Summary

With an attention to the municipal legal market, Chou-il concentrates his practice on all matters involving litigation and municipal representation. Having worked for multiple Indiana counties, cities and towns in a variety of positions before joining Taft, including serving eight years as Corporation Counsel for the City of Terre Haute, he understands the practical challenges faced by all branches of municipal government and the attorneys who represent them.

In addition to the everyday responsibilities facing municipal corporate counsel, Chou-il has extensive experience with Hatch Act application, law enforcement discipline, collective bargaining agreements, and eminent domain proceedings. He has also issued opinions tied to Municipal Bonds, Bond Anticipation Notes, and Tax Anticipation Warrants. Chou-il is listed in The Bond Buyer’s Municipal Market Place (the “Redbook”). 

Outside of the municipal market, Chou-il is an experienced litigator. He served as a Trial Deputy Prosecutor for both Vigo and Clay County and has extensive jury trial experience. His trial experience extends beyond criminal prosecution to include criminal defense, patent litigation, and representation of large corporate clients in the courtroom, as well as the various municipal matters that result in litigation.

Chou-il has been active with Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (formerly Indiana Association of Cities and Towns) where he has served on the Board of Directors and as Chairperson of the Corporate Advisory Council. He is a member of the Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association, as well as the National Association of Bond Lawyers. Chou-il also serves as chair of the board of directors for the Community Health Network Foundation and has been involved with the Foundation’s Giving Gig Executive Leadership Committee and Auction Committee, including serving as chair of Giving Gig since 2020. He has presented on various municipal related topics on behalf of IACT, Aim, and IMLA including Public Safety Discipline, Municipal Fraud and Asset Misappropriation, Ordinance Procedures, Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser Status for Municipalities, and the Clean Water Act.

Chou-il received his undergraduate degree from Case Western Reserve University and his J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law – Bloomington.

All Service Areas

Education

  • Indiana University Maurer School of Law (1998)
  • Case Western Reserve University (1995)

Admissions

  • Federal - Northern District of Indiana
  • State - Indiana
  • Federal - Southern District of Indiana

Speeches and Publications

Speeches

Panelist, “Establishing an Inclusive and Inviting Environment: A Panel Discussion on Race and Racism in the Workplace and the American Legal System,” Webinar, Aug. 20, 2020

Presenter, 2019 Aim Ideas Summit, July 2019

Speaker, 15th Annual Diversity & Leadership Conference, April 2019

Presenter, Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association’s Municipal Law Seminar XXIII, June 2016

Professional Affiliations

  • Accelerate Indiana Municipalities

    Former Board Member
    Former Chairperson, Corporate Advisory Council

  • Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association

    Member

  • National Association of Bond Lawyers

    Member

  • Terre Haute Bar Association

    Member

  • The Bond Buyer's Municipal Market Place (Red Book)

    Listed

Community Involvement

  • Community Health Network Foundation

    Chair, Board of Directors
    Chair, Giving Gig (2020-present)
    Member, Giving Gig Executive Leadership Committee
    Member, Auction Committee