Overview
Scott Chinn represents public and private clients in state, municipal and public sector legal matters. He provides advisory, transactional and general counsel representation for public finance, procurement, regulatory, infrastructure, environmental and economic development matters.
Scott leads the firm’s public sector finance and transactions practice and the public-private partnership (P3) initiative.
As a litigator, Scott has argued constitutional and public law cases before the Indiana Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. He teaches and is a frequent lecturer on constitutional law.
Government Experience
Prior to joining Faegre Drinker, Scott served from 2000-05 as Counsel to Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and as Corporation Counsel to the City of Indianapolis. In those roles he coordinated the Indianapolis Works government consolidation plan, the Lucas Oil Stadium construction/convention center expansion project, and the purchase of the Indianapolis Water Company. He also served as Special Counsel to the Attorney General of Indiana from 1997-99.
Faculty Positions
- Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law — Adjunct Professor of Law, 2016-present
Services & Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Indiana
Court Admissions
Indiana Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Clerkships
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Hon. David F. Hamilton, 1994-1995
Education
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
J.D. magna cum laude, Indiana International and Comparative Law Review (editor-in-chief) (1994)
Indiana University, Bloomington
B.A. (1991)
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- Bar Be Nimble, Bar Be Quick. Is Advocating in Our Bailiwick?
Plenary Session Moderator, National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP), New York City, 2017 - Constitutional Law
Hoosier CLE Annual Law Survey, 2015-present - Constitutional Law
Bar Review Lecturer, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2007-present - To Speak Out or Not to Speak Out: That Is the Question
Plenary Session Moderator, National Conference of Bar Presidents, Boston Massachusetts, August 2014 - Surviving in a Large Firm
Co-presenter, Applied Professionalism CLE, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2012-15
Leadership & Community
Professional Associations
- Indianapolis Bar Association — President, 2012; President-Elect, 2011; First Vice President, 2010; Board of Directors, 2005-07 and 2009; Legal Counsel to President, 2008 and 2014; Director, IndyBar Innovation and Research Council, 2015
- Indiana State Bar Association
- Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association — Board, 2000-07; President, 2005-06
- National Conference of Bar Presidents — Executive Council, 2015-18; Program Committee Member, 2013-present
- American Bar Association
- Seventh Circuit Bar Association
- Marion County Bar Association
- Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law Alumni Association — Board, 2007-present (President, 2016-present)
- State Legislative Study Commission on Marion County Consolidation, 2005
- National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms — Advisory Board, 2003-05
- Mayor's Accessibility Review and Oversight Committee — Vice Chair, 2003-05
- Marion County Board of Ethics — Secretary, 2000-04
- History Society of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana — Trustee, 1995-present
Civic Activities
- FACE Low-Cost Spay-Neuter Clinic
- WFYI Public Radio and Television
- "We the People" Program — National Finals Judge, Volunteer
Honors
- Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2020
- Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law — Maynard K. Hine Medal for service to the IUPUI campus, 2016
- Best Lawyers® — Appellate Practice, 2009-21; Municipal Litigation, 2012-21; Public Finance Law, 2012-21; and Commercial Litigation, 2010-11 and 2019-21 (Indianapolis Public Finance Lawyer of the Year, 2013 and Indianapolis Municipal Litigation Lawyer of the Year, 2016, 2018 and 2021)
- Benchmark Litigation — Future Star, 2012-14, 2020
- Indiana Super Lawyers — Government/Cities/Municipalities, since its first publication in 2004 to 2019
- Indianapolis Bar Association — President's Award for Service to the Profession (as member of committee that studied and recommended formation of PAC to receive and distribute voluntary contributions to judicial candidates for Marion County Circuit and Superior Courts), 2010
- Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Program — Class XXXII, 2007-08
- Indianapolis Bar Foundation — Distinguished Fellow
- Sagamore of the Wabash, 2005
- National Register — Who's Who, 2005-06
- Indianapolis Business Journal — Forty Under 40 Award, 2003; Who's Who, 2002
- Martindale-Hubbell — Peer Review Rating: AV®