Nicholas K. "Nick" Kile

Nicholas K. "Nick" Kile


Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Recognized since 2006

Indianapolis, Indiana

Practice Areas

Energy Law

Water Law

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With a commitment to understanding fully each client's mission, Nick Kile focuses on adding value to help them accomplish it. He seeks innovative solutions that are grounded in the law and fact, and align with the big picture business goals.

Nick is co-chair of the firm’s Energy, Telecommunications and Utilities team, which was ranked “Tier 1” on U.S. News-Best Lawyers Best Law Firms 2019 list in Indianapolis for energy law.

Nick concentrates his practice in two distinct substantive legal disciplines. He represents utilities before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) in virtually all types of regulatory matters. His practice includes general rate cases, certificate of public convenience and necessity and other preapproval proceedings for environmental controls or capacity additions, mergers and acquisitions, territorial authorizations and disputes, and other facets of regulatory law. Notably, Nick has worked on nearly 100 general rate cases before the IURC covering virtually all sectors of utility service, such as electricity, gas, water and wastewater. His rate case experience ranges from some of the largest utilities in the state to some of the smallest.

Nick also focuses his practice on representing and advising municipalities and local units of government in utility, annexation, reorganization, funding and budget issues. He has more than two decades of experience advising and representing municipalities that are navigating the annexation process, and during that time has seen two major overhauls of the annexation code. Nick has worked on some of the largest and most complex annexations in Indiana’s history.

Nick is also committed to diversity and inclusion, having been awarded the firm’s Camille B. Conway Diversity Award for promoting diversity in his own practice and the community. In 2018, he participated in Diversity Lab’s Diversity in Law Hackathon, where his team developed the Pay Equity Pledge, which won “Crowd Favorite” and will be implemented across the nation and throughout the industry.

Decades of experience in the practice of law and a background in accounting aid Nick in conserving his client’s time and resources, and in answering even the most difficult or sophisticated questions quickly and succinctly. Nick strives to cultivate close working relationships with clients that go beyond just legal advice, and is appreciated by everyone around him for his cogent and persuasive arguments.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 11 South Meridian Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46204-3535
Education
  • Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D., graduated 1990
  • Butler University, B.A., graduated 1987
Bar Admissions
  • Indiana, Indiana State Bar Association
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana

292 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

108 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Energy Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Energy Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Energy Law, Indianapolis (2023)
  • Energy Law, Indianapolis (2013)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Energy Law
  • Water Law
Special Focus:
  • Public Utility

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Indiana on Cutting Edge of Lead Service Line Replacement for Water Utilities


As utilities have undertaken the task of replacing the mains, which the utility owns and to which the customer service line connects, an increased risk from lead in that customer line is exposed.

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