Atty. W. James Hamilton

Atty. W. James Hamilton

Jim Hamilton has extensive experience representing association health plans, intergovernmental medical pools and other multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs). He serves as general counsel for numerous MEWAs.

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Profile Summary

About W. James Hamilton at a glance

W. James Hamilton is a Partner based in Indianapolis, Indiana, practicing at Bose McKinney & Evans LLP. Their practice focuses on employment, business, tax, m&a, and employment contracts. Educated at Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington (J.D., 1997) and Cornell University (B.A., 1994). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of Appointments / Memberships American Bar Association, Tax Section Indiana University Varsity Club former Vice-Chair of Board of Directors and Advisory Council member of Second Helpings, Inc. Serands clients in Indianapolis, IN and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Jim Hamilton has extensive experience representing association health plans, intergovernmental medical pools and other multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs)
  • He serves as general counsel for numerous MEWAs
  • In this capacity, he provides guidance on MEWA governance as well as federal and state regulatory requirements
  • He is proud of his involvement in the launch of several successful MEWAs that assist employers with controlling the rising costs of health care
  • In addition to his MEWA-specific practice, he assists employers with legal matters involving the following: •Welfare plan (cafeteria, health insurance, self-funded health benefits, severance, tuition reimbursement) design, compliance (including ACA, HIPAA privacy, ERISA claims procedures and SPD regulations), and overall tax and ERISA advice. •Formation, compliance and governance of risk sharing pools permitted under Indiana law. •Nonqualified plan (deferred compensation, golden handcuffs, stock options and phantom stock) design, funding, compliance (including section 409A), tax, securities and ERISA advice. •ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA and numerous other federal and state laws affecting employee benefit plans. •Drafting and negotiation of vendor agreements and stop-loss contracts
  • Honors / Awards Best Lawyers in America, 2013-2026
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated
  • Indiana State Bar Association, Taxation Section Award
  • 2025 Indiana Dental Association Special Service Award
  • 2024 Department of Labor advisory opinion, MEWA, AHP Appearances / Publications Jim has delivered more than 200 speeches to professional organizations and clients since joining the firm in 2001
  • The list of professional organizations includes Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim), the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana State Bar Association, the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO), the Association of Governmental Risk Pools (AGRiP), the National League of Cities Risk Information Sharing Consortium (NLC-RISC), the Indiana Association of School Business Officials, the Indiana School Boards Association, the Midwest Association of Professional Employer Organizations (MAPEO), the Association of Indiana Counties, the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Association of Indiana Municipal Personnel Administrators for Cities and Towns (IMPACT), the South Central Indiana Human Resources Association, and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)
  • Jim has published articles in the Indianapolis Business Journal, The Indianapolis Star, Indiana Lawyer, Res Gestae, American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, The Hoosier Banker, Education Week and Tax Notes
  • He has also been a featured guest on Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick, WRTV Channel 6, WXIN Channel 59, WISH Channel 8, WTHR Channel 13 and WIBC 1070

Practice Areas Explained

W. James Hamilton's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases W. James Hamilton handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Employment Law

Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.

W. James Hamilton is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Indiana →

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

W. James Hamilton is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Indiana →

Tax Law

Tax attorneys handle IRS audits, tax debt, international tax, estate planning, and tax court litigation.

W. James Hamilton is one of 85,302 tax attorneys indexed nationally. Browse tax attorneys in Indiana →

Mergers & Acquisitions

W. James Hamilton is one of 49,731 m&a attorneys indexed nationally. Browse m&a attorneys in Indiana →

Employment Contracts

W. James Hamilton is one of 7,721 employment contracts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment contracts attorneys in Indiana →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Indiana

Practicing law in Indiana. Legal matters in Indiana are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Indianapolis are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Indiana state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Indiana brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Indiana courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Indiana attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Indianapolis or all attorneys in Indiana.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about W. James Hamilton

Where is W. James Hamilton's law office located?
W. James Hamilton's law practice is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The firm is Bose McKinney & Evans LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does W. James Hamilton handle?
W. James Hamilton focuses on employment, business, tax, m&a, employment contracts. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Indiana.
Where did W. James Hamilton go to law school?
W. James Hamilton earned their education at (J.D., 1997); (B.A., 1994).
How can I contact W. James Hamilton for a consultation?
You can contact W. James Hamilton directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has W. James Hamilton received?
W. James Hamilton's notable recognition includes: AV Preeminent.

Education

J.D.
Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington
- 1997
B.A.
Cornell University
- 1994

Awards

AV Preeminent

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