A recent BizVoice profile on former U.S. congresswoman Mary Bono (Nov/Dec issue) includes an update on the work she is doing today for FaegreBD Consulting. And there is a distinct Indiana tie.

FaegreBD, with approximately 50 professionals, is a Washington, D.C. division of the Faegre Baker Daniels law firm, which started in Indianapolis in 1863. Today, the legal portion offers services internationally across 14 offices.

Among FaegreBD’s areas of focus: health care and life sciences, energy and environment, financial services (primarily insurance related) and the public sector (government and academic institutions, for example).

Two emerging areas for the consulting practice include food and agriculture and what the group calls “tech plus”, which is cyber security, privacy and other technology policy matters.

Bono has been involved in the “tech plus” arena and also is the lead on the prescription drug abuse issue.

The national Collaborative for Effective Prescription Opioid Policies (CEPOP) “is a great example of Mary’s ability to bring different qualities to the client service and to the organization,” says David Zook, managing partner of Faegre Baker Daniels’ D.C. office and chair of FaegreBD Consulting.

“That’s a large national coalition with about three dozen participants from all across the sector – manufacturers, distributors, prescribers and patients – behind policy priorities, and then teamed with expertise both at the firm and at those organizations as well.” Indiana-based AIT Labs is among the CEPOP participants.

All of these consulting sectors are aligned with the firm’s legal practices, yet are distinguished from them and deliver different but complimentary services, Zook notes.

He also stresses the group’s commitment to Indiana plus a “real depth” on the complex issues.

“These tend to be highly regulated industries that have a lot of interaction with D.C. … or a lot of policy at the federal level. So it’s that combination (along with knowing Indiana) that sets us apart.”