Joan Blackwell has joined Latitude as Director of Legal Recruiting and Placement in the company’s Indianapolis office. In this role, she works with experienced attorneys and paralegals in Indianapolis and throughout the Midwest by engaging them in high-level legal work with corporations and law firms.

Before joining Latitude, Blackwell served in the Office of the Indiana Attorney General as Chief of Staff and then General Counsel. While there she oversaw the legal functions for all divisions relating to litigation, contracts, ethics, compliance, consumer protection, and licensing enforcement in addition to overseeing the hiring of legal staff. She also supervised a 400-person staff, including attorneys and outside counsel.

“Throughout her career, Joan has worked with hundreds of attorneys and other legal professionals,” said Tim Haley, President of Latitude Indianapolis. “Because of that, she knows what substantive and interpersonal skill sets are essential to meet the diverse needs of our clients. She’s going to be a great asset to our team.”

Blackwell also spent time as an attorney with Barnes & Thornburg, LLP, in Indianapolis where she was a member of the Finance, Insolvency and Restructuring Department; and as a staff attorney to the Honorable Frank J. Otte of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana. After law school, she was an associate with Kroger, Gardis & Regas, LLP, where she practiced commercial bankruptcy law and business litigation.

“There are so many talented attorneys and other legal professionals who want to do meaningful legal work, but they want flexibility and a different way to practice,” Blackwell said. “I’ve been very impressed with the opportunities Latitude provides them, and I look forward to telling more people about the company’s model.”

Blackwell received a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Bloomington and her J.D. from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

She is an adjunct professor at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law where she has taught secured transactions for the past 10 years. Blackwell is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation, the Indianapolis Bar Association, and the Sagamore American Inn of Court.

Latitude expanded into Indianapolis in January 2020 under the leadership of Haley, formerly a Partner at AmLaw 100 firm Barnes & Thornburg, LLP.

About Latitude

Latitude, a high-end legal services company with offices in Atlanta, Indianapolis, Miami, and Nashville, provides peer-level attorneys and paralegals on an engagement basis to corporate legal departments and law firms, increasing flexibility while reducing costs. Latitude serves its corporate legal department and law firm clients when they need more help, want to reduce costs, and don’t want to risk quality. Latitude also assists clients with permanent position searches. The company’s attorneys enjoy full benefits, high pay, sophisticated work, great clients, and optimal work-life balance.