AVA K. ORTNER received her Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude from Oakland University in 1985 and her Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Wayne State University Law School in 1988. 

Ms. Ortner spent the first ten years of her practice as an associate in the Commercial Litigation Section of Detroit's largest law firm, Dykema Gossett, PLLC.  After spending another five years as a partner with a mid-size Detroit firm, which specialized in complex construction matters, she joined Stark Reagan.

Ms. Ortner's diverse practice includes litigation in state and federal courts and administrative tribunals, from initiation through two levels of appeal, in a wide variety of substantive law areas including contracts, construction, employment, insurance, real property, business torts, corporate causes, health care and constitutional law.  She is experienced in complex multi-party commercial actions, arbitrations, shareholder suits and class actions, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.  Ms. Ortner has substantial appellate experience, including amicus curiae representations. 

Ms. Ortner is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.  Ms. Ortner is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association, the Oakland County Bar Association, the American Arbitration Association Roster of Neutrals and Commercial Real Estate Women, Inc.  She is admitted to practice in the Michigan State Courts, the United States District Court for Eastern District of Michigan, the United States Sixth and Eight Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Ms. Ortner's reported cases include: Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. v. Lantis Enterprises, Inc., 256 F.3d 774 (8th Cir. 2001); Oakland County Bd of County Road Com'rs v Michigan Property & Cas Guar Ass'n, 456 Mich. 590, 575 N.W.2d 751 (1998); Oakland County Bd of Com'rs v. Michigan Property & Cas Guar Ass'n, 217 Mich. App. 154, 550 N.W.2d 586 (1996); Michigan Ass'n of Ins Agents v Michigan Workers Compensation Placement Facility, 220 Mich. App. 128, 559 N.W.2d 52 (1996); Forest Park Associates v Swartz, 86 F.3d 1155 (6th Cir. 1996); Pohutski v. City of Allen Park, 465 Mich. 675, 641 N.W.2d 219 (2002) (amicus curiae).