State and Local Government - Indiana

We understand the intricacies of economic development – it’s our forte. From offices in Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis and South Bend, our attorneys serve as bond counsel and counsel to local, regional, and national underwriters, issuers, borrowers, credit providers, purchasers and trustees in a wide variety of tax-exempt financings involving the state of Indiana and its counties, cities, towns, townships and school corporations. We also have experience as counsel for special taxing districts, corporations, commissions, authorities, bond banks and other bodies that issue bonds.

Our lawyers serve as special counsel to the city of Indianapolis and as general counsel to the Indiana Association of County Commissioners, the Indiana County Treasurers' Association, and the Indiana County Auditors' Association. We advise on issues such as financings, taxation, public fund and retirement fund cash management and investments, public contracts and public bidding.

Local Government

In their important function as employers, Indiana state and municipal governments turn to Barnes & Thornburg for guidance on labor and employment issues, including personnel policies, employee termination, employment discrimination and unemployment compensation matters. We also serve our government and business clients by representing their health care interests before regulatory and administrative agencies in hearings and adjudications, including quality-of-care compliance and Medicaid reimbursement issues. Clients also benefit from the firm’s Washington, D.C., office and its proximity to decision-makers in the federal government.

As governments recognize the need to reduce costs and make government services more responsive to taxpayers, we help them look to the private sector for competitive solutions for delivering services and managing public assets. We are known for being able to bridge the gaps between public funding and privatization, assisting clients with requests for proposals and contract negotiations.

Attorneys on our team have experience serving in Indiana government and have served as state examiner, general counsel to the Indiana Department of Commerce, deputy state treasurer, deputy mayor of the city of Indianapolis and as chief of staff to the governor, as well as Indiana congressional staff members. This bipartisan group of lawyers works together to serve the Indiana governmental services needs of our clients.