John R. Hammond, III

Summary

John is a partner in Taft’s Public Affairs Strategies Group and provides public affairs services for clients on a local, state, and federal level. As a veteran of Indiana state government, John has helped shape a wide variety of public policies from state and local tax policy and environmental regulatory affairs to K-12 and higher education policy, tort reform, transportation, insurance, and economic development issues.

John’s extensive Indiana public service includes senior policy roles in the offices of the Governor and Lt. Governor. Beginning with heading-up the Governor-Elect’s transition office, his public service culminated in serving former Governor Robert D. Orr as a senior policy advisor for eight years. In that capacity, John was the Governor’s senior advisor for education policy and legislative affairs. As the Governor’s chief legislative director, he served in that role for a record six general sessions and three special sessions.

John served as Indiana’s Republican National Committeeman for three four-year terms, where he was co-chair of the Rules Committee and a member of the Executive Committee. He now serves as the General Counsel of the RNC. John is also a member of the National Finance Committee of the Republican Governors Association.

John has been a frequent statewide public affairs panelist and lecturer focusing on Indiana government and politics and is the co-author of the article “Campaigns and Candidates: Lawyers and Their Obligations,” prepared for the Legislative Services Agency for Continuing Legal Education seminar titled “The Lawyer-Lobbyist.”

John holds a bachelor of arts from DePauw University and a juris doctor from Indiana University McKinney School of Law and is admitted to practice in Indiana. He is married and the father of four sons and has two grandchildren. John enjoys playing tennis, all things music including playing the drums, and books on history, politics, and astrophysics. He resides in Indianapolis, Ind.

John is licensed to practice law in Indiana only.

Awards

  • Honoree, Indiana 250, IBJ Media (2022 – 2024)

  • Honoree, Best Lawyers in America, Government Relations Practice (2007 – present)

  • Award Image

    Honoree, Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers®, Government Relations Practice, Indianapolis (2012, 2019, 2022, 2025)

  • Honoree, Leadership in Law – Distinguished Barrister, Indiana Lawyer (2022)

  • Honoree, Indiana Super Lawyers (2004-2008; 2013-2020)

  • Honoree, Distinguished Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Association

  • Honoree, Top Indiana Lobbyist over the last 20 years, Howey Political Report (2015)

  • Recipient, Alan C. Steer Award for Excellence, Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana (2016)

  • AV-Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell, Peer Review Ratings

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All Practices

Education

  • Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (1991)
  • DePauw University (1976)

Admissions

  • State - Indiana

Speeches and Publications

  • Co-author, “Campaigns and Candidates: Lawyers and Their Obligations,” Legislative Agency for Continuing Legal Education Regarding the Rules of Professional Conduct, The Lawyer-Lobbyist

News

Professional Affiliations

  • Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute

    Member and Past Chair

  • Indiana Republican State Committee

    Ex-officio Member

  • Republican National Committee

    National Committeeman for Indiana

  • Governmental Affairs Society of Indiana

    Member

Community Involvement

  • DePauw University

    Member, Presidential Transition Committee
    Past Member, Board of Visitors

  • Urban League

    Past Member, Board of Directors

  • Indianapolis Classical Schools

    Past Member, Board of Directors

  • Mental Health in America, Indiana Chapter

    Past Member, Board of Directors

  • Indianapolis Museum of Art

    Past Member, Community Involvement Committee

  • Indiana Repertory Theatre

    Past Member, Board of Directors

  • Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Merit Board

    Past Appointed Member

  • 529 College Savings Authority

    Past Appointed Member

  • Perry Township Education Foundation

    Past Member, Board of Directors

  • Crossroads of America Council, Boy Scouts

    Past Member, Executive Committee

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