Scott D. Phillips

Practice Group Leader

West Chester, OH

Cincinnati, OH

Office Phone Number 513.870.8206 Email
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Industries

Energy
- Oil, Gas & Minerals
- Utilities

Practices

Biography

Scott leads the Government Services Practice Group. He is passionate about helping communities become the absolute best places they can be to live, work and play. He is privileged to be a law director, solicitor, and special counsel for numerous communities in southwestern Ohio. In those roles, Scott counsels and advocates for clients. He also represents owners and developers in land use, zoning and eminent domain matters.

Scott enjoys spending time with his wife Jenny and five children and doting on his grandchildren. He also is committed to serving at his church and with community organizations. On a nice day, you’ll find him with a fly rod in his hand trying to land that elusive 30-inch trout.

Scott's Relevant Experience

Highlights

Highlights

Represented the State of Ohio in 50-plus eminent domain actions involving alleged flooding of farm lands.

Obtained an injunction on behalf of a township to prevent the operator of a kids’ play place and paintball facility from also operating as a teen nightclub.

Successfully prosecuted protest to Board of Elections on behalf of a township client related to initiative petition.

Defended client in high-profile zoning case that resulted in the right to develop a social service agency, despite City Council and neighborhood opposition.

Implemented and successfully defended challenge to first development moratorium by statutory township in the State of Ohio.

Defended a township and successfully resolved a lawsuit brought by a mosque when its proposed project was denied.

Assisted several local governments in large economic development projects.

Represented a village’s interests in a highly publicized BZA proceeding regarding the establishment of an underground limestone mine in a neighboring jurisdiction.

Represented an urban school district in numerous contentious and highly publicized zoning disputes.

Defended a township in an administrative appeal regarding a property owner’s non-vested right to construct a fireworks retail store.

Brought lawsuits on behalf of various governmental entities in products liability cases related to piping, resulting in multimillion-dollar settlements.

Defended a city in a multiyear zoning dispute related to building a multimillion dollar home.

Other Info About Scott

Work History

Prior Work Experience

Law Director, Solicitor and Special Counsel for southwest Ohio townships – Liberty Township (Butler County); Deerfield Township (Warren County) (previous); Washington Township (Montgomery County); the Village of Indian Hill (Hamilton County); the City of Hamilton, Ohio (Butler County, Ohio); Butler Township (Montgomery County); Harrison Township (Montgomery County, Ohio).

Assistant Law Director for West Chester Township, Ohio.

Education

Law School

American University Washington College of Law, J.D., with honors, 1989

Undergraduate School

Southern Methodist University, B.B.A., with honors, B.A., with honors, 1984

Clerkships

Scott served as a clerk for the court(s) and judge(s) below:

Law Clerk, Honorable Robert D. Potter, U.S. District Court, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1989-1991

Bar Memberships

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

Ohio, 1989

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

Selected for inclusion in “Ohio Leading Lawyers,” presented by Ohio Business Magazine, 2024

Selected to Ohio Super Lawyers, 2017-2025

The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, 2010-2025; Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, 2011-2025; Litigation – Municipal, 2011-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2018, 2022; Land Use and Zoning Law, 2012-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2019, 2020

AV® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®

Frost Brown Todd Mentor of the Year, 2012