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Summary
Having served on the executive teams of two Indiana governors, a Fortune 1000 public company, and the award-winning Indianapolis International Airport, Joe is a sought-after and trusted advisor in the legal, legislative, regulatory, and policy arenas.
Collaborative by nature, Joe’s soft skills, strong business acumen, creative problem-solving, and strategic thinking are key attributes that enable his effectiveness in a wide variety of matters and settings, challenging and otherwise. His experience as both a private practitioner and in-house general counsel gives him a uniquely extensive and valuable knowledge base and perspective that is often beneficial to his clients.
While the majority of his career has been in the private sector, Joe’s significant public service in state and local government—over 17 years—greatly expanded his repertoire of skills that make him a highly effective lawyer. Joe wore multiple hats for Governor Mitch Daniels, including legal counsel, co-director of his legislative program, and policy advisor over banking, gaming, alcohol and tobacco, professional licensing, and insurance. Joe also served as Governor Eric Holcomb’s general counsel for eight years, handling all legal affairs, while also being responsible for approving all new state regulations and serving as the governor’s liaison to the Indiana Supreme Court, Attorney General’s Office, and Indiana Inspector General.
In his practice, Joe focuses on real estate, transactional, aviation, and regulatory matters. He has been the lead attorney on more than one hundred fifty commercial real estate transactions in the private and public sectors (leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, development, and sale-leaseback). An example of a signature project for which Joe was legal counsel is the solar farm complex at the Indianapolis International Airport, which, at one time, was the largest in the world. Joe has also handled numerous asset purchase acquisitions.
As for the regulatory arena, Joe helped shape Indiana’s new regulatory environment through his involvement with legislation recently adopted affecting how state agencies must adopt new administrative rules (regulations), after which he and his team trained every state agency on how to properly implement and follow this new law, including all its nuances and intricacies.
While the Airport’s general counsel, Joe was responsible for all legal and regulatory affairs not only for the international airport but also five smaller, affiliated airports in the metropolitan area. He also managed the land acquisition, insurance, ethics, and government affairs programs. Joe was a board member and the legislative chairperson of Aviation Indiana.
Joe has served on, and chaired, many notable boards, committees, and commissions, and has testified on behalf of an industry association before two committees of the U.S. Congress. On an international business matter years ago, he visited Cuba on three occasions and each time participated with his client in a private lunch or dinner with Fidel Castro.
Joe did his undergraduate studies at DePauw University and Georgetown University, and earned his law degree from Indiana University (Maurer) School of Law. While in law school, he clerked at the Lawrence County Circuit Court, and later at the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Joe is licensed to practice before the state and federal courts of Indiana, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
Awards
Honoree, Champion of Justice Award, Indiana Judges Association (2024)
Honoree, Leadership in Law – Distinguished Barrister, Indiana Lawyer (2023)
Honoree, Sagamore of the Wabash Award, State of Indiana (2025)
Recipient, Governor’s Distinguished Hoosier Award (2010)
Honoree, Outstanding Legal Services Award, Indianapolis International Airport (2016)
Recipient, Distinguished Service Award, State Employees’ Appeals Commission (2014)
Honoree, Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, American Heart Association, Indiana Chapter (2000)
All Service Areas
Education
- Indiana University Maurer School of Law (1987)
- DePauw University (1984)
Admissions
- State - Indiana
- Federal - Indiana Northern District Court
- Federal - Indiana Southern District Court
- Federal - U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- Federal - Supreme Court of the United States
Speeches and Publications
- Regular Speaker, Robing and Retirement Ceremonies for Justices of the Indiana Supreme Court and Judges of the Indiana Court of Appeals (May 2017- April 2025).
- Creator & Panelist, “Rewarding Legal Careers in Public Service,” Indiana University (Maurer) School of Law (November 2024).
- Guest Lecturer, Program on Law and State Government, Indiana University (McKinney) School of Law (March 2024).
- Panelist, “Demystifying the Judicial Selection Process,” Seminar, Lake County Bar Association and Indiana State Bar Association (March 2024).
- Creator & Panelist, “Internships and Public Service Careers in State Government,” Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity (ICLEO) (July 2023).
- Panelist, “Building Strong and Sustainable Relationships in Your State,” National Governors Association, Legal Counsel Convening (June 2023).
- Speaker, “Judicial Selection in the State of Indiana,” National Governors Association, General Counsel Network (October 2022).
- Speaker, “The Judicial Nominating Process,” Seminar, Allen County Bar Association (November 2019).
- Speaker, “Solar Farm Development,” Seminar, Annual Real Estate Institute, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum (ICLEF) (May 2015).
- Speaker, “Aviation Law and Airport Development,” Indianapolis General Counsel Roundtable (April 2015).
- Guest Lecturer, Aviation Law & Airport Management, Purdue University School of Aviation (March 2015).
- Speaker, “Successful Airport Noise Mitigation Programs,” Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) (20214).
- Speaker, “New Indiana Laws for the Business Community,” Fishers Chamber of Commerce (May 2009).
- Speaker, “Current Legislative Issues and Hot Topics,” Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors’ Executive Committee (March 2009).
- Speaker, “Local Government Reform Efforts in Indiana,” The Richard G. Lugar (former U.S. Senator) Series for Excellence in Public Service (February 2009).
- Speaker, “Legalized Gambling’s Place and Future in Indiana,” Alliance CEO Group Conference (April 2008).
- Guest Lecturer, Employment and Civil Law, Indiana University (McKinney) School of Law (October 2006).
News
Heerens Joins Taft Indianapolis
Professional Affiliations
- Indiana State Bar Association
Member
- Sagamore American Inn of Court
Member
- National Governors Association
Past Member, General Counsel Network
- Indiana Legal Foundation
Past Member, Board of Directors
- Food Marketing Institute
Past Chair, Government Affairs Committee for the National Supermarket Industry (Washington D.C.)
- National Academy of Sciences, Transportation Research Board (ACRP)
Past Member, Airport Risk Management Task Force
- Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Past Member, Board of Directors
Past Member, Employment Law Committee - Indiana Retail Council
Past Member, Board of Directors
- Aviation Indiana
Past Member, Board of Directors
Past Chair, Legislative Committee - Fishers Chamber of Commerce
Past Member, Board of Directors
Past Chair, Public Policy Council - Indiana Task Force on Public Defense
Past Member, Advisory Subgroup
- Kernan-Shepard Government Reform Advocacy Coalition
Past Member
- Indiana Grocery Association
Past Chair, Board of Directors
Community Involvement
- Indy Gateway
Founding Board Member
- Indiana Gaming Commission
Past Chair
- Indiana State Employees' Appeals Commission
Past Chair
- United Way of Central Indiana
Graduate, Ardath Burkhart Board Leadership Series
- American Heart Association
Past Chair, Board of Directors, Indianapolis
Past Chair, National Corporate Relations Committee, Dallas
Past Chair, National Insurance Committee, Dallas
Past Member, Board of Directors, Greater Midwest Affiliate, Chicago - FBI Citizens' Academy
Graduate, Indianapolis Division
- The Fund for American Studies
Past Member, Alumni Council, Washington, D.C.