Columbus, OH, June 30, 2008 – J. Donald Mottley, an attorney in the Columbus office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, will become Chair of the Ohio State Bar Association Taxation Committee on July 1, 2008. A committee member since 2001, Mottley previously chaired the Municipal Income Tax Subcommittee, and served on a working group that identified "consensus" improvements in Ohio’s tax administration and appeals processes.

“I am honored to serve, and grateful to the firm for allowing me to accept this assignment for the next year or two,” said Mottley. “The appointment also reflects that Taft has a highly visible, highly regarded state and local tax practice.”

The Association Taxation Committee primarily educates and informs its members:

• Updating tax lawyers on new Ohio tax law developments
• Facilitating communication among private sector practitioners, the Ohio Department of Taxation and the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals
• Embracing an advocacy role to identify and implement changes in Ohio tax law and procedure, making tax administration and appeals fairer and more efficient

Mottley’s tenure will continue to focus on advocacy, while supporting the Committee’s traditional education mission. Another priority is to continue working for significant improvements in several aspects of tax administration, including the rules and procedures of the Board of Tax Appeals.

J. Donald Mottley focuses his practice on state and local tax matters, tax issues involving non-profit organizations, tax controversies (federal, state, and local), and on public agency law. In 1993, Mottley began his eight years of service in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he represented part of Dayton and several suburban communities in Montgomery County. While in the state legislature, he chaired the House Ways and Means and Joint Agency Rule Review Committees and served on the Finance and Insurance Committees.

About Taft

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is a full-service law firm with offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Dayton, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Northern Kentucky; Phoenix, Arizona; and Beijing, China. With more than 320 attorneys, the firm provides a broad range of legal services to businesses and individuals, including litigation, corporate and business law, securities and municipal financing, tax and estate planning, labor and employment law, real estate and environmental, health care, intellectual property and unfair competition and antitrust law.