Jackie Simmons applies her experience and expertise in two areas of law to assist clients in international business transactions and environmental compliance.

Jackie advises clients on strategic decisions, growth opportunities and joint ventures in other parts of the world. She has helped establish joint ventures in Saudi Arabia, Korea, Japan and Lithuania; set up representative offices in London, Singapore and the Netherlands; and established a distribution network in South America. Jackie also has drafted contracts for toll manufacturing in Europe and China; helped clients acquire manufacturing companies in the UK, Switzerland and India; and established global holding companies.

Jackie advises businesses on international environment laws that affect their manufacturing plants and products, including RoHS restrictions, WEEE laws and REACH regulations in the EU. She represents clients in product safety, chemical-related issues such as the removal of diacetyl from microwave popcorn and the identification and review of the safety of flavoring substitutes. Jackie also assists clients in avoiding product recalls by structuring quality assurance programs that help to avoid problems before they occur.

Before joining Faegre Baker Daniels, Jackie was vice president and general manager at Reilly Industries, Inc. where she managed all aspects of the pyridine chemicals business, including manufacturing, sales and commercial matters. Jackie also served as the company's China project manager where she negotiated a joint venture agreement and received government approvals for a $30 million plant in Nantong, China, which finished ahead of schedule and under budget. Her 11 years at Reilly started as general counsel.

While chairing the environmental practice group at Ice Miller Donadio & Ryan, Jackie earned a reputation as one of the state's top environmental lawyers. She focused her practice on class action and enforcement litigation, permitting and compliance issues, and environmental issues arising during business transactions. In Washington, D.C., Jackie was an environmental and litigation lawyer for Kirkland & Ellis and assistant general counsel for the Chemical Manufacturer's Association.

Jackie has given many presentations and written numerous articles for various legal and industry groups on environmental matters.

Honors

• The Best Lawyers in America — Environmental Law, 2008-12
• Lex Mundi Institute — Cross-Border Transactions, 2008
• Indiana University School of Law — Law Alumni Fellow, 2005
• American Center for International Leadership Conference on International Environmental Issues — Delegate to the Soviet Union and Poland, 1987

Civic Activities

• Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra — Board, 1999-2005 and 2007-present; Executive Committee, 2003-05 and 2007-09
• Julian Center — Board, 2010-present
• Indiana University Foundation Women's Philanthropic Council — Board, 2010-present
• IMPACT 100 — Board, 2007-10
• United Way of Central Indiana — Cabinet, 2009-10
• Governor's Trade Mission to China — Delegate, September 2009
• American Heart Association — Go Red for Women, Executive Leadership Team, 2006-08
• Indiana-Japan Society — Board, 2008

Professional Associations

• Indiana State Bar Association — Environmental Section Educational Outreach Chair, 2007
• Indiana State Bar Association — Environmental Section Chair, 1990-91
• Indiana State Bar Association — Committee on Lawyer Certification, 1990-94
• Indiana State Bar Association — Environmental Section Newsletter Editor, 1989-91

Memberships

• Indiana University — Executive Council, 1996-2004
• Indiana University Law School — Board of Visitors, 1998-present; Chairman of Board, 2003
• Indiana University Law School Alumni Association — Board, 1994-2005; President, 2001
• Notre Dame Club of Indianapolis — President, 1993; Former Board Member, Secretary and Vice President
• International Tar Association — Board of Directors, 1998-2001; President, 2000-01
• American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute — Board, 1999-2001; Program Chair, 2000

Faculty Positions

• Lex Mundi Institute — Faculty, Cross Border Transactions, 2009 and 2010
• Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington — Adjunct Professor, Environmental Litigation and Toxics Regulation and Hazardous Waste, 2008
• Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington — Adjunct Assistant Professor, Environmental Litigation and Regulatory Compliance, 1991-98
• Indiana University School of Business-Indianapolis — Adjunct Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Business Law, 1979-81

Publications

• "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Will Not Trigger Air Permits for Most Commercial Facilities," Environment and Energy Forum, Indiana Manufacturers Association, June 2010
• "Think You Can Move Fast? Look at China," Indianapolis Business Journal, September 29, 2008
• "U.S. Companies Should Evaluate Chinese Tax Changes," Indianapolis Business Journal, June 11, 2007

Presentations

• "Sustainability — Marketing Opportunity or Legal Challenge?" SOCMA, EHS&S Sustainability National Conference, Houston, May 2011
• "Safe Products Mean Never Having to Say You're Sorry," Institute of Flavor Technologists Expo, Society of Flavor Chemists, Chicago, September 2010
• "Reading the Tea Leaves — Recent Developments Affecting How to Do Business in China," Indiana Minority Suppliers Diversity Council, Indianapolis, March 2010
• "U.S.-China Trade Issues — Changes on the Horizon?" Indiana State University-Liaonying University Conference, Shenyang, China, September 2008
• "How to Do Environmental Due Diligence" and "What to Do When Your Dirt Is Dirty," Allen County Economic Development Alliance, Fort Wayne, September 2008
• "How to Avoid Product Recalls and What to Do When They Happen," China's Changing Business Environment: Navigating Risk in the Land of Opportunity Seminar, Indianapolis, 2008
• "Risk – How to Get Senior Management's Attention," Indiana Department of Environmental Management Conference, Indianapolis, 2007
• "What Is the Strategic Value to Your Company of Expanding to China?," Doing Business in China Conference by Indiana State University and Liaoning (China) University, Indianapolis, 2007
• "The China Experience," SOCMA, Research Triangle Park, N.C., 2006
• "Environmental Law for the Non-Environmental Lawyer," Chair, ICLEF Seminar, Indianapolis, 2006
• "How Transnational Attorneys Affect the Legal System of Developing Economies," Indiana University Globalization of the Legal Profession Conference, Bloomington, 2006
• "Strategic Advice for Complying with Stringent MACT Standards," Midwest Environmental Conference, Cincinnati, 2006
• "Risks and Rewards of Doing Business in China," Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturer's Association, Chesapeake, Md., 200
• Natural Resources Committee Environmental and Toxic Tort Litigation Seminar, American Bar Association, Chair, 1986