Kevin O’Donnell Stanek

Practices

• Public Finance
• Government Services

Biography

Kevin is a solutions-oriented attorney who focuses on understanding his client’s goals to craft enduring solutions. He counsels both public and private clients on matters involving public finance, economic development, government services, regulatory oversight, transactional matters, corporate governance, and public law. Drawing on nearly a decade of experience inside Ohio state government, Kevin helps clients move complex projects forward by aligning legal strategy with fiscal realities, legislative priorities, and agency operations.

Kevin represents clients on economic development financing and incentive projects utilizing tax increment financing, joint enterprise development districts, enterprise zones, energy special improvement districts, and community reinvestment areas. He also serves as counsel to economic development entities such as community improvement corporations, new community authorities, regional planning commissions, convention facilities authorities, water and sewer districts, and port authorities on general, economic development and special obligation revenue financing matters. In the traditional general obligation area, he serves as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel and purchaser’s counsel for general obligation, special obligation revenue bond and note financings for municipalities, school districts, counties, townships, port authorities, convention facilities authorities and other public sector entities.

Interspersed between his time in private practice, Kevin held senior roles in Ohio state government, most recently as the Chief Legal Counsel of the Ohio House of Representatives. In this role, Kevin served as the primary legal advisor to the Ohio Speaker of the House and Majority Caucus. He also previously held the position of Assistant Chief Counsel and Assistant Director of Policy for Asset Management for former Ohio Governor John R. Kasich.

During his two stints in government, Kevin played a key role in the development and execution of three state biennial budgets. This work included drafting and reviewing thousands of budget amendments, working with executive agencies to identify policy and fiscal concerns, assessing statutory language, and supporting the gubernatorial veto process. His experience further includes serving as associate general counsel to the Ohio Office of Budget and Management, where he advised on budget development and implementation, agency statutory and constitutional responsibilities, and litigation with potential material impact on the state’s financial position.

Kevin began his career as a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives, supporting legislative strategy, communications, and constituent relations—experience that continues to inform his practical approach to advancing public‑sector and economic development objectives.