Thomas F. Godfrey (Of Counsel)

Thomas F. Godfrey graduated from Indiana University majoring in Finance, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. Immediately after graduation, he accepted a position with the Allstate Insurance Company at their corporate office working in Human Resources Administration and leading recruiting efforts throughout the Midwest. Tom then entered law school in 1986, and completed his education in law, graduating in 1989 from John Marshall Law School. After receiving his J.D., Tom was licensed and practiced real estate, landlord-tenant and contract law in Illinois for 3 years. In 1992, Tom left Chicago to receive his license to practice law in Indiana and then joined Macmillan Computer Publishing in their acquisitions division. While with Macmillan, Tom signed authors, investigated new publishing rights concepts, sales channels and book ideas and was a key driver to create and deliver to the market, the reference book series known as The Complete Idiot’s Guide. This highly successful series of books has been published in over 140 countries around the world and continues to generate new material every year.

Following this success, Tom decided to return to Northwest Indiana with his family to accept a call to public service and took on the position of Deputy City Attorney with the City of Michigan City in the late 1990’s, heading up the Board of Public Works and Safety as well as the contract labor negotiations for the City with four separate bargaining groups. Tom was effective at helping to prevent any labor stoppage and at maintaining a high level of professionalism, ensuring fair and reasonable contracts for the workers and the municipality. In addition, Tom handled all infraction matters in Court for and on behalf of the City.

In 1999, Tom started representing Lake Erie Land Company, in Chesterton, Indiana, handling in-house legal matters ranging from employment law to sales negotiations. Tom eventually was named General Counsel and then Vice President for the company. Tom directed legal efforts regarding business law, general litigation, non-profit administration, environmental law, and all sales transactions. Tom helped to create and manage the Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy, the environmental steward for more than 7000 acres of land in Northwest Indiana, as well as the directors of the park located in Coffee Creek Center. While at Lake Erie Land, the Coffee Creek Center project was named “One of the 26 Best Planned Communities” in the world by the Urban Land Institute. Coffee Creek is an environmental gem, with equal parts new urbanism, sustainable development, smart growth, environmental efficiency and green building principles. Tom’s deep interest in creating and inspiring environmental awareness and responsibility in all aspects of life are a driving force. Tom also assisted in the permitting of the first and only wetlands mitigation bank in the State of Indiana. This 200 acre bank provides greater flexibility to developers, businesses and municipal governments, with options that allow growth without substantial loss of protected wetlands. Tom has also addressed zoning and permitting issues for complex planned unit developments. Additionally, Tom has administered and modified comprehensive covenants, codes and restrictions and master planned community design guidelines, rules and regulations. Tom also directed the Sand Creek Country Club, Northwest Indiana’s premier golf course and club.

Tom’s primary practice focus is on land development and other real estate matters, environmental law and compliance, sustainable, green and organic business initiatives and advising, labor and employment law, the forming of corporate entities, commercial and industrial real estate investments and transactions, non-profit entity creation and administration, technology businesses, landlord-tenant, publishing, golf course club management, municipal law and general business management consulting.