Sarah E. Jones

Sarah Jones concentrates her practice in a blend of corporate and real estate transactions for a variety of established and start-up companies, banks, and individuals. Her practice focuses on representation of clients with complex legal transactions involving stock and asset sales, mergers, reorganizations, joint ventures, and other restructuring matters. Ms. Jones’ practice also includes advising clients with respect to general corporate matters such as entity formation and organization, procurement of diversity certifications (including Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and other similar certifications), governance matters, commercial contract negotiation, and other related aspects intended to help clients establish and grow their business. 

Ms. Jones’ experience also focuses on representation of a variety of commercial real estate matters, including representation of landlords and tenants for leasing matters, assisting developers, purchasers, and sellers with development, acquisitions and divestitures of commercial real estate, and other related real estate matters. 

Prior to joining Krieg DeVault, Ms. Jones was a Risk Assurance Associate with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC where she worked with business and IT control structures and governance matters within the healthcare, financial services, and consumer products industries. 

Representative Experience

Business, Acquisitions and Securities Transactions:

• Representing and assisting clients with all aspects of asset-and stock-based acquisitions and divestitures, including negotiation of definitive agreements, managing due diligence, and closing the transaction.
• Drafting and negotiating documentation for corporate clients of all sizes with respect to organization, operations, compliance, governance and lending matters, including contracts for a variety of needs, confidentiality agreements, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, internal dispute matters, organizational documents, board, shareholder, and member meeting minutes and resolutions, and other related issues. 
• Representing clients with complex transactions involving mergers, dissolutions, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, and restructurings.
   

Real Estate Transactions:

• Representing businesses with respect to the purchase and sale of commercial real estate, including negotiating agreements, completing due diligence with respect to title, survey, and environmental matters, and drafting all closing documents.
• Serving as lead counsel to commercial landlords for all leasing matters at their shopping centers or other complexes, including drafting and negotiating leases, preparing, revising, and enforcing covenants and restrictions, negotiating easements and encumbrances, and other related matters. 
• Drafting and negotiating documentation for individuals in connection with the sale, purchase, or leasing of residential real estate, including all associated due diligence and preparation of necessary closing documents.
• Assisting with case preparation and research for CERCLA cases and litigation.
• Represented companies, banks, and municipalities with leasing, zoning, and land use transactions.

Professional Associations

• Executive Committee Member, Indianapolis Bar Association Real Estate and Land Use Section 
• Board of Directors; Chair of Young ACG; Committee Member of WiT; Member; Indiana Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth
• Member, Indianapolis Bar Association
• Member, Indiana Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association

Civic Involvement

• Board of Directors, Carmel Youth Assistance Program
• Board of Trustees, Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library
• 2024 Executive Leadership Team Member, Dress for Success Stepping out in Style
• Past Board of Directors and Secretary, Carmel Youth Assistance Program

Awards & Recognitions

• Young Professional of the Year, Association of Corporate Growth Indiana, 2024
• Junior Achievement of Central Indiana "Indy's Best and Brightest" Finalist - Law Category, 2024
• Best Lawyers in America,©: Ones to Watch - Environmental Law, Real Estate Law, 2024
• Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2022-2024
• Indiana Lawyer Leadership in Law - Up and Coming Lawyer Award, 2021

Seminars & Presentations

• Moderator, “Beyond the Job: Cultivating Culture and Promoting Talent in Today’s Work Environment” ACG Indiana Capital Markets Showcase, February 23, 2023 
• Moderator, "Getting the House in Order - Establishing longer term goals to improve stability, efficiency, value and competitiveness" CEO-Net Linkages Seminar, November 10, 2022
• Moderator, “Fostering a Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Workplace from an M&A perspective” ACG Indiana May 6, 2021 

Publications

• Co-Author, "Three Minute Update - Positioning for the Future: Due Diligence Throughout the Process of a Deal," October 27, 2022
• Co-Author, "Three Minute Update - Day in the Life of a Business: Who Gets Invited to Board of Directors’ Meetings?" March 23, 2022

Education

• J.D., Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2014
• M.B.A., Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2014
  
  • Kelley School of Business
• B.S. in Finance, cum laude, Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2009

Bar & Court Admissions

• Indiana, 2015
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, 2015
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, 2015

Practices

• Business Services
• Commercial and Real Estate Lending
• Real Estate Services
• Environmental
• Privately and Closely-Held Businesses
• Corporate Governance
• Health Care Mergers and Acquisitions
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Minority, Women, Veteran and Small Business Certifications

Industries

• Real Estate
• Health Care