Heather H. Willey is a partner in Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Indianapolis, Indiana office. She is a member of the Governmental Services & Finance and Healthcare Departments. Ms. Willey concentrates her practice on a variety of legislative issues, including policy development, analysis and negotiations on local, state and federal levels.
Prior to her law firm career, Ms. Willey served in Indiana Gov. Frank O’Bannon’s Administration, working in the Office of the Governor from 1997 until 2003. She served as Special Assistant to the Governor and later as Executive Assistant for Education.
She is a member of the Indianapolis, Indiana, District of Columbia and American Bar associations, as well as the American Health Lawyers Association and the Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association.
Ms. Willey is also involved in the community, serving as President of the Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana and on the boards of the Youth Enhancement Training Initiative, Inc. and Christel House Academy. She is the Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for the William S. and Christina S. Hall, Center for Law and Health at Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis, and is a Board member of the Indiana Chamber Business Advocacy Committee. Ms. Willey is a member of Executive Women in Healthcare and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s FORTE. She is a graduate of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series, Class XXX (2006). She is a member of the Lacy Leadership Association. She is also a graduate of the Indianapolis Bar Association Bar Leader Series and a current member of the Steering Committee for the Bar Leader Series. In addition, she is the Chair-Elect of the Indianapolis Bar Association's Government Practice Section. Most recently, Ms. Willey became a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA). She also was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation.
She received her B.A. from Indiana University in 1996 and her J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2004. She also earned the Health Law Certificate at the William S. Hall and Christine S. Hall Center for Law and Health.
Ms. Willey is admitted to practice before all Indiana courts and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. She also is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.