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 Legal Services
Related Policy, Advocacy, and Consulting Services
Related Industries
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
Latest
Insights
Events
Upcoming Events
Past Events
News
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, 2016-23
- 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