McCarter & English announced that real estate attorney James Barkley has joined the firm’s Indianapolis office in the Real Estate Practice Group. Barkley will provide strategic advice and counsel to clients and focus on the growth of the firm’s national real estate practice.
During nearly 40 years with Simon Property Group, the world’s largest public real estate company, Barkley was both general counsel of the company and secretary to the company’s board of directors. He helped grow Simon from a $2 billion private company to a Fortune 100 global real estate investment trust. During his time with Simon, he helped structure, negotiate, and complete scores of complex domestic and international transactions; helped the company navigate numerous federal regulatory schemes; created and implemented governance initiatives; and oversaw the company’s risk management, tax and internal audit functions.
“We are thrilled to have Jim join the firm; it would be hard to find anyone with more firsthand experience and knowledge to advise our real estate sector clients in all aspects of managing and growing their businesses,” said Joe Boccassini, Firmwide Managing Partner. “In addition, our public company clients will benefit from Jim’s experience counseling on corporate matters, implementing growth strategies and managing regulatory compliance.”
Barkley has lived and worked in Indianapolis since 1974, when he started at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, from which he received his J.D. in 1977. While in law school, he began working as a law clerk for the company that later became New York Stock Exchange-listed Simon Property Group.
“I’m looking forward to helping identify and attract lawyers to join McCarter in Indianapolis as well as helping to add lawyers with a broad range of real estate capabilities to the firm’s national real estate practice,” Barkley said. “I was attracted to McCarter’s collegial atmosphere and was impressed by my discussions with other senior-level lawyers and former government lawyers who transitioned to McCarter and are having a professionally rewarding experience.”
Barkley is a member of the Association for Real Property and Infrastructure, is a member of the Board of Visitors of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, and was elected to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers in 1991.
“We’re looking forward to having Jim reach into the national real estate and local Indianapolis legal communities to bring lawyers to the firm who will enhance the offering we provide our clients,” said Amy Fisher, co-managing partner of the firm’s Indianapolis office. “Jim has a sterling reputation and is highly regarded in the community, and we know he will help raise the McCarter profile in the Hoosier state.”
