Education

• Yale University

  (B.A., 1982)

• Columbia Law School

  (J.D., 1985)

Admissions

• State of Ohio
• Supreme Court of Ohio
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

Client Alerts

• "A Win for Equality: The U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of LGBTQ+ Employment Rights," Ulmer & Berne LLP Client Alert (June 2020)

Publications

• “H.B. 153 Community School Summary,” Ulmer & Berne LLP White Paper (October 2011)

Presentations

• “Duties of Nonprofit Board Members,” Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU) (April 2021)
• “Legal Requirements for Voting, Protesting, and Administering the 2020 Election,” Ulmer & Berne LLP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (October 2020)
• “Your Vote Matters: Historical Perspectives on the Impact of Civil Unrest and Voting,” Panelist, Women V.O.T.E, WKYC, and Karamu House (September 2020)
• “Decision 2020: Running Elections During a Pandemic,” Panelist, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (August 2020)
• United States House of Representatives Committee on House Administration Subcommittee on Elections, Ohio Field Hearing on Voting Rights and Election Administration, Witness (April 2019)
• “Duties of Nonprofit Board Members,” Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU) (September 2018)
• “Ask, Get, Give, Serve-(Cha-Ching): It’s all about the Fundraising,” 2017 Caritas Financial Nonprofit Summit (May 2017)
• “The Past, Present, and Future of Public Education,” Moderator, Panel Discussion for The Cleveland Foundation – Donor Conversations (October 2016)
• “Grant-making for Private Foundations,” 3Mgives/3M Foundation (June 2016)
• “Ohio Sunshine Laws,” Client In-Service Training (February 2014)
• “Social Impact: Leading in Non-profit, Government and Judicial Arenas,” panelist, Case Western Reserve University School of Law’s Women’s Law & Leadership Conference (November 2013)
• “School Tax Levies,” Client In-Service Training (May 2013)
• “Election Law Update,” Norman S. Minor Bar Association Seminar (November 2012)
• “Duties of Non-Profit Directors,” Greater Cleveland Dental Society (September 2012)
• “Managing the Delivery of FAPE and Challenging Student Behaviors: Review of MDRs/FBAs/BIPs,” Client Training (August 2012)
• “Managing the Delivery of FAPE/Avoiding Disability Discrimination: Review of Section 504, Title II and Students with Disabilities in Public Schools,” Client Training (August 2012)
• “Duties of Nonprofit Directors,” SS&G Nonprofit Breakfast Series (September 2011)
• “Back to Basics: IDEIA Compliance,” Client In-Service Training (May 2011)
• “Managing the Delivery of FAPE (Special Education Programming and Services) and Challenging Student Behaviors,” BASA New Superintendents In-Service (February 2010)
• “Legal and Legislative Update: Change and Solutions for Nonprofits,” Ohio Society of CPAs 21st Annual Non-Profit Leadership Symposium (October 2008)
• Not-For-Profit Leadership Symposium, Ohio Society of CPAs and United Way Annual Not-For-Profit Conference (October 2008)
• “Policy Delivery: The Movers & Shakers,” The Center for the Advancement of Women in Public Service (October 2008)
• ‘“Women Make Your Mark’ The Voting Process,” panelist, Sponsored by the Flora Stone Mather Center for Woman and Case Western Reserve University (September 27, 2008)
• “Planting the Seeds for Success:  The Journey Toward Election Reform in Cuyahoga County,” Yale Alumni Association of Cleveland (September 2008)
• “The Role of the Board,” Business Volunteers Unlimited and Minority Board Member Pipeline Initiative (June 2008)
• “Why Northeast Ohio is a Great Environment for Professional Growth and Development,” Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club (March 2008)
• “We Object! The Successes and Struggles of Female Attorneys,” The City Club of Cleveland (August 2007)
• “Sister2Sister: How Powerful Women Get Their Way,” YWCA Room Full of Sisters (June 2007)
• “How Powerful Women Get Their Way: Secrets for Negotiating – and Getting – What You Want,” CCC Corporate College Bootcamp (February 2007)
• “Best Practices for Non-Profit Organizations in an Environment of Heightened Scrutiny, Distrust and Regulation,” Key Note Speaker, 19th Annual Not-For-Profit Accounting and Financial Seminar (October 2006)
• “Grooming Another Generation of Women Leaders… Preparing our Community for Change!” panelist, Executive Women’s Panel, 4th Annual Personal and Professional Development Retreat, Women of Color Foundation (April 2006)
• “The Accountability Movement Continues-Legislative Initiatives Impacting Nonprofits,” Cincinnati Nonprofit Workshop (October 2005)
• “The Accountability Movement Continues for Not-For-Profit Organizations,” Cohen & Company, Not-For-Profit Management Summit (September 2005)
• “Individuals With Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) 2004: (Reconciling NCLB and IDEA),” Client In-Service (August 2005)
• “The Accountability Movement Impacts Not-For-Profit Organizations,” Ohio Society of CPA’s 17th Annual Not-For-Profit Accounting and Financial Seminar (November 2004)
• “Trusteeship: The Key to Nonprofit Governance,” Nonprofit Practice Group Summer Workshop Series (June 2004)
• “A Guide to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 in Ohio,” Lorman Education Services (October 2003)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Cuyahoga County Economic-Inclusion Task Force (Co-Chair, appointed by County Executive 2012)
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
• In Counsel With Women
• Society of Benchers, Case Western Reserve University Law School (Public Member, 2004-present)
• Cleveland Bar Association (Former Board Member and Executive Committee Member)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• The MetroHealth System (Board of Trustees)
• The Cleveland Foundation (Former Chair, Grantmaking and Community Engagement Committee; Former Vice Chair of the Board of Directors; Former Chair, Governance and Audit Committees)
• ERIEBANK Ohio Advisory Board (Board Member)
• Say Yes Cleveland Scholarship, Inc. (“Say Yes to Cleveland Scholarship Board”) (Secretary and Chair of Governance Committee)
• Medical Mutual of Ohio Charitable Foundation (MMOCF) (Former Board Member)
• Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (Board Member; Former Chair)
• Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners (Former Member and Board Chair)
• Barbara Byrd-Bennett Foundation for Cleveland’s Children (Former Board Member and Secretary)
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland (Former Board Chair and Board Member Emeritus)
• American Red Cross Greater Cleveland Chapter (Former Board Member and Secretary)
• Hitchcock Center for Women, Inc. (Former Board Member and Secretary)
• Cleveland Leadership Center (Former Board Member and Co-Chair, Leadership Cleveland Selection Committee)
• Hathaway Brown School (Former Board Member; Chair, Trustee/Governance Committee)
• Vocational Guidance Services of Cleveland (VGS) (Former Board Member and Secretary)
• Center for Community Solutions (CCS) (Former Board Member)
• United Black Fund (Former Board Member)
• Shoes & Clothes for Kids (Former Board Member)
• Collaborative To Organize Mount Pleasant (COMP) (Former Board Member)
• Alcoholism Services of Cleveland, Inc. (Recovery Resources, Inc.) (Former Board Member)
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Greater Cleveland Alumnae Chapter (Member)
• United Way of Greater Cleveland Risk Management Committee (Former Member)
• Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (Former Board Member)

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Chair
• Finance Committee, Member
• Nonprofit Group, Group Leader
• School Law Group, Group Leader

HONORS

• Ohio State Bar Foundation Ramey Award for Distinguished Community Service (2022)
• Named to The Best Lawyers in America®, Nonprofit/Charities Law (2011-2022)
• Designated the Best Lawyers Nonprofit/Charities Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Cleveland (2015; 2022)
• Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list (2007; 2016-2022)
• Smart Business Magazine Smart Women Award in the Progressive Woman category (2021)
• AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated – Martindale-Hubbell®
• Named a “Black Leader Worth Watching” by Profiles in Diversity Journal (2020)
• Named one of the Most Influential Women in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine (2019)
• Named one of the Most Influential Black Lawyers in America by Savoy Magazine (2015, 2018)
• “Notable Women in Law,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (2018)
• Named a “Woman Worth Watching” by Profiles in Diversity Journal (2015)
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Women in Law Making a Difference Award (2014)
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Diversity & Inclusion Innovation Award (2014)
• Honored to be among the contributors featured in The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Art Gallery at Cleveland Hopkins Airport and the “Reflections – The Many Facets of Stephanie Tubbs Jones” tribute book
• Crain’s Cleveland Business “Women of Note” (2010)
• Helen K. Jones Woman of Strength Memorial Award (2009)
• Hathaway Brown School Alumnae Achievement Award (2008)
• Northern Ohio Live Rainmaker (Law) (2005)
• YWCA Women of Achievement Award (2001)
• Leadership Cleveland (Member, Class of 2001)

Columbia Law School, October 12, 2020, “Diversity at Law Firms: A Renewed Focus”
CNN, The Lead, October 7, 2020, “As early voting is underway in the US, President Trump continues to sow doubt over election security”
WCPN ideastream, October 7, 2020, “No Library Ballot Collection For Cuyahoga County, But Parking Lot Plan A Go”
C-SPAN, October 6, 2020, “House Hearing on Voting Rights and Misinformation”

• Inajo Davis Chappell to Receive Ramey Award for Distinguished Service from Ohio State Bar Foundation
• Ohio Super Lawyers Recognizes Ulmer Attorneys in 2022 Lists
• Ulmer Partner Inajo Davis Chappell to Receive Smart Business Magazine’s 2021 Smart Women Award
• Ulmer Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 Report
• Ulmer Partner Inajo Davis Chappell Appointed to The MetroHealth System Board of Trustees
• Ulmer Partner Inajo Davis Chappell Named to Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Inaugural List of Black Leaders Worth Watching
• Ulmer Partner Inajo Davis Chappell Joins ERIEBANK Ohio Advisory Board
• Ulmer Honored as Diversity Leader by Profiles in Diversity Journal
• Ohio Super Lawyers Honors Ulmer Attorneys in 2020 Lists
• Best Lawyers® 2020: 60 Ulmer Attorneys Recognized, Two Partners Named “Lawyer of the Year”
• Inajo Davis Chappell Named One of Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Women in Corporate America