Public Affairs
We understand the real impact legislative decisions can have on the success of a business. Governmental action can create costs, provide opportunities for a for-profit enterprise or provide tax incentives designed to stimulate economic development. Knowing how your business or non-profit works, and where governmental action can harm or promote it, is our primary focus.
Our diverse public affairs team has over 130 years of collective experience at the local, state and federal levels. Members of our staff have served in the executive, legislative and judicial branches, including serving as key staff aides to several governors, as well as serving in the Indiana and Illinois state legislatures. In addition, the Firm has employed a number of elected and appointed state and federal officials.
Our public affairs team is led by John Hammond and Lacy Johnson. As a veteran of Indiana state government, Hammond, a Republican, has helped shape a wide variety of public policy, from tax policy to environmental management, education to tort reform, transportation to insurance and economic development. Hammond is currently the chair-elect for the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute and chair of the Seventh Congressional District for the Indiana Republican Party.
As the former president and current vice president of the board of directors for the Indianapolis Airport Authority, Lacy Johnson, a Democrat, helped lead the development of the $1.3 billion new Indianapolis Airport, the first post-September 11 aviation facility in the United States. In addition, Johnson serves on the Boards of the Indiana University Foundation, Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute, the Skyline Club, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc., the Oaks Academy, the American Pianists Association and the IUPUI Advisory Board. In addition, he is the chair of the Seventh Congressional District for the state Democratic party.
Hammond and Johnson are joined by an experienced team of seasoned professionals including several former state legislators, the former assistant Illinois House majority leader and the former vice chairman of the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee.
Their experience is complemented by the Firm's Washington, D.C. affiliate, Ice Miller Strategies. With over 25 years of public policy and federal government experience, Ice Miller Strategies professionals help clients meet their critical objectives by developing and executing customized strategies that successfully navigate Washington's complex legislative, political and regulatory processes.
Our depth of experience, and relationships in both political parties, allows us to provide our clients with comprehensive public affairs management before local, state and federal legislative, regulatory and administrative decision makers. Whether you need direct advocacy with lawmakers on a specific issue or need help in framing the public debate surrounding your company or organization, our public affairs team can help you reach your objectives.
Our team of attorneys represents clients from a number of sectors including agriculture, defense, economic development, education, environment, financial services, health care, maritime, natural resources, tax policy, trade, transportation and utilities.
Services provided include:
Campaign Finance and Election Law Compliance
Coalition Development and Management
Community Relations
Crisis management
Legislative Monitoring and Representation
Lobbying/Public Affairs
Grassroots/Grasstops Programming
Strategic Public Policy Development
