Full Biography: Fred R. Biesecker

Fred Biesecker is a partner in the Business Litigation Group. He concentrates his practice on appellate litigation, insurance coverage issues, securities arbitration and litigation, business and commercial litigation, public affairs, construction law, and professional liability. He joined Ice Miller in April 1984.

Public Service. Mr. Biesecker served as Chief Counsel to Indiana Governor Frank O' Bannon from January 1997 through July 2001. As Chief Counsel, his primary responsibilities included providing legal and policy advice to the Governor and his staff and agency heads on a broad range of issues; overseeing major litigation involving the Governor or other state officials or agencies; advising the Governor in making appointments to fill judicial vacancies; reviewing proposed legislation and coordinating the review of all enacted legislation; and serving as the Governor's liaison to the judiciary and to other statewide elected officials.

From October 2002 through January 2003, he served as Interim Director of the Indiana Public Employees' Retirement Fund. He has also served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Rackets Bureau of the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York City.

Recent Reported Appellate Decisions. Baude v. Heath, 538 F.3d 608 (7th Cir. 2008); Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. v. United States Filter Corp., 895 N.E. 2d 1172 (Ind. 2008); Harmony Health Plan of Indiana, Inc. v. Indiana Dept. of Admin., 864 N.E.2d 1083 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007); American Fire & Casualty Company v. Shoney's Inc. 843 N.E. 2d 548 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006);Young v. Tri-Etch, Inc., 790 N.E.2d 456 (Ind. 2003); Peterson v. Borst, 786 N.E.2d 668 (Ind. 2003); Board of Commissioners of LaPorte County v. Town & Country Utilities, Inc., 791 N.E.2d 249 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003), reh. denied, trans. denied; St. Mary's Medical Center of Evansville, Inc. v. Loomis, 783 N.E.2d 274 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002); Shriner v. Sheehan, 773 N.E.2d 833 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied;

Teaching. Since January 2006, Mr. Biesecker has been an adjunct professor at the Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis, teaching election law.

Recognition. Mr. Biesecker was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor O'Bannon in June 2001. He was recognized as an Indiana Super Lawyer in 2007 and 2008. In August 1998, he was recognized in the Indianapolis Business Journal's "Who's Who in Law" special section. He holds an "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for lawyers, based upon that publication's poll of other lawyers practicing in the same community.

Recent Publications: "Representing the Policyholder: Recent Trends and Emerging Issues," published in Insurance Law Settlements and Negotiations (Aspatore Books 2007), (Co-authored with Brent Huber)

Business Litigation. Mr. Biesecker has represented both insureds and insurance carriers in resolving complex coverage disputes. He has represented securities brokers in customer arbitrations and industry litigation. He has represented accountants, attorneys, architects, and financial institutions regarding claims of professional malpractice or misconduct. He has represented franchisors, franchisees, and other business owners in a wide variety of contract disputes and tort claims, including tortious interference, antitrust, and civil RICO claims.

Public Affairs. Mr. Biesecker has represented a number of companies that do business or seek to do business with federal, state, and local governments. He has also frequently represented state and local government entities.

Personal and Educational Background. Mr. Biesecker grew up in Lebanon, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University, Indianapolis, in 1976. Following his graduation from Yale Law School in 1979, Mr. Biesecker practiced law in New York City for five years before returning to Indiana in 1984. He is active in state and local political organizations. He rejoined Ice Miller in August 2001 after working with Governor O'Bannon for nearly five years. Mr. Biesecker is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Indiana as well as the U.S. Supreme Court and the Sixth and Seventh Circuit Courts of Appeals.