Heather James is a partner in the Municipal Finance Group. Heather focuses her practice on working with municipal units of government as bond counsel for a wide variety of their financings, including for general obligations, utilities, tax increment, economic development, letters of credit and providing assistance to state and local governments with taxable and tax exempt financing for themselves and local industry. Heather assists cities, towns, counties, regional districts, and special taxing districts in planning and implementing financings for a wide range of municipal projects, with a focus on economic development. She also advises clients on matters concerning municipal law, government and government contracts, securities law, finance, leasing and federal tax law compliance. Heather frequently writes and speaks about financing options for municipal units of government. Heather's transactional experience includes new money financings for capital projects and refunding transactions.

In 2005, Heather earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Indiana University. She graduated with high distinction and received her Bachelor of Science in three years.

In 2007, she earned her accelerated juris doctor, cum laude, from Valparaiso University School of Law.

While in law school, Heather was selected and served as a member of the Valparaiso University Law Review and a legal writing teaching assistant. She also spent a summer semester studying abroad in Cambridge, England while in law school. Additionally, she was an extern to the Honorable Judge Vaidik, Indiana Court of Appeals; a law clerk to Judge Jeffrey Dywan, Lake County Superior Court; Judge Julie Cantrell, Lake County Superior Court, and Magistrate Michael Pagano, Lake County Small Claims Court.

Heather lives downtown Indianapolis with her husband, Sebastian Smelko their two daughters and their Newfoundland Dr. Leo Marvin “Marv”.  Heather joined Ice Miller in March of 2008 and is licensed to practice law in the state of Indiana.