Scott J. Ziance
Mr. Ziance is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the tax group. He focuses his practice on the utilization of economic development incentives, tax incentives, economic development financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships and special economic development entities to assist developers, operating businesses and political subdivisions in developing and redeveloping property and creating jobs and economic growth. He also has substantial real property tax valuation litigation experience and significant experience with other aspects of state and local taxation, including oil and gas tax matters and unclaimed funds law. Mr. Ziance leads the firm’s state and local tax efforts with regard to the firm’s numerous oil and gas clients involved in the Utica shale play.
Career highlights include:
- Serving as economic development incentives counsel to a majority of the 10 largest public companies in Central Ohio
- Designing and implementing an innovative joint economic development zone-based structure to facilitate the construction, by one of the world 's largest developers, of a major industrial park in Central Ohio
- Structuring an annexation/economic development incentives-based agreement and providing related counsel that led to the award of a multimillion dollar Ohio Job Ready Sites grant in support of a municipally-owned industrial park in West-Central Ohio
- Serving as lead counsel in connection with the establishment of dozens of tax increment financing districts
- Acting as lead counsel for dozens of tax incentives agreements (enterprise zone and community reinvestment area exemptions, Ohio job creation tax credit and others) that are triggering billions in investments and creating thousands of jobs
- Securing millions in tax savings for clients in real property tax valuation cases and personal property tax refund claims
- Advising numerous producers, midstream companies and other Utica shale play participants with novel state and local tax issues.
Mr. Ziance is a member of the Federalist Society, NAIOP Ohio, NAIOP Central Ohio Chapter, the Council of Development Finance Agencies, Heritage Ohio and the Ohio State Bar Association.
Since 2002, Mr. Ziance has been an annual speaker at the Ohio Tax Conference on the topic of economic development incentives. He has also made presentations throughout the United States on tax increment financing, new markets tax credits, Ohio economic development incentives and economic development financing. In addition, Mr. Ziance has authored numerous columns on economic development incentives for Ohio business newspapers.
Mr. Ziance received his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School where he was a member of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy. He received his B.A. magna cum laude from Bowling Green State University where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi.
Professional and Community Activities
- Ohio State Bar Association, Chair of the Taxation Committee, 2006-2008
- Columbus Chamber, Infrastructure Steering Committee, 2007-2009
- Columbus Region Logistics Council, Business Environment Committee, 2008-2011
- Heritage Ohio, Board of Directors, 2008-2012, Vice Chair of Records and Legal Affairs, 2009-present
- NAIOP Central Ohio Chapter Board of Directors, 2012-present
- NAIOP Ohio Board of Directors, 2013
- Bowling Green, Ohio City Council, 1992-1993
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Public Finance Law, 2011-2013
- Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Tax, 2006-2007
- Bowling Green State University, Recent Graduate Award, 1999
News
- 126 Vorys Attorneys included in the 2013 The Best Lawyers in America® List
- Ziance Featured in Columbus Business First Story Regarding Economic Development Incentives and Right-to-Work Laws
- Ziance featured in Columbus Dispatch story on JobsOhio's Economic Development Incentives
- More than 100 Vorys Attorneys named on 2012 The Best Lawyers in America® List
- Vorys Ranked #1 Law Firm in Ohio on 2011 Best Lawyers in America® list
- Ziance Quoted in The Daily Reporter article "Legislation Creates Low-Interest Options for Financing Environmentally Sound Projects"
- Ziance Quoted Extensively in The Daily Reporter Article "Seminar to Provide Leaders of Small Communities with Information About Economic Development"
- Thirty-Six Vorys Attorneys Named Ohio Rising Stars
Events
- 22nd Annual Ohio Tax Conference
- Top Ten Tax Topics to Watch for in 2013
- 35th Annual Real Estate Economic Seminar: 2013 Forecast
- Columbus Accounting Show
- Ohio Constitutional Seminar: “Shall There Be a Convention to Revise, Alter, or Amend” the Ohio Constitution?
- 2012 Annual Ohio Tax Course
- Utica Shale Play – What It Means for Real Estate Professionals
- Developing Effective Tax-Based Strategies for Ohio Oil and Gas Production
- Ohio Brownfield Conference
- 21st Annual Ohio Tax Conference
- IPT Credits and Incentives Symposium
- 2011 Annual Ohio Tax Course
- Ohio Business Law
- CityScape Columbus: A View Towards Development & Growth Opportunities
- CityScape Cleveland: A View Towards Development & Growth Opportunities
- CityScape Cincinnati: A View Towards Development & Growth Opportunities
- 2011 Chamber Government Day
- 20th Annual Ohio Tax Conference
- Using Economic Development Financing Tools in Our Current Economy
- 2010 OANH Annual Convention - New Frontiers in Medicaid Litigation: Federal Court Legal Challenges to State Medicaid Reimbursement Rates
- 2010 Ohio Municipal League Annual Conference
- 2010 Municipal Law Institute
- Heritage Ohio Annual Conference
- Real Property Law Institute
- 19th Annual Ohio Tax Conference
- Small Town Economic Development Incentive Strategies Seminar
- 2009 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace
- Economic Development Financing Seminar
- 18th Annual Ohio Tax Conference
Publications
- "Making Economic Development Incentives More Efficient," Urban Lawyer, Winter 1998 (30 Urb. Law. 33)
- Ohio Tax Reform: Focus on Sales and Use Tax, Oil and Gas Businesses
- Client Alert: Oil and Gas Tax Provisions Contained in the "As Introduced" Version of House Bill 59
- State and Local Tax Alert: Ohio Tax Reform Bill Introduced - House Bill No. 59
- 2012 Ohio Valuation Complaints Can Now be Filed;
Contact Us for Your Complimentary Review - BTA Reform Advocated by Ohio State Bar Association
- Ohio Board of Tax Appeals Decisions
- Ohio Supreme Court and Legislative Update
- The Evaluator - Winter 2013
- Ohio Statehouse Update: Top Ten Tax Topics to Watch for in 2013