@ortizlaw.com
4. Samantha L. Reed
Samantha L. Reed works out of the Walnut Hills office of Reed, Mitchell & Co., where she advises on labor‑relations audits, unemployment‑insurance appeals, and occupational‑safety enforcement actions. She was awarded the “Best Administrative Law Attorney” by the Cincinnati Business Journal in 2025. Reed earned her J.D. from Ohio Northern University’s Claude W. Pettit College of Law and a B.B.A. from Xavier University. Languages include English and German.
Phone: (513) 555‑0456
Email: sreed@reedmitchell.com
5. Thomas G. Whitaker
Thomas G. Whitaker serves as a senior partner at Whitaker Law Offices in the Oakley district, concentrating on tax‑administrative disputes, corporate‑entity registrations, and state‑agency negotiations. He has been cited in the Ohio Tax Review for his groundbreaking work on corporate tax restructuring. Whitaker received his J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Cincinnati. He is bilingual in English and Mandarin.
Phone: (513) 555‑0678
Email: twhitaker@whitakerlaw.com
6. Emily R. Chen
Emily R. Chen practices at Chen & Partners in the Columbia Township area, focusing on education‑policy compliance, student‑loan dispute resolution, and administrative hearings for public‑school districts. In 2023 she was honored by the Ohio Association of School Law Attorneys for “Excellence in Administrative Advocacy.” Chen earned her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and a Master’s in Education Policy from Miami University. Languages: English, Cantonese.
Phone: (513) 555‑0890
Email: echen@chenpartners.com
7. Victor A. Morales
Victor A. Morales operates out of the Hyde Park office of Morales Legal Services, where he handles immigration‑status reviews, customs‑broker licensing, and federal‑agency enforcement actions. He was selected as a “Top 40 Under 40” lawyer by Cincinnati Magazine in 2024. Morales holds a J.D. from the Ohio State Moritz College of Law and a B.A. in International Relations from Xavier University. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
Phone: (513) 555‑1012
Email: vmorales@moraleslaw.com
8. Karen M. O’Neill
Karen M. O’Neill is a partner at O’Neill & Smith LLP, located in the Mount Adams district, specializing in utilities regulation, energy‑policy compliance, and FCC licensing matters. She was featured in “Power Lawyers of the Midwest” for her success in securing favorable rulings for renewable‑energy developers. O’Neill earned her J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Languages: English, Irish.
Phone: (513) 555‑1134
Email: koneill@onillesmith.com
9. James L. Patel
James L. Patel works from the West End office of Patel & Associates, focusing on securities‑administrative enforcement, FINRA hearings, and state‑level investment‑advisor licensing. He was named “Attorney of the Year – Administrative Law” by the Ohio Securities Bar in 2025. Patel received his J.D. from the Ohio Northern University School of Law and an M.B.A. from the University of Cincinnati. He speaks English and Hindi.
Phone: (513) 555‑1278
Email: jpatel@patelassociates.com
10. Natalie B. Hughes
Natalie B. Hughes practices at Hughes Law Group in the Clifton Heights area, handling consumer‑protection complaints, FTC investigations, and state‑agency fraud enforcement. She authored a widely cited article on Ohio’s consumer‑complaint process that appeared in the Journal of Administrative Practice. Hughes earned her J.D. from Miami University’s Miami School of Law and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Dayton. Languages: English, Italian.
Phone: (513) 555‑1402
Email: nhughes@hugheslaw.com
11. Christopher R. Sloan
Christopher R. Sloan is a senior attorney at Sloan & Keller, based in the Over-the-Rhine district, with a practice centered on transportation‑agency licensing, vehicle‑fleet compliance, and DOT investigations. He received the “Transportation Law Excellence Award” from the Ohio Department of Transportation in 2024. Sloan holds a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Ohio State. He speaks English and Russian.
Phone: (513) 555‑1526
Email: csloan@sloankeller.com
12. Lila J. Grant
Lila J. Grant works from Grant Legal Solutions in the Madisonville area, focusing on agricultural‑regulatory compliance, USDA audits, and farm‑insurance disputes. She was recognized by the Ohio Farm Bureau as the “Top Administrative Advocate” in 2025. Grant earned her J.D. from the Ohio Northern University School of Law and a B.S. in Agribusiness from the University of Cincinnati. Languages include English and Polish.
Phone: (513) 555‑1654
Email: lgrant@grantlegal.com
13. Anthony D. Collins
Anthony D. Collins practices at Collins & Partners in the East End, handling municipal‑code challenges, public‑works contracts, and city‑council adjudications. He authored the definitive guide to Ohio municipal administrative procedures, now used in law‑school curricula statewide. Collins received the “Civic Law Leadership” award from the Cincinnati Bar Association in 2024. He holds a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law and a B.A. in Urban Planning from Xavier University. Languages: English, Japanese.
Phone: (513) 555‑1789
Email: anthonyc@collinslaw.com