Scott A. Dienes

Scott A. Dienes


Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 2021

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Practice Areas

Land Use and Zoning Law

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Scott Dienes is a real estate, municipal and finance attorney assisting clients with complex projects that define and shape communities. With a strong municipal and real estate background, along with tax-exempt bond and public finance experience, Scott keeps projects on track and on budget. Scott has served as general counsel to municipal clients his entire career. He acts on behalf of local governments, development authorities, school districts, water and sewer authorities, district libraries, mental health authorities, police and fire departments and boards. He is also often engaged as special counsel on complex matters local governments face.

Scott provides counsel on variety of public finance matters, a discipline that has grown out of his work with local governments. He serves as bond counsel for various public improvements such as water and sewer projects, municipal buildings, fire, police, and public safety departments, and road and sidewalk projects, and as bank counsel and as underwriter’s counsel on projects with a public finance element throughout the state. Additionally, Scott is approved as bond counsel for USDA and MEDC projects.

From modest projects to complex developments, simple structures to entangled TIF districts and incentives, from rural communities with basic regulations to layers of land use and zoning processes, and from common easement and land interest disputes among neighbors to those which impact entire communities or regions, Scott’s experience includes residential, commercial and industrial sites of virtually all scale.

Scott works with public and private higher education institutions on issues such as financial restructurings, reductions in force, internal investigations, strategic planning, significant real estate transactions, the establishment and closure of satellite campuses, and searches for key leadership.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 171 Monroe Avenue, NW, Suite 1000
    Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2694
Education
  • Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., graduated 1995
  • Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, graduated 1995
Bar Admissions
  • Michigan, State Bar of Michigan

Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan

293 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

109 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

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Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Land Use and Zoning Law
Awards:
  • Grand Rapids Magazine, Top Lawyers (Real Estate, Public Finance, Land Use and Zoning), 2019
  • AV® Preeminent™ Martindale-Hubbell, since 2009
  • The Best Lawyers in America (Land use and Zoning), 2021
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Education Law
  • Municipal Law
  • Public Finance Law
  • Real Estate Law

Publications

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