Rising Star
Christopher Wolcott Esq.
Taft Law
C
hris Wolcott has the calm confidence you want in a litigator—calm honed over years of distance running and confidence developed from patience, experience, and determination. The University of Kansas School of Law graduate has been an associate at Taft’s Dayton office for a little over three years. He has made the most of that time, building his skillset, integrating himself into the DBA and Federal Bar Association (FBA), and serving the community as a volunteer assistant coach for Waynesville’s cross country and track teams. Chris’s return as a lawyer to the area where he was raised has been a triumphant one, and his personal and professional engagement in the Dayton community has marked him as a Rising Star. Born in Kansas City, Chris grew up in Oakwood from first grade through high school, where he ran track and cross country. He continued running in college, first at Clemson then at Tiffin University, where he graduated with a B.A. in Political Science. Running has proven integral to Chris’s life: he met his wife, Becky, on Tiffin’s track and cross country team, and both now serve together as assistant coaches in Waynesville. Both also recently received Tiffin’s “Carry the Torch” award, which is granted to alumni of TU’s track and cross country teams who have distinguished themselves professionally and as community leaders. Not only does “Coach” Chris still make time to run himself, but he also makes a point to show up for his team even at their non-running sports, regularly attending Waynesville girls soccer games to support several of his runners who are dual-sport athletes. After graduating from Tiffin, Chris decided to return to his homeland and matriculated to the University of Kansas School of Law on a full scholarship. KU is the “family school” for Chris—with multiple generations having attended over the years. When he attended, Chris found it was a really good fit for him as well (it didn’t hurt that he is a lifelong Jayhawks 16
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fan). Chris thrived in the environment fostered by Board the law school’s decision to intentionally limit class for Bar sizes, which resulted in its having all the resources of Briefs, a bigger school with the intimacy of a smaller one. He is a became a fixture in the campus community, serving co-chair in student government and on both the Kansas Law of the Review (as a contributing author and Symposium DBA’s Editor) and Moot Court Council. A loyal alumnus, Federal he still makes it back to Lawrence as often as he can, Practice including recently to serve as a moot court judge—and Section, maybe to watch a game or catch up with friends and and was professors as well. a member of the DBA’s Leadership Development Following law school, Chris worked for a mid-sized Class of 2021-22. He is also heavily involved in the civil litigation firm in the Kansas City area for a year FBA, both locally and nationally, previously servbefore serving as a judicial law clerk for then-Kansas ing as the vice-chair of the Dayton chapter’s Young Court of Appeals Judge—now Kansas Supreme Court Lawyers Division and presently serving as both the Justice—Melissa T. Standridge. These experiences Dayton chapter’s treasurer and as a member of the were formative to his identity as a professional and led Young Lawyers Division National Board. Chris was to his decision to join Taft and return to Dayton. He also a member of—and the sole attorney selected to started in his current role in August 2020, in the midst participate in—the Dayton Chamber of Commerce’s of the global pandemic. Using the skills he developed inaugural Gen D Ignite program. The program assists during his clerkship, Chris slotted right in. As one of early career professionals in attaining professional adtwo litigation associates at Taft’s Dayton office, he is vancement, personal growth, and deeper involvement responsible for any cases that come through the door. in the community. Not only did he grow his network That runs the gamut from labor and employment to and form friendships with other young professionals breach of contract to construction to intra-corporate in the community, but this experience directly led to battles. The diversity of work has kept things interested him giving a talk at the Chamber’s Safety Breakfast and made Chris a more versatile litigator. this past July. But Chris doesn’t just confine his practice to Chris’s drive is unquestioned, and his dedication— billable hours. He has developed a robust pro bono to his family, the law, his firm, his clients, his bar practice in the federal courts. This has led to unique associations, his alma maters, experiences at an early stage in his career, including his cross country and track serving as co-lead counsel on a federal jury trial. Chris teams, and to Dayton—is has been recognized by his firm, the federal courts, and exemplary. With his passion the FBA for his pro bono work. and commitment, and the When not in the office, on the track, or with his strong foundation he has built wife and young daughter (Sloane), Chris is most likely for himself, it is clear his star to be found engaged in the work of any number of will continue to rise. professional associations. He serves on the Editorial Watch this space.
By Nathaniel M. Fouch Esq. Chair, Editorial Board Supreme Court of Ohio nathaniel.fouch@sc.ohio.gov
