P3 Agreements Must be Clear to be Effective

In the Indianapolis Business Journal article, “P3 Agreements Must be Clear to be Effective,” 
corporate counsel Brooke Dunn explained how public entities and private businesses can more effectively collaborate through well-calibrated public-private partnership (P3) agreements.

Dunn noted that many important services, such as health care or transportation, depend on collaborative efforts between the private and public sectors, often through P3 contracts. Under P3’s, both parties’ obligations are detailed, and both federal and state law have regulations governing how public entities can procure services from private contractors. Dunn emphasized the importance of sound structuring of such agreements, noting that weak or ambiguous contract language can hinder transparency, and that the best P3 agreements are created with rigorous stakeholder engagement to allow for government flexibility to focus on the public good.

“Legal agreements between government and private entities are vital instruments that can significantly enhance the funding and delivery of critical services,” Dunn added. “However, their success depends on a careful balance between economic efficiency and long-term community well-being. The true measure of these partnerships lies in their ability to improve the lives of all community members.”