David Scott is a LEED® AP and commercial/business litigator. Not every litigator actually tries cases. David does. He's a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum (attorneys who have obtained a jury award or settlement in excess of $1,000,000) and he was named a Super Lawyer's Rising Star by Law & Politics Magazine. Some of David’s noteworthy cases and recent accomplishments are described more below.

David represents many different types of clients, including real estate developers, banks & other financial institutions, architects, engineers,multinational corporations and private individuals. Experienced as both plaintiff and defense counsel, David believes in being proactive and keeping the client educated on the issues, the status, and the prognosis of ongoing cases.

Experience has taught David that settlement before trial is almost always in the client’s best interest, and being prepared for trial is the best way to maximize any settlement. As a practitioner of the martial arts, David subscribes to the philosophy of the “peaceful aggressor” and he tries to apply that belief system to his practice of law.

After growing up in Racine, Wisconsin, David attended undergrad and law school at The Ohio State University and he is proud to be a Buckeye. David’s recent accomplishments include the following:

• Prevailing on summary judgment for bank client that was sued for alleged violation of banking standards, exculpating client and saving tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.
• Obtaining a unanimous jury verdict in favor of a motor vehicle financier in a breach of contract and fraud action against a prominent Columbus automobile dealership.
• Obtaining a trial award in excess of one-half million dollars in a commercial landlord/tenant dispute. After the defendant appealed, David prosecuted the matter to the Tenth District Court of Appeals and secured an affirmation of the trial court award.
• Prevailing in a trial on behalf of a thoroughbred horse trainer, including successful defense of a counterclaim, against the owner of several horses.
• Representing a bankruptcy creditor holding claims in excess of three million dollars in a trust dispute, and securing a favorable settlement of the creditor’s interests despite vigorous efforts by the trustee and other creditors to dispute the claims.
• Successfully defending Hocking County, Ohio (specifically, the County Health Department and various public officials) in defense of a civil rights/invasion of privacy lawsuit in which the Plaintiff was seeking over ten million dollars in damages. David also successfully defended the appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Serving as lead counsel in a multimillion dollar federal jury trial involving trade secret and breach of fiduciary duty claims. The matter was resolved after two trial days on terms favorable to David’s client.
• Prevailing in a contested arbitration concerning enforceability of a liquidated damages clause in a long-term commercial uniform agreement.
• Successfully replevying (recovering through judicial process) 40 trailer units and obtaining agreed judgment against debtor.
• Representing one of the nation’s largest financial holdings companies in an effort to recover several million dollars owing from a builder/developer. By promptly compiling the relevant pleadings, garnishments, lien documents, and a motion to appoint a receiver, the client was able to leverage the threat of imminent suit to negotiate a favorable resolution and avoid lengthy (and costly) litigation.
• Prevailing in a bench trial on behalf of a homeowner against a contractor that failed to fulfill its contractual obligations for a home improvement project.
• Translating his passion for creating a less wasteful and more sustainable society into a variety of initiatives, including:
  • Spearheading LNL’s “Thinking Globally, Acting Locally” campaign, which has led to LNL becoming the first Ohio law firm certified as a Climate Challenge Partner by the ABA/EPA Climate Challenge, and the first law firm ever awarded the SWACO Board of Trustees Emerald Award for innovative and unprecedented achievements in Environmental Stewardship and Leadership.
  • Being elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Green Building Council, Central Ohio Chapter (2010 – 1012).
  • Speaking on the subject of Greenwashing Risks and Risk Management at the 2010 Columbus Get Green Business Expo, Central Ohio’s largest green business exposition.
  • Co-founding Ohio Green Building Law blog, the Ohio green building and construction law resource.
  • Speaking about current trends in green building and construction litigation for the Capability Webinar presented by the Meritas (www.meritas.org) organization entitled ”Green 2.0 - Current Trends in Construction Litigation, Leasing, and Greenwashing as Businesses Evolving from Style to Substance in the Realm of Sustainable Practices,” January 27, 2010.
  • Speaking at a presentation on the relevance of sustainability/pro-environmental trends to attorneys at the Meritas (www.meritas.org) Annual Meeting.
  • David was interviewed for the podcast entitled “Green Law: Sustainability in The Legal Community(http://www.greenbiz.com/podcast/2008/06/19/green-law-sustainability-legal-community).
  • Authoring the Epilogue article for the October, 2008 edition of “European Lawyer,” discussing the relevance of sustainability trends to the legal profession.
  • Serving as Chairman of the “Leadership Institute” of the Meritas organization, one of the world’s largest and most respected legal resources - with more than 170 independent commercial law firms located in over 60 countries. Under David’s direction, the Leadership Institute created the “Green Guide for Lawyers,” a best-practices manual that has been cited in numerous national and international publications, including the GreenBiz podcast referenced above.
  • Serving on the Advocacy Committee of the U.S. Green Building Council, Central Ohio Chapter.
  • Serving on the Board of Directors of the Columbus based not-for-profit “Local Matters” (http://www.local-matters.org), a group devoted to promoting local and sustainable agriculture for the benefit of school children and family farms.
  • Co-Chairing the Columbus Bar Association “Green Committee,” working to promote more sustainable business practices among CBA member firms.

When David isn’t working, he’s probably with his wife and two daughters in or around their home in Worthington. If he’s sneaking some time to himself, he’s probably either on the golf course or trying desperately to recover his lost form in the Korean martial art Tang Soo Do (he earned his black belt in 2004 but has been slacking ever since).

Education

• The Ohio State University College of Law, Juris Doctor, With Honors (1997)
• The Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution, Chief Managing Editor
• The Ohio State University, B.A. (1994)

Bar Admissions

• State of Ohio
• Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Columbus Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Meritas, Leadership Institute Chairman (2007-2008)
• Meritas, Business Development Committee (2008-2009)

Community Interest or Involvement

• U.S. Green Building Council (Board of Directors) (2010-present)
• U.S. Green Building Council, Central Ohio Chapter (Advocacy Committee Member)(2009-present)
• Local Matters, Local Ohio Foods not-for-profit (Board of Directors)(2009-present)
• Alpha Sigma of Kappa Sigma House Company (Secretary)(2008-present)
• Alpha Sigma of Kappa Sigma Alumni Association, (Vice President)(2007-2008)
• Columbus Bar Association Clothes Drive (Office Chairman)
• Columbus Food Bank (Volunteer)
• Race for the Cure (Participant)
• Cystic Fibrosis Stair Climb (Participant)
• Public Service Fellowship (Engaged in 50+ hours of community service during second year of law school)
• Street Law Program Participant (Volunteer Tutor for Elementary School Children)
• Advisor: Thomas Worthington/Worthington Kilbourne High School Mock Trial Teams.

877-590-6943
50 W. Broad Street, Suite 1200
Columbus, Ohio 43215