Ice Miller LLP welcomes highly regarded attorney Robin Babbitt, who joins the Firm as a partner practicing with both the Litigation and Public Affairs and Gaming groups. Babbitt’s addition further strengthens the firm’s Gaming Practice. Babbitt joins Jack Thar in the Firm’s Indianapolis office and John Oberle of the Firm’s Columbus, Ohio, office by providing clients with comprehensive gaming counsel and boosting Ice Miller’s Midwest presence in gaming and racing.
“Robin has a deep understanding of the racing and gaming industries, providing leadership and wise counsel to us for many years,” said Joe Gorajec, executive director of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission.
Most recently, Babbitt was a partner in a major Indianapolis law firm, where he represented the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. He also focused on business litigation, administrative law and products liability. Thar has experience as the former executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission, which regulates casinos, and has been serving top gaming clients at Ice Miller since 2003. Oberle has been a major figure in Ohio gaming law since 2004. He was lead counsel to the 2009 campaign in Ohio to authorize casino gaming and has been involved in every facet of Ohio gaming.
“Robin’s background as an adept litigator and his wealth of experience in the gaming industry reinforces Ice Miller’s longstanding strengths in these two areas,” stated Phil Bayt, chief managing partner, Ice Miller. “His leadership and knowledge will add tremendous value to the Firm’s platform.”
“We already had strong gaming practices in Indiana and Ohio while doing gaming work in numerous other jurisdictions,” said Oberle. “I am very excited to have Robin’s experience on our team. Robin’s arrival means that we can enhance client service in providing the complete spectrum of gaming counsel, which includes regulatory, corporate, labor, finance, liquor and environmental law.”
Oberle and Babbitt agree that the industry will experience dramatic change in the next several years, and Ice Miller is well positioned to provide counsel throughout the Midwest and the District of Columbia.
“The new frontier is online gaming,” said Oberle. “There are significant decisions to be made by federal and state policymakers, and by gaming operators. We want to provide strategic counsel to our clients to help them best navigate the political and legal decision-making process.”
For more than 30 years, Babbitt has practiced in administrative law, toxic torts, professional liability defense, products liability and business litigation. His trial experience includes high profile cases involving public officials and professionals such as doctors and lawyers. From 1993 to 2012, he served as outside counsel to the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. In June 2012, Governor Mitch Daniels awarded Babbitt the Governor’s Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his personal sacrifice, exceptional leadership and loyal service to the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and the State of Indiana.
