Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership | This website contains attorney advertising.

Overview

Jim is the trusted adviser and lead transactional attorney for many of the highest growth and market leading companies in the State of Indiana. With a laser focus on achieving client objectives while providing excellent service, Jim has been recognized as one of the premier corporate attorneys in the State of Indiana.

Corporate Experience

  • Mergers and Acquisitions — Represents operating companies, private equity firms and family offices in acquisitions, dispositions, mergers and other high-stakes business transactions.
  • Corporate Finance — Advises clients in connection with seed and venture capital investments, mezzanine financing and commercial credit facilities.
  • Economic Development — Advises clients on state and local economic incentive programs, including EDGE, training grants, property tax abatement and the creation of TIF districts.
  • Entrepreneurship — Counsels emerging businesses on formation, employment issues, equity structure, licensing and intellectual property matters, and acquiring investments.
  • Commercial — Advises clients on customer, vendor and other material contracts.

Indy M&A Leader

Jim is the founder and chair of Faegre Drinker's M&A Conference in Indianapolis, which is Indiana's largest M&A conference.

Trusted Adviser

Jim acts as transaction and/or general outside counsel to over a half dozen companies with a top 10 U.S. and/or global market share in their respective industries.

Industry Experience

Jim has experience counseling on strategic mergers and acquisitions in a broad range of industries, including industrials, food and agribusiness, information technology, consumer products, insurance and life sciences.

Related Policy, Advocacy & Consulting Services

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Indiana

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Education

University of Michigan Law School
J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Michigan Law Review (editor) (1998)

Harvard University
B.A. cum laude (1995)

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • The Year Ahead
    Association for Corporate Growth, Indianapolis Business Journal insert, April 10, 2017
  • Market Update — Current Deal Activity, Valuations and Outlook
    Moderator, Faegre Baker Daniels Indianapolis M&A Conference, June 2016
  • Crisis Management and the Legal Response to a Government Investigation
    Association of Corporate Counsel, June 2016
  • Middle Market in Review: 2015
    Indianapolis Business Journal, April 18, 2016
  • Negotiating a Complex Transaction — Legal Pitfalls Before the Deal Is Signed
    Association of Corporate Counsel, June 2015
  • Connecting With Other Professional Problem Solvers
    Indianapolis Business Journal, April 20, 2015
  • Building a State of Innovation
    Indianapolis Business Journal, April 29, 2013

Leadership & Community

Professional Associations

  • Association for Corporate Growth, Indiana Chapter — Board of Directors (President, 2018)
  • Indianapolis Bar Association — Business Section
  • Indiana State Bar Association — Business Section
  • American Bar Association — Business Section

Civic Activities

  • Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce — Secretary, 2018-19, Board of Directors, 2015-17
  • Arts Council of Indianapolis — Board of Directors
  • Keep Indianapolis Beautiful — Board of Directors

Honors

  • Chambers USA — Indiana, Corporate/M&A, 2016-24
  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2021
  • IBJ Media — Indiana 250, 2022-23
  • Acritas — Star Lawyer, 2018-20
  • Indiana Super Lawyers — Rising Star, 2009, 2011
  • Indianapolis Business Journal — Forty Under 40 Award, 2008
  • Sagamore of the Wabash
  • Junior Achievement's "Best and Brightest" Under Age 40 (Law), 2005
  • Junior Achievement's "Best and Brightest" Under Age 40 (Government), 2004
  • Clarence Darrow Scholar
Awards Methodology
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.