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Partner
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Jacob German manages the government services practice for Barnes & Thornburg across the United States, earning a reputation for his expertise in municipal law, public finance and lobbying. He develops economic development strategies and structures municipal bond deals. He advises companies on working under state contracts. He advocates for infrastructure funding, health care initiatives and federal grant opportunities before government decision-makers. He counsels clients on campaign finance, election law and government ethics. He recruits new lawyers to the firm. Of note, he assumes responsibility without being asked. One colleague says, “In every organization there are joiners and doers, and Jake is undoubtedly a doer.” German’s accolades include being named to hosts of legal ones-to-watch lists, and he is a member of the Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association. He said he enjoys his job because each day brings different challenges. “But it also allows me to work with people—people who agree with me, people who disagree with me, and people who I need to influence. I enjoy that part of the process the most.”
Getting here: At Wabash College, an alum told German about a type of law practice called government services. German was interested and enrolled in law school. He joined Barnes & Thornburg as a summer associate in 2013.
First job: In high school, German and some friends did various backyard projects. “It wasn’t very formal,” he said, “but looking back on it, we should not have been using a nail gun.”
Givebacks: He serves on various committees for Wabash College. He is a member of the board of distinguished advisors and legal counsel for the Bill Cook Foundation. He also is a board member of the Little Red Door Cancer Agency, where he has helped raise nearly $1 million in six years through a golf tournament to provide financial support to a camp for children with cancer.
Influential person: That Wabash alum. Bob Grand is a partner at Barnes & Thornburg. “He saw something in me at Wabash, and he believed in me and my future,” German said. German also gives a tip of his hat to fellow Barnes & Thornburg attorney Brian Burdick.•
Check out more Forty Under 40 honorees.
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