Joel P. Michel is the Chief Executive Officer of Gladding & Michel, Incorporated, a Board Member of the World Association of Detectives, and a Director of Liberty Bank. Mr. Michel specializes in the investigation of complex cases involving aviation, automotive and consumer products liability, insurance fraud, patent and trademark infringement, anti-trust litigation, construction defect litigation, premises liability, and employment litigation involving sexual harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination. Under his management, Gladding & Michel has provided a wide range of services to the insurance industry, and corporate community. Mr. Michel has investigated hundreds of high profile products liability cases for a variety of automotive product manufacturers. Prior to founding the firm in 1968, Mr. Michel worked as a special investigator and later as a multi-line adjuster for insurance companies. Through his involvement with the World Association of Detectives, Mr. Michel has engaged the firm in a number of international investigations in Latin America, the Pacific Rim, Europe, and the Middle East.  He also serves as a Board Member of Liberty Bank.

Edward A. Gladding is the President of Gladding & Michel, Incorporated. Mr. Gladding specializes in the investigation of complex and high profile cases involving aviation, automotive and consumer products liability, premises liability, insurance fraud, patent and trademark infringement, anti-trust litigation, employment litigation involving sexual harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination. Over the past twenty years, Mr. Gladding has investigated hundreds of products liability cases for a variety of automotive product manufacturers, and for many years handled investigations on a nationwide basis for American Motors/Jeep Corporation in connection with litigation involving the Jeep CJ-5. Mr. Gladding served as a Special Agent/Counterintelligence Officer for the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Command and as an Intelligence Officer and Analyst for the U.S. Army Psychological Operations group and Civil Affairs Command. There he planned special operations, conducted investigations to determine the suitability of persons selected for appointments to sensitive positions in the government (including the White House) and military, and prepared psychological profiles of Eastern Bloc military and civilian leaders. Mr. Gladding holds certificates of completion from several military and civilian intelligence and investigation training schools. He is also a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, and did post-baccalaureate work at California State University, Sacramento.

Robert D. Hastings is President of the Investigative Services Division of Gladding & Michel.  Mr. Hastings came to Gladding & Michel from his position as Special Investigator for United Airlines in Chicago, Illinois, where he conducted and supervised commercial and employment-related investigations.  In his 21 years with the firm he has provided investigation and litigation support of high-profile automobile products liability cases for major foreign and domestic automakers.  He also specializes in airbag investigation, computer download data retrieval, and insurance investigation.  Mr. Hastings is a graduate of Southern Illinois University.

Andrew Solow is Vice-President of the Investigative Services Division of Gladding & Michel.  Mr. Solow has a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, and eight years experience as an investigative journalist. He worked as a project engineer for the Boeing Company,  has a background in machine design, and holds two U.S. patents. He has conducted a variety of complex civil and criminal investigations including:  environmental and toxic torts, asbestos injury, industrial espionage, aviation, automotive, and machine tool products liability, patent infringement, civil and criminal fraud,  misrepresentation of credentials and land use. He has an extensive knowledge of public records research methods and twelve years experience in trial preparation. He was the plaintiff's principal investigator in the matters of:  TYLER v CISNEROS  No. 9715005 - 02/10/98  and  TYLER v CUOMO  No. 9916242 - 12/15/2000.  In both cases, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found in favor of the plaintiff.

William Lopez is a Senior Investigator for Gladding & Michel.  Mr. Lopez specializes in the investigation of complex cases involving automotive and consumer products liability, insurance fraud and employment litigation involving sexual harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination. He manages all our bilingual investigators, who provide a full range of services to the legal and insurance communities. He takes great pleasure in locating and returning missing children to their families; and has been quite successful in doing so. Mr. Lopez graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Sociology.  Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Lopez worked as a juvenile probation officer for more than eighteen years. Mr. Lopez is also the President and founder of Adolescent Guidance Services (AGS).  

Carol Ann McHenry is the Branch Manager of Gladding & Michel's Reno, Nevada office and a Senior Investigator with the firm. Ms. McHenry has spent seventeen years with the firm conducting a variety of complex civil investigations, including products liability, environmental and toxic tort cases; discrimination; and background investigations. In the middle of her tenure she took a leave of absence and worked for three years as an investigator for the State of Nevada worker's compensation program, the State University at Fullerton, and holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from that institution.  

Joe Hochman is Vice President of International Operations.  Mr. Hochman is a life member, former Director and Area Governor of the World Association of Detectives.  He is currently Area Director of the World Investigators’ Network and a member of the Association of British Investigators.  Mr. Hochman specializes in the investigation of complex and high-profile cases for Banks, Financial Institutions, and Corporate and Insurance clients involving fraud, financial asset searches, and Merger/Acquisition matters.  He is involved with international trade and the transfer of manufacturing technology, the protection of copyright, patent trademark and other proprietary rights matters.  Mr. Hochman served with the Israel Defense Forces and attended the Pitman Business School.  He formerly worked with Argus Investigations in Israel.  Mr. Hochman has performed special investigations throughout the world on a sub-contractor basis with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Marshal’s Service. 

The growth of sophisticated offshore counterfeiting operations is an increasing threat to legitimate business interest.  Mr. Hochman offers his expertise in defense of firms whose products are being illegally sold and distributed in various corners of the world.  Through our network of contacts throughout the world, Hochman tracks down sources of illegal manufacture, distribution, sales, and documents proving copyright and trademark violations.  He has extensive experience in corporate espionage aimed at obtaining proprietary information and trade secrets.  He is a member of our International Contact Team with respect to counterespionage for clients who are the object of such corporate espionage, whether from internal domestic or foreign sources. Mr. Hochman is fluent in English, Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish, and French.