Indianapolis Mayor's Counsel, A. Scott Chinn, Joins Baker & Daniels LLP

Mayor Bart Peterson today announced that A. Scott Chinn is leaving his position as counsel to the Mayor to become a partner in the Indianapolis law firm of Baker & Daniels.  Chinn has been with the Peterson administration since the Mayor took office in 2000.

"Scott Chinn has been an excellent attorney for Indianapolis and Marion County and a trusted advisor to my staff and me," Mayor Peterson said.  "His work on Indianapolis Works was historic and laid the groundwork for us to continue reforming local government, saving taxpayers dollars and making local government as efficient and cost-effective as it can be."

"I am sad to lose him as a member of my staff, but I am confident he will continue to be a leader and contributor to one of our city's great businesses."

Chinn joined the Mayor's team in 2000 as corporation counsel, the chief legal officer for Indianapolis and Marion County.  The corporation counsel heads up a legal office that represents all city and county officials and departments, handles all litigation for and against the city and county and prosecutes code violations.

As corporation counsel, Chinn argued for the city before state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.  He also helped spearhead the city's purchase of the Indianapolis Water Company.

Under his leadership, the city aggressively recruited top-notch attorneys from the private sector.  Over the past five years, 15 lawyers have left private law firms to come work for the Office of Corporation Counsel.  In addition, the city's legal department has been a national leader in the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms, which advocates for the utilization of minority and women-owned law firms by major corporations and public entities throughout the country.

He spent the last several months as counsel to Mayor Peterson where he led efforts to draft and pass Indianapolis Works, worked on the stadium and convention center plan and other major projects.  Peterson also named Chinn as his appointee to the General Assembly's Marion County Consolidation Study Commission, which will study Indianapolis Works this summer.

Before joining city government, he was special counsel to Indiana Attorney General Jeff Modisett, law clerk to U.S. District Judge David Hamilton and an attorney with the law firm of Johnson Smith LLP.   He is a graduate of Indiana University and the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, where he was editor-in-chief of the Indiana International and Comparative Law Review.

Chinn's new practice will focus on litigation, economic development and government reorganization.

"Scott is a tremendous addition to the Baker & Daniels team. He has been a key player in a number of city projects and has managed many complex litigation matters as Corporation Counsel for the City of Indianapolis and as special counsel to the Mayor," said Brian K. Burke, chairman and CEO of Baker & Daniels. "He brings a depth of government and community experience that will benefit everyone who works with him."