Scott Kadish: Partner-In-Charge, Ulmer & Berne, LLP

Scott P. Kadish

Bio: Scott Kadish is an attorney with Ulmer & Berne. He is the partner-in-charge of the company's Cincinnati office. As a result of his leadership in the representation of landlords and tenants in the development and lease up of shopping centers, he chairs the Shopping Center Group. Scott has earned numerous distinctions including being named a “Leading Lawyer” in Real Estate in a survey of lawyers by Cincy Business magazine and an "Ohio Super Lawyer" in a survey of Ohio lawyers by Law & Politics and Cincinnati magazines. He has authored numerous publications and is an Adjunct Professor of Real Estate Law at the University of Cincinnati.


FCL: How would you define a leader?
Scott: A leader is anyone who works hard, treats others the way they would want to be treated and lives with integrity.

FCL: Who are your biggest influences as a leader?
Scott: Casey Stengel. Casey was a famous baseball player and manager with a great sense of humor. It’s always important to keep a sense of humor about your own importance. Almost no one is irreplaceable.

FCL: What gives you the greatest joy in being a leader?
Scott: Seeing others assume leadership positions so that we can work as equals.

FCL: What is your biggest pet peeve as a leader?
Scott: Group meetings that go on way longer than necessary.

FCL: What is your biggest challenge as a leader?
Scott: To act the way I would want others to act.

FCL: Who has impacted you the most in your life as a leader?
Scott: My wife – she keeps me grounded and has much better common sense and judgment than I.

FCL: What are your favorite books and what are you currently reading?
Scott: I like sports books. Sports is a great diversion and there are so many great lessons to be learned and analogies to be made to business. I am currently reading Moneyball.

FCL: What is your vision for business and community leadership in Cincinnati?
Scott: We should obviously be working to raise the economic tide for all so that everyone can experience economic security.

FCL: Where do you see yourself five years from today?
Scott: At my desk working. I have a five year old son and so I’ll be right here 15 years from now.

Closing remarks (from Herman): Scott, thanks for being a difference maker. Our appreciation to your wife for influencing your leadership through her common sense and good judgement. I agree with you regarding your biggest pet peeve. Unless properly executed, meetings can be a terrible waste of resources. John Kenneth Galbraith once said, "Meetings are indispensable when you don't want to do anything". In July 2004, I was invited to train the Direct Professionals Association of Tennessee on how to have effective meetings. I mentioned six key things that we need to recognize in order to have effective meetings: 1. recognize what undermines good meetings, 2. recognize meeting killers and how to handle them, 3. recognize the need for an agenda, 4. recognize every member's role, 5. recognize the value of time, and 6. recognize the need for evaluation and follow-up. Let's continue to work towards better meetings. Thanks again for being a first class leader!