Nels J. Ackerson
Mr. Ackerson practices in the areas of complex trial and appellate litigation, government relations, international law, constitutional law, property rights, and eminent domain. He has tried cases and argued appeals in federal and state courts across the United States and before international tribunals, including landmark cases in federal takings law, class action law, real estate law, farm credit law, and federal regulatory law. In addition to his other responsibilities, he currently is lead or co-lead counsel in class actions in more than 20 jurisdictions.
A former senior staff member of the United States Senate and congressional candidate, he is regularly involved in legislation and policy matters. He has represented clients and testified before congressional and state legislative committees, and he has developed legislative strategies and drafted and successfully urged passage of federal and state legislation.
Internationally, Mr. Ackerson has led legal efforts on behalf of clients in more than twenty countries on five continents. He founded the first joint venture law firm in Egypt, practicing across the Middle East, Europe and Asia, and he has represented clients in matters before the U.S. International Trade Commission; the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and State; and international arbitration before the International Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Ackerson has focused much of his practice on representing agricultural clients. He grew up on an Indiana farm, studied agriculture at Purdue, and is a former national FFA president. He knows the challenges faced by farmers, ranchers, suppliers, processors and others in agriculture. His agricultural representations include court, regulatory and legislative matters in takings law, class actions, real estate rights of way, agricultural finance, and biotechnology.
Other Interests
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Family Time
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Church
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Family Farm in Westfield, Indiana
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Traditional Neighborhood Development
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Energy Security and Environmental Stewardship Policy
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Writing Fiction
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Constitutional History
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International History
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Reading
Areas of Practice
- Complex Trial and Appellate Litigation
- Government Relations
- International Law
- Agricultural Law
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Indiana
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- Harvard University Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- J.D (Cum Laude)
- Law Review: Harvard Law Review, Member
- Purdue University
- Honorary Doctorate
- Purdue University
- B.S
- Honors: With Distinction
- Honors: G.A. Ross Award, Outstanding Male Graduate
- Harvard University
- Master in Public Policy
Published Works
- Right-of-Way Rights, Wrongs and Remedies: Status Report, Emerging Issues, and Opportunities, DRAKE J. AGRIC. LAW, Vol. 8, No. 1, Spring, 2003
- Rails-to-Trails: The Perspective Across the Tracks (Co-Author), 70 J.TRANSP.L., LOGISTICS & POL'Y 142, 2003
- The Right Way to Cure Right-of-Way Wrongs (Two-Part Series), Telecom Real Estate Advisor, September and October, 2001
- Public Interest: Five Questions for Nels J. Ackerson, The Indianapolis Star, April, 2006
- Blood on the Tracks, American Lawyer, 2002
- Distinguished Alumnus, Purdue University School of Agriculture, 2002
- Working on the Railroads, National Law Journal, 1999
- Telecom’s Real Estate Problem, Fortune, 1999
- Board of Advisors, Communications Environmental & Land Use Law Report
Representative Cases
- Kingsborough, et al. v. Sprint Communications Company LP, et al., Civil Action No. 07-10651-MLW (D. Mass. 2008)
- Hash v. United States, 2008 WL 818347 (D. Idaho 2008)
- Schneider v. United States, 2008 WL 160921 (D. Neb. 2008)
- Hash v. United States, 2007 U.S. Dist. Lexis 15539 (D. Idaho 2007)
- State ex rel. Coles v. Granville, 877 N.E.2d 968 (Ohio 2007)
- Bordwell v. AT&T Corp., No. 06-602551 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2006)
- Coles v. Granville, 448 F.3d 853 (6th Cir. 2006)
- Eckers v. AT&T Corp., No. 06-CV-7016 (S.D. Ind. 2006)
- Gadotti v. AT&T Corp., No. 02-CV-7004 (S.D. Ind. 2006)
- Hash v. United States, 454 F.Supp.2d 1066 (D. Idaho 2006)
- Hinshaw v. AT&T Corp., No. 98-CV-1300 (S.D. Ind. 2006)
- Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority v. Universal Transparent Bag Co., Inc. and N. K. Hurst Co., Inc., Cause No. 49D01-0512-PL-050374 (Marion Super. Ct. Ind. 2006)
- K&D Investments, LLP v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 04-C-7015 (S.D. Ind. 2006)
- Neill v. AT&T Corp., No. 02-CV-7003 (S.D. Ind. 2006)
- Peterson v. AT&T Corp., No. 02-CV-7000 (S.D. Ind. 2006)
- Reise v. AT&T Corp., No. 00-CV-1292 (S.D. Ind. 2006)
- Rindlisbacher v. AT&T Corp., No. 03-CV-7010 (S.D. Ind. 2006)
- Saulny v. AT&T Corp., No. 06-CV-7017 (S.D. Ind. 2006)
- Tammaro v. AT&T Corp., No. BUR-L-2074-06 (N.J. Super. Ct. Law Div. 2006)
- Wallace v. AT&T Corp., No. 03-CV-7009 (S.D. Ind. 2006)
- Taylor v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 00-CV-0828 (S.D. Ind. 2004)
- 9-M Corp. v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 01-C-1837 (S.D. Ind. 2005)
- Alpert v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 99-CV-1891 (S.D. Ind. 2005)
- Benton v. AT&T Corp., No.03-CV-7013 (S.D. Ind. 2005)
- Boreen v. AT&T Corp., No. 02-CV-7005 (S.D. Ind. 2005)
- Gearity v. AT&T Corp., No. 03-CV-7011 (S.D. Ind. 2005)
- Hash v. United States, 403 F.3rd 1408 (Fed. Cir. 2005)
- Lillian Martine, Inc. v. AT&T Corp., No. 03-CV-7008 (S.D. Ind. 2005)
- Mikos v. AT&T Corp., No. 00-CV-1294 (S.D. Ind. 2005)
- Reynolds v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 00-C-0827 (S.D. Ind. 2005)
- Spanish Springs, L.L.C. v. AT&T Corp., No. 03-CV-7012 (S.D. Ind. 2005)
- Sparks Cedarlee Farm v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 02-C-7002 (S.D. Ind. 2005)
- Thomson v. AT&T Corp., No. 99-C-1890 (S.D. Ind. 2005)
- Butler v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 02-C-7001 (S.D. Ind. 2004)
- Coffey v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 03-C-7006 (S.D. Ind. 2004)
- Hill Pleasant Farm, Inc. v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 03-C-7007 (S.D. Ind. 2004)
- Taylor v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 00-CV-0828 (S.D. Ind. 2004)
- Nance v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 99-C-1892 (S.D. Ind. 2003)
- O’Connell v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 99-C-1893 (S.D. Ind. 2003)
- Peschell v. AT&T Corp., No. IP 99-C-1889 (S.D. Ind. 2004)
- Schmitt v. United States, 2003 WL 21057368 (S.D. Ind. 2003)
- Schneider v. United States, 2003 WL 25711838 (D. Neb. 2003)
- Swisher v. United States, 262 F.Supp.2d 1203 (D. Kan. 2003)
- Swisher v. United States, 2003 WL 2006818 (D. Kan. 2003)
- Billinovich, et al. v. AT&T Corp., et al., Cause No. IP-00-1293-C (S.D.Ind. 2003)
- Fisher v. Va. Elec. & Power Co., 243 F.Supp.2d 538 (E.D. Va. 2003)
- Fisher v. Va. Elec. & Power Co., 217 F.R.D. 201 (E.D. Va. 2003)
- Schmitt v. United States, 2003 WL 21057368 (S.D. Ind. 2003)
- Swisher v. United States, 262 F.Supp.2d 1203 (D. Kan. 2003)
- Swisher v. United States, 2003 WL 2006818 (D. Kan. 2003)
- Smith v. Sprint Communications Corp., 2003 WL 103005 (N.D. Ill. 2003)
- Smith v. Sprint Communications Corp., 2003 WL 103010 (N.D. Ill. 2003)
- Smith v. Sprint Communications Corp., 2003 WL 164230 (N.D. Ill. 2003)
- Smith v. Sprint Communications Corp., 2003 WL 715748 (N.D. Ill. 2003)
- Smith v. Sprint Communication Corp., 2003 WL 21530692 (N.D. Ill. 2003)
- Smith v. Sprint Communications Corp., 2003 WL 22057187 (N.D. Ill. 2003)
- Zografos v. Qwest Communications Corp., 225 F.Supp.2d 1217 (D. Or. 2002)
- Marcus Cable Associates, L.P. v. Krohn, 90 S.W.3d 697 (Tex. 2002)
- La. Fed. Land Bank Ass'n v. Farm Credit Admin., 180 F.Supp.2d 47 (D.C. 2001)
- La. Fed. Land Bank Ass'n v. Farm Credit Admin., 336 F.3d 1075 (D.C.Cir. 2003)
- Swisher v. United States, 176 F.Supp.2d 1100 (D. Kan. 2001)
- Swisher v. United States, 201 F.Supp.2d 1131 (D. Kan. 2001)
- Clark, et al. v. CSX Transportation, Inc., Cause No. 29D03 9308 CP 404 (Ham. Co., Indiana Super. Ct. 2002)
- Preseault v. United States, 52 Fed. Cl. 667 (2002)
- Morgan, et al. v. AT&T Corp., et al., Cause No. IP 01-646-C (S.D. Indiana 2002)
- Rattee, et al. v. AT&T Corp., et al., Cause No. IP 01-1657-C (S.D. Indiana 2002)
- Firestone, et al. v. American Premier Underwriters, Inc. (formerly known as The Penn Central Corporation) and U.S. Railroad Vest Corp., Cause No. 06C01 9912 CP 379 (Boone Co., Indiana Cir. Ct. 2001)
- Uhl v. Thoroughbred Technology & Telecommunications, Inc., 2001 WL 987840, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13115 (S.D. Ind. 2001)
- Lowers v. United States, 2001 WL 1200869 (S.D. Iowa 2001)
- Schmitt v. United States, 2001 WL 985102 (S.D. Ind. 2001)
- La. Fed. Land Bank Ass'n v. Farm Credit Admin., 180 F. Supp. 2d 47 (D. D.C. 2001)
- Billinovich, et al. v. AT&T Corp., et al., Cause No. IP 00-1293-C (S.D. Indiana 2001)
- Peschell, et al. v. AT&T Corp., et al., Cause No. IP 99-C 1889 (S.D. Indiana 2001)
- Reynolds, et al. v. AT&T Corp., et al., Cause No. IP 00-827-C (S.D. Indiana 2001)
- Exxon Pipeline Co. v. Hill, 788 So. 2d 1154 (2001)
- Exxon Pipeline Co. v. Hill, 796 So. 2d 665 (La. 2001)
- Exxon Pipeline Co. v. Hill, 763 So. 2d 144 (La. Ct. App. 2000)
- Air Ag, Inc. v. F & H Santa Fe Rail, Inc., 22 S.W.3d 596 (Tex. Ct. App. 2000)
- Bywaters v. United States, 196 F.R.D. 458, 2000 WL 1481126 (E.D. Tex. 2000)
- Clark v. CSX Transportation, Inc., 737 N.E.2d 752, 2000 WL 1512364 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000)
- Hash v. United States, 2000 WL 1460801, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20061 (D. Idaho 2000)
- In re: AT&T Corp. Fiber Optic Cable Installation Litigation, Docket No. 1313 (J.P.M.L. 1999)
- Jost v. Surface Transp. Bd., 194 F.3d 79 (D.C. Cir. 1999)
- RLTD v. Surface Transp. Bd., 166 F.3d 808 (6th Cir. 1999)
- Hinshaw, et al. v. AT&T Corp., et al., Cause No. IP 99 549 C (S.D. Indiana 1999)
- Firestone v. Penn Central Corp., et al., Cause No. 29003 9210 CP 500 (Hamilton Co., Indiana Sup. Ct. 1999)
- Hinshaw v. AT&T Corp., Cause No. 29D01 9705 CP 000308 (Hamilton Co., Indiana Super. Ct. 1998)
- Firestone v. Penn Central Corp., et al., Cause No. 29003 9210 CP 500 (Hamilton Co., Indiana Sup. Ct. 1998)
- Firestone v. Penn Central Corp., Cause No. 29D03 9210 CP 500 (Hamilton Co., Indiana Super. Ct. 1998)
- Becker v. Surface Transp. Bd., 132 F.3d 60 (D.C. Cir. 1997)
- Tazian v. Cline, 686 N.E.2d 95 (Ind. 1997)
- Calumet National Bank v. American Tel. & Tel. Co., 682 N.E.2d 785 (Ind. 1997)
- Consolidated Rail Corp. v. Lewellen, 682 N.E.2d 779 (Ind. 1997)
- Hefty v. All Other Members of the Certified Settlement Class, 680 N.E.2d 843 (Ind. 1997)
- Birt v. Surface Transp. Bd., 90 F.3d 580 (D.C. Cir. 1996)
- Consolidated Rail Corp. v. Lewellen, 666 N.E.2d 958 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996)
- CSX Transportation Inc. v. Clark, 646 N.E.2d 1003 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995)
- Fritsch v. Interstate Commerce Comm’n, 59 F.3d 248 (D.C. Cir. 1995)
- State ex rel. Firestone v. Parke Circuit Court, 621 N.E.2d 1113 (Ind. 1993)
- Buckeye Production Credit Ass’n v. Farm Credit Admin., 997 F.2d 11 (1993)
- First South Production Credit Ass’n v. Farm Credit Admin., 958 F.2d 600 (1992)
- First South Production Credit Ass’n v. Farm Credit Admin., 926 F.2d 339 (1991)
- California Livestock Production Credit Ass’n v. Farm Credit Admin., 748 F.Supp. 416 (1990)
Classes/Seminars
- Speaker, Right-of-Way Rights, Wrongs and Remedies, American Agricultural Law Association, 2002
- Testimony, Indiana Legislative Study Committee on Natural Resources, 2002
- Featured Speaker, Union Planters Bank Customer Appreciation Dinner, Farms, Families, Faith and Finances, 2002
- Keynote Speaker, He Best Builds Lives of Other Men Who Starts from Within, Biennial Conclave of FarmHouse International Fraternity, 2002
- Takings Litigation Against the Government in the Rails-to-Trails Program, Testimony, United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, 2002
- Speaker, Corridor Valuation, Appraisal Institute and International Right-of-Way Association, 2002
- Speaker, Right-of-Way Real Estate Valuation, Appraisal Institute, 2001
Honors and Awards
- Chairman, Board of Directors, Class Corridor, LLC
- Listed in Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in the World, and Who’s Who in America
- Acceptance of Distinguished Agricultural Alumnus Award, Purdue University, 2002
Professional Associations and Memberships
- International Society of Barristers
- International Right-of-Way Association
- American Agricultural Law Association
- American Bar Association
- American Association of Justice
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- Indiana State Bar Association
- Congress for the New Urbanism
- Indiana Association of Cities & Towns, Associate Member
- Indiana Farm Bureau
Past Employment Positions
- Sommer Barnard Ackerson, Partner, 2002 - 2004
- The Ackerson Group, Chartered (and Predecessor), Founder and Chair, 1991 - 2002
- U.S. Advisory Delegation to Soviet Union on Transition to Market Economy, 1991
- USDA Trade and Development Mission to Egypt and Yemen, Member, 1989
- Sidley & Austin, Partner, 1982 - 1991
- Sidley & Austin & Naguib, Cairo, Egypt, Managing Director, 1982 - 1985
- Campbell, Kyle & Proffitt, Noblesville & Carmel, Indiana, Partner, 1979 - 1982
- United States Congress, Fifth District, Indiana, Democratic Nominee, 1980
- U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution (and Predecessor), Chief Counsel, 1976 - 1979
- Barnes, Hickam, Pantzer & Boyd, Indianapolis, Associate, 1971 - 1976
- Harvard Advisory Mission to the Government of Colombia, 1970
Pro Bono Activities
- Participant, World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland (January 2001), New York (January 2002), Davos, Switzerland (January 2003)
- National Press Club
- United States Supreme Court Historical Society
