Chris Habel

About Chris Habel

While the name on the door of our Cincinnati law firm has changed, starting with Frost & Jacobs in 1919 to Frost Brown Todd in and now FBT Gibbons in 2026, the people, the passion and the purpose have not. I\'ve spent 30-plus years walking through these same doors with the same colleagues solving our clients’ big business and legal challenges. I place immense value in the privilege of carrying this legacy forward as Partner in Charge of one of the oldest and largest law offices in Cincinnati and at FBT Gibbons.I am driven by impact. It shows up in the work I do for my clients and leadership in my hometown. I work alongside the clients, business leaders and organizations that are shaping our economy and community for my kids and their friends to thrive. From attracting new businesses to Cincinnati, to helping existing businesses grow; from redeveloping abandoned brownfields for advanced manufacturing and renewable energy investments, to working on the rebirth of the historic Over the Rhine neighborhood; from meeting with federal, state and local political leaders to meeting with the researchers and founders of new businesses emerging from our Uptown Innovation District; from advancing our iconic museums with 200 year legacies, to founding a nonprofit nature preserve and strategizing with social services leaders to solve the unsolvable. I thrive on it all because this is where impact happens every day, and this is where strategic business, legal and engineering thinkers are needed most. Some call me a Renaissance Man. Perhaps that’s because I have a deep understanding of leadership, business, strategy, sales, law, finance, engineering, science, technology, politics, economic development and nonprofits. Maybe it’s because I embrace AI, CAD and GIS in my work. Or perhaps it’s because I drive diesel pickup trucks and built a large barn with my son that is full of heavy equipment and an “awesome set of tools”. It’s because I learn and build every day. As Partner-in-Charge of FBT Gibbons Cincinnati Office, I marshal the resources of 150 gifted attorneys to solve the problems that keep our clients and my hometown awake at night. We are a business-focused, full-service law firm of nationally-recognized leaders in the law working at very reasonable Midwestern rates. If you find your business in need of legal help or you\'re not completely satisfied with the way your legal providers are solving your problems, we should connect.

Experience

1. Partner-in-charge, Cincinnati

   FBT Gibbons

   Aug 1995 — Present · Cincinnati, OH, US

   I\'ve spent my entire legal career at Frost Brown Todd (formerly Frost & Jacobs). Through hard work, outstanding service to our clients and endless loyalty to my colleagues, I have worked my way up from summer intern to Partner-in-Charge of the largest office in the firm. On a daily basis I remain involved in all types of legal matters from large business transactions and real estate development projects to significant litigation matters. I practice mostly environmental and construction law, both of which draw heavily on my engineering and construction background. I typically work for large publicly traded industrial clients that have very complicated industrial processes and environmental problems around the country and the globe. I thoroughly enjoy being in the field on project sites and walking the production floor to see how our clients\' technologies and innovation literally change the world.Prior to taking over as the Partner-in-Charge, I spent four years chairing our Advancement Committee which handled all HR aspects for 300+ attorneys across the firm, including matters such as salary, bonus, recruiting and retention, flexible schedules, career development and advancement to partnership. I was also heavily involved in the design and construction of our firm\'s new offices in the Great American Tower in Downtown Cincinnati.

Education

• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

  J.D., Law

  1992 — 1995

• University of Cincinnati

  B.S., Civil & Environmental Engineering

  1987 — 1992

Skills

• Environmental
• Fundraising
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Remediation
• Negotiation
• Environmental Engineering
• Construction
• Solid Waste
• Public Speaking
• Nonprofits
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Toxic Tort
• Litigation
• Construction Law
• Construction Engineering
• Environmental Awareness
• Environmental Law
• Mergers
• Civil Engineering
• Non-Profits
• Water Chemistry