Columbus City Development Attorney Re-Joins Vorys, Will Focus on Economic Development Incentives Work
Vorys announced today that Rebecca “Elissa” Wilson has joined the firm’s national economic development incentives practice and will be based in the Columbus office. Wilson had previously worked at Vorys and prior to re-joining the firm, she was an assistant city attorney for the City of Columbus, where she served as general counsel to the Director of the Department of Development and the Economic Development and Housing Divisions of the Department of Development, as well as to the City Auditor and the Income Tax Division of the Auditor’s Office.
“We are elated to have Elissa back with us at Vorys,” said Scott Ziance, leader of the Vorys economic development incentives practice. “While she was at the City of Columbus, Elissa negotiated a wide array economic development incentive packages and public-private partnerships. Having someone with that public sector experience will strengthen our team and help us continue to serve our economic development incentives clients across the U.S.”
During her time at the city, Wilson served as lead counsel in negotiating incentives agreements and other agreements relating to the development of Lower.com Stadium and Astor Park. She also represented the city in negotiations concerning the incentive package for The Scioto Peninsula development in Downtown Columbus.
“I joined Vorys as a young attorney and learned a lot during my time there. I left to pursue a passion for public service,” said Wilson. "I am so thankful for my time spent at the city. Not only was it incredibly rewarding to be a public servant and to get to be a part of the amazing things that the city’s economic development professionals are accomplishing for the City of Columbus, but also it was incredibly enriching to serve as lead negotiator and drafter on so many deals. While the decision to leave the city was hard, I am excited to re-join my friends and colleagues at Vorys and have the opportunity to work in one of the largest law firm-based incentives practices in the country with some of the most distinguished economic development attorneys. I couldn’t be more excited.”
Wilson has experience developing tax increment financing districts and negotiating tax increment financing agreements. She has also negotiated real property tax abatements for new business facilities and helped counsel public leaders on multifamily residential tax abatement policies. Wilson also has experience in complex commercial litigation, including securities fraud, RICO, class action certification and settlement, contract law and zoning disputes.
Wilson received her J.D. from Yale Law School and her B.A. from Emory University.
About Vorys: Vorys was established in 1909 and currently has nearly 375 attorneys in eight offices in Ohio, Washington, D.C., Texas, Pennsylvania and California. Vorys currently ranks as one of the 200 largest law firms in the United States according to American Lawyer magazine.
