Michael B. Gardner

Experience

Michael Gardner brings a distinctive blend of legal insight, environmental expertise, and corporate leadership to his role as Of Counsel. With decades of experience spanning government agencies, corporate boardrooms, and high-stakes regulatory landscapes, Michael provides trusted counsel to businesses navigating complex compliance matters and strategic transactions.

Michael advises clients across a broad spectrum of legal and operational areas:

• Business law, environmental regulation & multi-jurisdictional compliance
• Federal environmental statutes & Ohio-specific programs
• Corporate governance, finance, HR, and operational risk
• Due diligence in M&A, internal investigations, and litigation oversight

He has served as a senior in-house attorney for major U.S. coal producers and previously worked as a mine inspector with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Career Highlights

• General Counsel– Ohio’s largest surface coal mining company (NYSE-listed MLP)
• Associate General Counsel– Largest independently-owned coal mining firm in the U.S.
• Mine Inspector– Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Professional and Civic Engagement

• Member, LawPact®
• Admitted to practice in U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, and all Ohio state courts
• Member, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
• Member, American Corporate Counsel Association, Northeast Ohio
• Volunteer Attorney, Hospice of the Western Reserve
• Mentor, Cleveland Municipal School District
• Volunteer, Legal Aid, Brief Advice and Referral Clinics
• Graduate, Leadership Geauga, Class of 2004

Michael’s breadth of experience — from inspecting mines to advising publicly traded companies — gives clients a nuanced and practical edge in managing regulatory risk and navigating today’s business landscape.