Stephen represents public entities in economic development, land use planning and general municipal issues. His practice encompasses all aspects of municipal law including zoning and land use, eminent domain, administrative appeals, public records issues, public contracts and law enforcement issues.
Stephen currently serves as the law director for theย City of Grove City, Village of Obetzย and as assistant law director for the City of Dublin. He teaches Local Government law at Capital University Law School.
Appointed by the City of Reynoldsburg as Chairman to the Ad Hoc Committee to Review Reynoldsburgโs Code of Ordinances, Chapter 505 (2014).
Capital University Law School, J.D., 1999
Miami University, Ohio, B.A., 1995
United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Starยฎ, 2013
Friend of Education Award, Central Region of Ohio School Boards Association
Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association (OMAA)
International Municipal Lawyers Associationย (IMLA)
Columbus Bar Association
Ohio State Bar Association
American Bar Association
The Buckeye Ranch Foundation, Member, Board of Directors
Dublin Irish Festival, Committee Member and Token Manager
Grove City High School Alumni Golf, Former Committee Member
Leadership Dublin, Class of 2012
Agonis Club of Columbus, Former Board Member and Vice President
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Central Ohio Chapter, Former Board of Directors
โCode Enforcementโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, August 2019.
โCivil Basics 101โ 2019 Municipal Civil Law Institute, Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, July 2019.
โCivil Basics 201โ 2019 Municipal Civil Law Institute, Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, July 2019.
โPublic Records/Sunshine Lawโ Webinar, Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association and Ohio Municipal League, June 2019.
โHome Rule โ The Pros and Cons of the Charter Form of Governmentโ Village of Georgetown Ohio, April 2019.
โPublic Recordsโ 2019 Spring Municipal Civil Law Seminar, Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, March 2019.
โCourt Proceduresโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, January 2019.
โUse of Magistrates, Court Decorum and Ethicsโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, January 2019.
โMarsyโs Lawโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League,ย November 2018.
โPublic Recordsโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, November2018.
โMarsyโs Lawโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League,ย October 2018.
โPublic Recordsโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League,ย October 2018.
โConflict of Interestโ Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Advisory Services Policy Committee, Annual Consultant Training, September 2018
โHome Rule โ Improving a Communityโs Quality of Life & Fostering Economic Developmentโย 2018 OML Regional Training Meetingsย (Findlay), Ohio Municipal League,ย August 2018.
โOpen Meetings/Public Recordsโย 2018 OML Regional Training Meetingsย (Findlay), Ohio Municipal League,ย August 2018.
โMarsyโs Lawโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, August 2018.
โPublic Recordsโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, August 2018.
โCivil Basics 101โ 2018 Municipal Civil Law Institute, Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, July 2018.
โEconomic Development and Annexationโ One Day Academy (Reynoldsburg), Ohio Municipal Clerks Association, June 2018.
โPublic Recordsโ 2018 Mayors Annual Conference (Akron), Mayors Association of Ohio, June 2018.
โOpen Meetings/Public Recordsโย 2018 OML Regional Training Meetingsย (Mason), Ohio Municipal League,ย June 2018.
โOpen Meetings/Public Recordsโย 2018 OML Regional Training Meetingsย (Athens), Ohio Municipal League,ย May 2018.
โOpen Meetings/Public Recordsโ Newly Elected Council Seminar Agenda (Cleveland/Independence), Ohio Municipal League, March 2018.
โLiability of Municipalities and Municipal Officialsโ Newly Elected Council Seminar Agenda (Cleveland/Independence), Ohio Municipal League, March 2018.
โOpen Meetings/Public Recordsโ Newly Elected Council Seminar Agenda (Mason), Ohio Municipal League,ย March 2018.
โLiability of Municipalities and Municipal Officialsโ Newly Elected Council Seminar Agenda (Mason), Ohio Municipal League,ย March 2018.
โOpen Meetings/Public Recordsโ Newly Elected Council Seminar Agenda (Columbus), Ohio Municipal League, February 2018.
โCouncil Powers and Proceduresโ Newly Elected Council Seminar Agenda (Columbus), Ohio Municipal League, February 2018.
โLiability of Municipalities and Municipal Officialsโ Newly Elected Council Seminar Agenda (Columbus), Ohio Municipal League, February 2018.
โUse of Magistrates, Court Decorum and Ethics,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League,ย February 2018.
โCourt Procedures,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League,ย February 2018.
โUse of Magistrates, Court Decorum and Ethics,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League,ย January 2018.
โCourt Procedures,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, January 2018.
โHome Rule,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League,ย November 2017.
โMayorโs Court, Question & Answer,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League,ย November 2017.
โPublic Records Requests Compliance in a Technological Age,โ Local Government Law from Start to Finish, National Business Institute, November 2017
โNavigating Open Meeting Law Compliance Issues,โ Local Government Law from Start to Finish, National Business Institute, November 2017
โHome Rule,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League,ย October 2017.
โMayorโs Court, Question & Answer,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League,ย October 2017.
โUse of Magistrates, Court Decorum and Ethics,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League,ย January 2017.
โCourt Procedures,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, January 2017.
โMayorโs Court Operation โ Q&A,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, November 2016.
โMayorโs Court Operation โ Q&A,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, October 2016.
โLiability of Municipalities and Municipal Officials,โ Ohio Municipal League, Newly Elected Council Seminar, February 2016 (Independence, Ohio).
โVillage Council Powers and Procedures,โ Ohio Municipal League, Newly Elected Council Seminar, February 2016 (Independence, Ohio).
โLiability of Municipalities and Municipal Officials,โ Ohio Municipal League, Newly Elected Council Seminar, February 2016 (Mason, Ohio).
โVillage Council Powers and Procedures,โ Ohio Municipal League, Newly Elected Council Seminar, February 2016 (Mason, Ohio).
โCharter vs. Statutory Government (Home Rule),โ Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, 2016 Spring Municipal Law Seminar, March 2016.
โVillage Council Powers and Procedures,โ Ohio Municipal League, Newly Elected Council Seminar, February 2016.
โCourt Procedures,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, February 2016.
โUse of Magistrates, Court Decorum and Ethics,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, February 2016.
โCourt Procedures,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, January 2016.
โUse of Magistrates, Court Decorum and Ethics,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, January 2016.
โSocial Media and Public Recordsโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, October 2015.
โSocial Media and Public Recordsโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, August 2015.
โHome Rule,โ Ohio Municipal Attorneyโs Association (โOMAAโ) Municipal Law Institute, July 2015.
โZoning/Annexation,โ Ohio Municipal Clerks Association (โOMCAโ) Annual Institute, July 2015.
Moderator for Panel Discussion on โLocal Government Decision Making โ Roles of Council and Administration,โ Ohio Municipal Clerks Association (โOMCAโ) Annual Institute, July 2015.
โRules of Council โ Meetings & Executive Sessionsโ 2015 Mayorsย Association of Ohio Annual Conference, June 2015.
โSocial Media and Public Recordsโ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, June 2015.
โEconomic Development and Land Useโ Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association (โOMAAโ) 2015 Spring Municipal Civil Law Seminar, Marchย 2015.
โCourt Proceduresโ and โUse of Magistrates, Court Decorum and Ethics,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, January 2015.
Conducted a training session on โPublic Records, Open Meetings and Ethicsโ for Council Members and Staff for the City of Cleveland, December 2014.
โPublic Rights Issues,โ National Business Institute (NBI) Legal Issues Involving Local Governments, November 2014.
โOffenses Against Property & Other Minor Misdemeanorsโ and โSentencing Alternatives Available,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, November 2014.
โMunicipal Law โ Changes and New Developmentsโ Ohio Municipal League (โOMLโ) 63rdย Annual Conference, October ย 2014.
โHome Ruleโ Ohio Legislative Service Commission (โLSCโ) Constitutional Conundrums. September 2014.
โOffenses Against Property & Other Minor Misdemeanorsโ and โSentencing Alternatives Available,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, June and August 2014.
โEthical Considerations for Consultants,โ Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police (โOACPโ) Advisory Services Policy Committee, Annual Consultant Training Session. May 2014.
โMunicipal Law,โ 2014 Ohio Municipal Clerks Association (โOMCAโ) Spring Conference/Institute. April 2014.
โCouncil Powers and Proceduresโ and โLiability of Municipalities and Municipal Officials,โ Ohio Municipal League, Newly Elected Council Seminar, March 2014.
โGun Control in Municipalities,โ Ohio City/County Management Association (โOCMAโ), 2014 Winter Conference, February 2014.
โCourt Proceduresโ and โUse of Magistrates, Court Decorum and Ethics,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, January and February 2014.
โSecond Amendment,โ Ohio Municipal Attorneyโs Association (โOMAAโ),ย December 2013.
โOhio Municipal Law,โ Ohio Municipal Clerks Association Fall Institute, October 2013.
โHome Rule,โ Ohio Municipal Attorneyโs Association (โOMAAโ), July 2013.
โPublic Records and Records Retention,โ Central Ohio Association of Mayorโs Court Clerks, 2013.
โOffenses Other Than Traffic,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, 2013.
โCourt Proceduresโ and โUse of Magistrates, Court Decorum and Ethics,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, 2013.
CCW: Ohioโs Concealed Carry Law, 2013 Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Conference and Trade Show, February 27, 2013.
โCourt Proceduresโ and โUse of Magistrates, Court Decorum and Ethics,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, 2010-2012.
โCourt Decorum, Ethics & Procedures,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, 2010-2012.
โAttorney-Client Privilege,โ 2012 CLCCA (County Loss Control Coordinators Association)/OPRIMA (Ohio Public Risk Management Association) Fall Meeting, September 21, 2012.
โOpen Meetings and Public Records,โ Newly Elected Mayors Workshop, Mayors Association of Ohio Conference, June 27, 2012.
โLiability Issues,โ North American Irish and Celtic Festival Organizer Conference, Dublin, Ohio, April 2, 2012.
โPublic Construction Seminar,โ Co-presenter, Columbus, Ohio, September 9, 2011.
โSupreme Court of Ohioโs July 2011 decision: Timothy T. Rhodes v. City of New Philadelphiaโ and โJuly Amendment of Ohioโs Public Records Act:Codified,โ Administrative Law Conference, Ohio State Bar Association, September 7, 2011.
โHB 158 (Amateur Radio Antennas),โ Provided testimony to Ohio House of Representatives Local Government Committee on HB 158, May 10, 2011.
โPublic Records,โ 2011 Spring Municipal Civil Law Seminar, Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, March 4, 2011
โHB 50 (Type II Annexation),โ Provided testimony to Ohio House of Representatives Local Government Committee on HB 50, March 1, 2011.
โPublic Records,โ Mayors Court Training, Ohio Municipal League, December 17, 2010.
โCase Law Update,โ 2010 Winter Municipal Law Seminar, Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association, December 10, 2010.
โPolicy solution to address underage drinking,โ Panelist, Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Forum, Cincinnati, Ohio, July 21, 2010.
โLiability Issues, Ohio Municipal League Training Seminar, March 2010.
โHotels Straining City Servicesโ Cities and Villages Magazine, Ohio Municipal League, January/February 2018. Co-Author with Thad Boggs.
Co-author, โRecent Developments in Government Operations and Liability: 42 U.S.C. ยง 1983: First Stop โ State Court (Sometimes),โย The Urban Lawyerย โ The National Quarterly Law Journal on State and Local Government Law, Volume 35, Number 4, Fall 2003.
January 21, 2016 | Publications
Catching the “ban the box” wave that has already swept legislation into 17 other st...
August 17, 2015 | Press Releases
Frost Brown Todd (FBT) would like to congratulate the firmโs 175 attorneys recognized in the 2016 ...