Mike Dortch

(614) 545-5361
mdortch@kravitzllc.com

Mike Dortch is the Managing Member of Kravitz, Brown & Dortch, LLC and the head of the firm’s civil litigation, energy, and environmental practice groups.  Mike began his legal career in 1990 as an associate at Baker & Hostetler, LLP.  Mike resigned his partnership with that firm in 2006 in order to join Kravitz, Brown & Dortch, LLC.

Mike’s practice is primarily focused on the representation of business entities that, typically, already possess considerable sophistication in legal matters.  He nonetheless enjoys the rewards associated with bringing his knowledge and skill to bear on behalf of individuals, including those who may be enduring their first exposure to the legal process.

In addition to his legal practice, Mike serves the community as an adjunct professor of law at Capital University Law School.  He is a past-president of the Columbus Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and a member of the American, Ohio, Columbus, and Federal Bar Associations.  He is regularly identified as an Ohio “Super Lawyer” – an honor extended to only 5% of the practicing bar.

Mike has been married to Lynn for more than 30 years.  They live in Violet Township, Fairfield County, and enjoy boating and snow skiing, particularly with their son, daughter, daughter in law, and grandson.  Mike also enjoys golf, even though he freely admits that his game is devoid of any skill, whatsoever.

Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Business organizations
Energy Law
Environmental Law
Telecommunications
Regulated Entities

Bar Admissions
Supreme Court of Ohio, 1990
U.S. District Court, Southern District, 1990
U.S. District Court, Northern District, 1996
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1996

Education
Capital University Law School, J.D.,  summa cum laude, 1989
Ohio State University, B.A., Political Science and History, 1986

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Defend client against $100 million claims for violation of the Interstate Commerce Act, antitrust laws, and client’s transportation tariffs.  Successfully defend judgment obtained on client’s behalf before the United States Court of Appeals.

• Lead outside counsel to an Investor-Owned Utility during the State of Ohio’s transition from a regulated market to a competitive market for electric generation service, including the responsibility of securing compensation to client for the full stranded value of its generation assets.

• The simultaneous defense of a manufacturing client before USEPA Regions III, IV, and V, and ATSDR, and before the environmental protection agencies of the states of Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana, following the explosion of a chemical reactor vessel and the consequent release of numerous pollutants to the Ohio River.

• Defend a commercial bank’s trust department against multi-million dollar claims that as the executor of an estate, the client was responsible under theories including CERCLA and/or breach of fiduciary duties for environmental remediation of contaminated real property owned by decedent.

• Defend complex, multi-forum litigation brought by the beneficiaries of a pour-over trust to recover many millions in assets that plaintiffs alleged were diverted from the decedent’s estate during periods of incompetency.

• Enforce payment of 100% of life insurance proceeds to the widow of a decedent following the denial of claims for benefits by an ERISA plan administrator.

• Enforce contract prices rather than tariff rates against the largest US provider of telecommunication services, on behalf of the nation’s third largest telecommunications service provider.