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Multiple law firms pitch specialized school-law services to Big Walnut board
Summary
Six law firms presented capability statements to the Big Walnut Local School District board, each emphasizing different strengths — bond counsel and public finance, special-education expertise, property tax work, litigation experience and long-term institutional knowledge — as the district considers outside counsel arrangements.
Several law firms presented to the Big Walnut Local School District Board of Education during the business portion of the meeting, laying out legal services they would offer if selected as outside counsel.
Dane Gashin of Bricker & Graydon said his firm has represented Big Walnut in public-finance matters since 1981 and in education law since the mid-1980s, and described a cross-disciplinary education practice that includes public finance, collective bargaining, special education and civil-rights work. Becky Prinzhorn, a colleague, highlighted the firm’s experience with financings and levy planning.
David Rose and David Seed of Brinza, McIntyre & Seed described their small, school‑focused practice, emphasizing levy-document preparation, property-tax valuation work and opportunities they said the firm can identify to return revenue to a district. Brad Ruwe and Reggie Staples of Dinsmore & Scholl pitched a deep public‑finance bench and familiarity with credit‑rating and disclosure expectations; Ruwe cited the firm’s work defending a client in a municipal disclosure matter as an illustration of the firm’s value.
Frost Brown Todd’s team, introduced by Alex Ewing and joined by Jack Hemmenway and Heather Migden, emphasized tailoring policies and general‑counsel services, including labor and public records work and special‑education support. Mark Gillis of Rich & Gillis Law Group focused on real property tax and tax‑duplicate protection services. Representatives from Scott Scriven (Jessica Filimon and colleagues) stressed litigation experience, responsiveness and local ties — including at least one attorney who graduated from Big Walnut.
No formal action was taken on counsel selection at the meeting; the presentations were part of the district’s evaluation process and were followed by the board’s regular business items.
The board did not announce a timeline for selection or next steps for choosing district counsel during the meeting.
