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Biography

Phil serves his clients in the areas of general municipal counsel/law director, land use and zoning, eminent domain, real estate acquisition, annexation, home rule charter drafting, economic development and administrative appeals.  He counsels a wide-variety of clients from cities, villages and the private sector. Phil also serves as General Counsel (i.e. Law Director) for the cities of Hilliard and Pickerington, advising the cities on day to day issues and all other matters.

Phil currently serves as the International Municipal Attorneys Association’s (“IMLA”) Regional Vice President (Representative for the 6th Circuit) and is the past State of Ohio Representative. Phil also served as President, First Vice President, Second Vice President and Board Member of the Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association (“OMAA”) from 2012- 2018. He has received the highest AV peer review and client ranking by Martindale Hubbell and recognized by the Best Lawyers in America publication.

Prior to joining the firm, Phil was the co-chair of the Public Law Practice Group at an Am Law 200 Law Firm.

Other Info About Phil

Education

Law School

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D., 1992

Undergraduate School

Capital University, Cum Laude, B.A., 1989

Bar Memberships

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

Ohio

Courts

Phil is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

United States District Court – Southern District of Ohio

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America© 2020

Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

International Municipal Attorneys Association, Regional Vice President and Representative for the 6th Circuit (Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee), 2010-2020

International Municipal Attorneys Association, State of Ohio Representative, 2008, 2009

Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, Past President, 2016

Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, President, 2015

Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, First Vice President, 2014

Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, Second Vice President, 2013

Nonprofit Excellence Award, Ohio House of Representatives, 2012

Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars®, 2005, 2006

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association

International Municipal Lawyer Association

American Bar Association

American Planning Association

Ohio State Bar Association

Ohio Municipal League

Ohio Planning Association

Ohio City Manager Association

Columbus Bar Association

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

Dublin Food Pantry, Board of Trustees

Cancer Support Community, Board of Trustees

Pickerington Chamber of Commerce, Member

Parkview at Goodale Park Condominiums, President Board of Trustees

Parkview at Goodale Park Condominiums, Former Board of Trustees

Columbus Bar Association Mentoring Program, Former Mentor

Firstlink, Inc., Former Board of Trustees

Ronald McDonald House Charities, Former Young Professional Board

The Wellness Community of Greater Columbus, Former Board of Trustees

Bexley Architectural Review Board, Former Member

Bexley Board of Zoning Appeals, Former Member

Presentations

Phil was invited to speak at the following events:

“Liability of Municipalities and Municipal Officials,” Ohio Municipal League, Newly Elected Council Seminar, March 2014.

Moderator for the Ohio Municipal Attorney Association Winter Law Seminar, Dublin, Ohio, December 13, 2013.

“Case Law Update” Ohio Municipal Attorney Association Winter Law Seminar, Dublin, Ohio, December 13, 2013.

“Public Private Partnerships” International Municipal Lawyers Association – IMLA Annual Conference, San francisco, california, September 30, 2013.

“Social Networking: Challenges for Municipalities,” Ohio Municipal League – OML Annual Conference, Columbus, Ohio, September 26, 2013.

“Social Media Issues for City Officials,” The Mayor’s Association of Ohio Annual Conference, Canton Ohio, June 5, 2013.

“Eminent Domain: Strategies and Tactics in Right-of-way Acquisition and Eminent Domain Litigation,” Presenter, International Right of Way Association, Plain City, Ohio, October 26, 2012.

“Open Meetings and Public Records Law,” OML Newly Elected Council Members Seminar, March 2012.

“Eminent Domain: Processes and Pitfalls,” Co-Presenter, Ohio State Bar Association, Columbus, Ohio, March 9, 2011.

“Adoption and Amendment of Zoning Ordinance and Map,” National Business Institute, Practical Guide to Zoning and Land Use Law, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 7, 2014.

“Drafting Resolutions and Ordinances,” Auditor of the State of Ohio, 16th Annual Local Government Officials’ Conference, April 1, 2015.

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