US firm Barnes & Thornburg has hired a group of 35 lawyers from Ballard Spahr to strengthen its government services and finance department.
The incoming group includes 25 partners and expands Barnes & Thornburg’s national footprint into Baltimore, Denver and Phoenix. Among the new arrivals are Valarie Allen, who will serve as vice chair of the firm’s public finance department alongside current Barnes & Thornburg partner Kimberly Blanchet.
Allen is joined by John Smolen and Steve Park, who will lead the firm’s infrastructure practice. Also joining are William Rhodes and Kimberly Magrini in Philadelphia; Jeffrey Ballard, Andrew Spicknall, Charles Treece and Daniel Nunez in Washington DC; Peter Lam in New York; Silvia Shin and Emilie Ninan in Wilmington; Teri Guarnaccia in Baltimore; Anastasia Khokhyrakova in Denver and Michele Bax in Phoenix. The group also includes former Barnes & Thornburg partner Benjamin Johnson, who was previously co-chair of its charter school and school innovation practice.
Andrew Detherage, Barnes & Thornburg’s managing partner, said: “We’re thrilled to kick off 2026 by welcoming one of the nation’s top public finance and infrastructure practices to the firm. With this group, we also expand in our existing offices, while entering three new markets – all of which support the strategic growth we have been focused on.
“This team represents a premier practice that enhances the firm’s existing public finance practice, and supports the firm’s strategic growth strategy to be a top destination for talented lawyers and marquee practices.”
The group’s collective expertise will help bolster Barnes & Thornburg’s ability to advise private and public sector clients on public finance deals and infrastructure projects. The incoming finance team regularly represents issuers, borrowers, bankers, investors, credit providers, trustees and developers on a wide range of public and project finance transactions across transportation, energy and other types of infrastructure.
Richard Hall, chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s government services and finance department, said: “This is transformative for our team and the firm. Our newly expanded bench positions Barnes & Thornburg in the nation’s top 10 practices for public finance and deepens the services and value we can provide to clients across the finance and regulatory landscape.”
The incoming group adds to Barnes & Thornburg’s 21 existing public finance lawyers, bringing the firmwide practice to 56 public finance and infrastructure lawyers, the firm said.
Allen added: “Barnes & Thornburg shares the same commitment to excellence and client service that we developed at Ballard Spahr, and we look forward to working with our new colleagues.”
Earlier this month, Ballard Spahr expanded into San Francisco – its 19th location – with the addition of a four-member litigation team from Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff, including partners Stephanie Sheridan and Meegan Brooks.
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