The health and safety of our employees, customers and communities are our top priority. Read about our response to COVID-19.

Our Attorneys

Timothy M. Burke
Rated by Super Lawyers


loading ...
Best Lawyers -
Timothy M. Burke "The role of a lawyer is to assist a client in obtaining justice."

Timothy M. Burke is a Founding Partner of Fraternal Law Partners. His practice is primarily devoted to representing governmental entities, representing clients in front of governmental decision-making bodies, or litigation for or against governmental entities. Burke is also well-versed in assisting fraternities, sororities and their related non-profit organizations with issues related to corporate governance, risk management and anti-hazing policy. He is often asked to speak on topics including municipal law, land use and zoning, eminent domain, civil rights and elections law. He has also served as Special Counsel to the Attorney General of Ohio. He is a frequent contributor to the Fraternal Law Newsletter, a quarterly publication dedicated to the legal issues relevant to Greek life organizations.

Burke’s accolades include the AV® Preeminent™ rating in Martindale-Hubbell, listing as an Ohio Super Lawyer by Law and Politics Magazine, and recognition among the Best Lawyers in America®. He is also extremely active in the Greater Cincinnati community. He served on the Ohio Board of Regents, the Hamilton County Board of Elections, the Cincinnati Park Board, the Board of Trustees of the Cincinnati Zoo, and was the Chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party for 24 years.

Burke earned his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati (1977) and a B.A. from Xavier University (1970). He is a member of the Cincinnati and American Bar Associations, and the Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association.

Quick Facts

Office:

225 West Court Street

Cincinnati, OH 45202

 

Practice Areas:

Land Use & Zoning

Constitutional Law & Civil Rights

Local Government

Litigation

Admissions

All Ohio State Courts

United States Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

Admitted for specific cases in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania

Education

1977, J.D., University of Cincinnati

1970, A.B., Xavier University

 

Professional Associations

Cincinnati Bar Association

American Bar Association Ohio

Municipal Attorneys Association

Achievements

AV® Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell National Legal Directory

 

“Ohio Super Lawyer” (2004-present)

Best Lawyers in America (2008-2018); recognized in 3 areas:

  • Government Relations Practice
  • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
  • Litigation – Municipal

Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for:

  • Litigation- Municipal Cincinnati (2019)
  • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Cincinnati (2017)
  • Litigation – Municipal, Cincinnati (2016)
  • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Cincinnati (2015)
  • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Cincinnati (2012)
  • Land Use and Zoning Law, Cincinnati (2011)

Community Affiliations

Ohio Board of Regents, since 2008-2014

 

Hamilton County Board of Elections 1993-2019, more than 20 years as Chair

 

Chair, Hamilton County Democratic Party,1993-2018

 

Trustee, Cincinnati Zoo, 1980-1991

Chair, Senator Sherrod Brown’s Committee to Advise on Selection of the U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshall for the No. District of Ohio, 2009

 

Get Out The Vote training session, four cities in Slovakia – under contract to U.S. State Department, 2002

President, Xavier University, Alumni Board of Governors, 1981-1982

 

International Supervisor of Election, Bosnia/Herzegovina, 1997

 

Commissioner, Cincinnati Park Board, 1991-1994

Publications

Numerous articles in Fraternal Law, published by Manley Burke for last 37 years, at least four times an academic year

Formerly served as frequent guest commentator on local NPR station

“The Right to Freedom of Association: Public/Private Distinctions (Chapter XII) in the Administration of Fraternal Organizations on North American Campuses: A Pattern for the New Millennium,” by Dennis E. Gregory and Associates, 2003

Presentations

2019, 2018, 2017, 2015 Presenter of Legal Updates Involving Fraternities and Sororities at the Stetson College of Law Annual National Conference on the Law and Higher Education

 

2011 – Panelist, National Conference on Law and Higher Education, “The Roberts Court and Free Speech,” Orlando, Florida

 

2010 – Presenter, “Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, 561 US __ (June 28, 2010). A Discussion of the Decision and its Impacts,” a national webinar sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law & Policy at Stetson University College of Law, August 2010

Previous National Convention Presentations on fraternity legal issues for Pi Beta Phi, Chi Omega, Delta Sigma Pi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Fraternity Executives Convention, Association of Fraternity Advisors and National Panhellenic Conference, and National Association of College and University Attorneys

 

Campus presentations have included Ohio State University, Miami University, Wittenberg University, Cornell University, Washington and Lee University, Morehead State University, Findlay College and the University of Cincinnati

Previous National Convention Presentations on zoning and land use, American Planning Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Recreation and Parks Association, National Association of Community and Economic Development Officers

 

Served as Adjunct Faculty member at both Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati

 

Numerous regional, state and local presentations on zoning and land use, eminent domain and election law