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Biography

Scott is a partner of the Private Equity and Venture practice group, and he is above all a practical problem solver. Scott primarily focuses on capital markets and other corporate transactions involving real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate funds.  He represents REIT sponsors, funds, boards of directors, and investment banks in connection with REIT and fund formation, capitalization, securities offerings, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other transactional matters.

Scott also serves as outside general counsel to his business and private wealth clients, with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, debt finance, real estate acquisitions and dispositions, estate and gift tax planning, fiduciary counseling and litigation, business succession planning, and private trust company formation and administration.  He’s committed to doing whatever it takes to understand and meet his clients’ needs.

Prior to entering the practice of law, Scott taught as a Teach for America corps member and worked as a professional writer and editor. He brings a creative and practical approach to legal counseling and advocacy.

Other Info About Scott

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Served as lead counsel in connection with the formation and capitalization of a REIT focused on multi-family and commercial assets, including complex negotiations with the seed investor, coordination of all legal and tax work, highly-customized structuring and drafting, preparation of private offering materials, and negotiation with lenders in connection with the transfer of encumbered seed assets.

Serves as outside general counsel to a national private equity firm and investment manager, overseeing matters including mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, SEC regulatory counseling, employment counseling, commercial litigation, real estate transactions, debt financing and fund formation.

Represents clients in connection with high-stakes business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, commercial leasing, real estate finance and securities offerings.

Counsels business owners regarding business succession planning.

Serves as fiduciary counsel to trustees in every aspect of trust administration, including transactions, distributions, restructuring and termination.

Develops comprehensive estate plans, advises clients regarding wealth transfer issues and drafts all varieties of estate planning documents.

Advises clients regarding transfer tax matters, including federal gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes.

Represented trustees in connection with complex multi-jurisdictional trust litigation involving business interests valued in excess of $200 million.

Represented a national health maintenance organization in transactions including acquisitions, mergers and affiliations.

Education

Law School

Ohio State University, J.D., 2012 magna cum laude

Undergraduate School

Pennsylvania State University, B.A., 2004 summa cum laude

Bar Memberships

Scott is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Ohio

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch: Banking and Finance Law, 2024-2025; Real Estate Law, 2024-2025; Tax Law, 2024-2025; Trusts and Estates Law, 2024-2025

Major Publications

Scott is an author or contributor to the following publications:

“Real Estate Investment Trusts as Mezzanine Lenders: A Call for Updated IRS Guidance,” Author, The Banking Law Journal, November-December 2024

“REITs Demystified: An Introduction to Real Estate Investment Trusts,” Author, Real Estate Finance Journal, Fall 2024

“A Visitor’s Guide to Hospitality REITs,” Author, HotelExecutive, September 2024

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