Cameron G. Starnes

Cam focuses his practice on representing municipal and private clients in structuring and implementing transformative economic development projects and other public-private partnerships. Drawing on his legal and government experience alike, Cam possesses a depth of understanding about what makes a development project successful and works across various practice areas, including real estate, public finance and environmental, to solve problems and ensure success. Clients also look to Cam for consulting assistance with redevelopment and economic development planning, tax increment financing and other incentives, economic development revenue bonds, strategy, and project delivery matters.

In his time working for administrations in Indianapolis and Lawrence, Cam demonstrated success in executing transformative projects, leveraging private investment through strategic deployment of grant funding, negotiating legal settlements, strategically acquiring and disposing of property, creating public-private partnerships, and heading site selection and design teams for municipal projects. In his time at Taft, Cam has represented clients in projects totaling well in excess of $1 billion, including a $300 million multi-phase mixed-use development, acquisition and repositioning of an aging shopping center for redevelopment, delivery of new public infrastructure via inventive state/municipal public-private partnership to spur redevelopment of a large-scale former automobile manufacturing site, and a 30-year, $184 million agreement to privatize operation of a major youth sports park.

• Developed and managed new division to focus staff and resources on redevelopment efforts.
• Conceived of and developed Indianapolis Brownfield Redevelopment Loan Fund program.
• Developed vacant and abandoned property acquisition toolbox for city of Indianapolis.
• Directed strategic acquisition of vacant industrial property for redevelopment.
• Conceived of and lead efforts to engage partners and implement Lawrence Trades District development plan for I-465/Pendleton Pike corridor targeting workforce development and business attraction around skilled building trades.
• Represented Plainfield Redevelopment Commission on $300+ million Hobbs Station mixed-use project
• Represented City of Westfield in $184 million privatization of Grand Park youth sports park
• Represents City of Indianapolis in redevelopment of City Market, former Marion County Jail II, and Circle Center Mall
• Counsel to Hageman Capital in acquisition of tax increment financing bonds from various issuers throughout Central Indiana
• Represented Town of Plainfield in financing and delivery of new Government Center and Performing and Fine Arts Center

• Presenter, Aim Ideas Summit 2022, 2023, 2024
• Presenter, Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association Conference, 2021
• Presenter, Environmental Protection Agency National Brownfields Conference Pre-Conference Workshop, 2015
• Indianapolis Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 2015
• Panelist, Reconnecting to Our Waterways Economics Element Brownfield Accelerator, 2014-present
• Presenter, Local Initiatives Support Corporation Development on Tap, 2014