Columbia City Lawyers

Tom Kimbrough assists clients in all facets of labor and employment. He works with employers to defend against claims. He has worked with union and non-union employers, and businesses of all sizes. He also assists in other areas of litigation including insurance defense and business and commercial litigation.

Mike has spent the last two decades litigating business and commercial disputes throughout Indiana and Michigan. He has litigated a wide range of disputes, representing both plaintiffs and defendants, including wrongful death actions, securities violations, contractual disputes, trade secrets actions, trademark and copyright infringement, coverage actions, and construction disputes. Mike has handled dozens of noncompetition cases both on behalf of the employer and the employee including during the preliminary injunction phase, at trial, and on appeal. Mike has participated in approximately 100 appeals in the state and federal courts of Indiana and Michigan and has argued numerous times before the...

A trial lawyer, Robert T. Keen has extensive experience handling cases in state and federal courts across the State of Indiana for insurance companies, businesses and governmental entities. He focuses on commercial litigation, insurance defense, premises liability, products liability and employment litigation. He also has experience defending local governments and police officers against lawsuits. He is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, and the Defense Research Institute.

Focusing in the area of employment law, Carta Robison assists clients with their employment matters including, contracts, claims involving Title VII, Family and Medical Leave Act issue, wage and hour disputes, and claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Zach has nearly twenty years of experience working with clients in the areas of elder law, estate planning, and probate & trust administration. He has experience working with individuals and families on asset protection, Medicaid eligibility, and long-term care planning. He also assists clients with wills and trusts, the appointment of health care representatives, powers of attorney, IRA and retirement planning, and general business matters.

A skilled attorney with Barrett McNagny, Rachel Steinhofer represents clients in the employment arena, defending employers against claims involving Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Indiana Wage Payment Statute, the Indiana Wage Claims Statute, and the Indiana Workers' Compensation Act. In addition, Rachel interacts with administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), on behalf of clients. Rachel also has experience in working with employers to educate them on union avoidance and how to manage unionization efforts. She has assisted with representing businesses...

With nearly two decades of experience, Emily approaches issues in a practical and compassionate manner for clients. In her domestic and family law practice, Emily Szaferski concentrates on dissolutions, adoptions, paternity matters, custody disputes, child support issues, and guardianships. She handles various types of adoptions including private, agency and foster adoptions, adoptions that involve the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, and the finalization of international adoptions.

Ben is a litigator with a focus on intense litigation and trial work. He has spent his career advocating for people and businesses involved in lawsuits. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants, although certain client relationships preclude his representation against some professionals. Ben's focus on trial work began when he was a member of the Indiana University intercollegiate trial team for each of his three years of law school. Since then, he has sought out trial-intensive work and has participated in the presentation of over fifteen trials to a jury, with most of those trials involving the defense of doctors and...

One of the most enjoyable parts of being a lawyer is combining my genuine interest in others with my passion for helping people and fixing situations.

Most people seem to have headaches in a few key areas. That’s why I focus on the fields of family law (divorce, visitation, guardianships, etc.), business law (business formation, law suits, breach of contract, etc.), real estate law and personal injury (car accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, and other acts of negligence).

My Experience
I started my career as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I “paid my dues” in busy courtrooms and...

Let's face it. We've been doing this a long time.  And we love what we do. The lawyers of Shaw Law Offices -- the Indiana Slip and Fall Attorneys. See us at "slipandfall.com."  That's right, we own the cause of action in our website.  That's how much we love what we do. Like Muhammad Ali the boxer famously said, "It's Not Bragging if You Can Back it Up." And with age and experience comes a little bit of "know-how."  So, here's 5 things we do to help you in the often-confusing path of a personal injury lawsuit: 1.  We Visit the Site...

Marcus A. Heminger concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate and business law and securities law. He has extensive experience in corporate transactions, mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, private and registered public securities offerings, SEC reporting compliance, and NYSE and NASDAQ regulatory compliance. Prior to returning to Fort Wayne and joining Barrett McNagny, Marcus spent more than five years working at one of New York's largest law firms, where he gained valuable experience with the firm's Capital Markets Group. His corporate governance and securities law experience also includes drafting and reviewing SEC disclosure documents, including Annual Reports, Quarterly Reports, Current...

Christopher L. LaPan practices exclusively as a family lawyer, civil litigator, and mediator. He received his Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University in 2009, and is admitted to practice law in the Indiana Supreme Court and the United States District Courts, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. He also holds a Masters Degree from Purdue University. Chris is formally trained in collaborative lawyering, and is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. His ability to successfully navigate even the most contentious and complicated divorces to creatively advocate for his clients inspires a fluid transition from being together...

Jim Hanson has a diverse background that provides him with context to find solutions to complex challenges. Jim has significant experience with Criminal Law and Family Law as well as both legal and practical experience with Business Law, Real Estate, Probate and General Civil Litigation. Jim served as a Korean linguist with the United States Army. This experience allows Jim to more easily navigate cultural and language barriers when resolving legal issues.

Thomas Niezer focuses his practice on real estate law, land use planning, and real estate finance law, with a dual emphasis in commercial transactions and residential real estate development, sales, and purchases. He also focuses on representing commercial and non-profit development entities on a variety of redevelopment and new development initiatives. With over 30 years of experience, Tom has represented real estate development clients before planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, local engineering, surveying, traffic, utility, and storm water governmental departments. He has worked with clients in real estate acquisitions, sales, leasing, and construction matters. Tom regularly works with local...

Mike O'Hara assists clients in the areas of finance and banking law, creditor's rights, business transaction, corporate law and mergers and acquisitions.

Jake Gattuso focuses his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and real estate law. He has experience working with businesses of various sizes, and represents clients in the initial formation stages, and provides day-to-day operational counsel such as providing assistance with respect to the negotiation and drafting of third-party contracts, internal governance matters. Similarly, he represents clients in the growth or fundraising stages, by providing guidance for private placements, Regulation D securities offerings, and similar matters involving state “blue-sky” laws and federal securities laws compliance. Further, Jake assists clients buying and selling businesses of various sizes. Additionally, Jake represents...

Experienced and trusted attorney focusing on Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Child Support.

Highly experienced in estate planning, Trisha's practice encompasses wills and trusts, the avoidance or reduction of estate, inheritance, and generation-skipping taxes, various techniques for making gifts to individuals and charities, life insurance, disability, and distributions from retirement accounts. She also consults business owners regarding the choice of entity issues, valuation issues, buy-sell agreements, and business succession issues.

Maria works with the family and domestic law team assisting clients with dissolutions, adoptions and guardianships. The team also is experienced at handling custody and child support issues, paternity issues and acting in the role of a guardian ad litem.

Gregory A. Cranston represents clients (adults and children) who have been charged with a crime or who are under investigation. Greg has represented clients throughout many counties within Indiana in cases involving serious felonies, misdemeanors and driving related matters. He has also represented clients in family law cases, landlord and tenant issues, civil lawsuits, and personal injury.

Cranston Law Can:

Help you understand the charges against you

Learn the potential range of outcomes for people in situations like yours

Provide general expectations for outcomes based on experience

Help navigate you through the system

Mount a strong defense on your behalf

Make sure your rights are protected every...

Casie Towsley focuses her litigation practice in the areas of commercial litigation, insurance defense, premises liability, products liability, collections, and contract disputes. She also assists with due diligence review in the mergers and acquisitions practice area.

Lauren Minke concentrates her practice in the area of litigation, with an emphasis in insurance defense and medical malpractice defense. She also represents clients in general liability defense and provides litigation services related to disputes concerning premises liability, real estate, and contracts. She has first chair bench trial and second-chair jury trial experience.

Matt Chapel is a Trial Lawyer based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is a National Institute for Trial Advocacy Master Advocate and studied under Gerry Spence. Practicing criminal defense in Fort Wayne, Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio, Matt brings 23 years of experience to every case. Matt is a former U.S. Marine. Why is this significant? Because Matt brings his fighting spirit to every case - including yours.

Mr. Churchward’s legal career began at the Allen County Prosecuting Attorney’s office where he tried cases in both the Misdemeanor and Felony divisions. While serving as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, he was exposed to a wide variety of cases ranging from violent crimes to misdemeanor and financial offenses, during which time he gained invaluable experience that he applies to his current practice. in 2000, Mr. Churchward took a position as an associate attorney at Leonard, Hammond, Thoma and Terrill and immediately began working for his clients with the same dedication that he displayed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney....

Matt handles a wide variety of civil litigation, with a special focus on employment disputes. He has significant experience defending discrimination and retaliation lawsuits in state and federal courts. He also regularly handles wage claims, including class actions and collective actions, and advises individuals and employers regarding non-compete issues.

Beyond his employment practice, Matt helps clients resolve all types of other disputes. Representative areas of practice include will contests and estate litigation, insurance coverage, tort claims, business disputes and appeals.

Matt also regularly assists out-of-state attorneys as local counsel in Allen County and statewide.

Matt has been named to the...

Thomas L. Stucky practices primarily in the area of family law and as a mediator on family law related matters. His practice also includes collection and creditors rights, as well as a general civil litigation practice, real estate transactions, preparation of wills and trusts, and handling of minor and adult guardianship matters.

Tom has also been trained in collaborative lawyering. He obtained his Bachelor of Science from Indiana University in 1978 and Juris Doctor from Ohio Northern University in 1981 and is admitted to practice law in the Indiana Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the Northern...

Dave Joley is a Fort Wayne native, graduating from Bishop Dwenger High School in 1996. He is admitted to practice law in the Federal Districts of Northern and Southern Indiana, as well as the State of Indiana. His practice areas include Worker’s Compensation, Personal Injury, and Family Law, with a concentration in Criminal Defense.

Mr. Joley is a previous member of the National College for DUI Defense, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, NORML, past member of Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, American Inns of Court, Benjamin Harrison Chapter, as...

A partner at Barrett McNagny, Phil focuses his practice on business transactions, business succession planning, federal and state taxation, estate planning, probate matters, and estate administration. Phil also advises business owners regarding the choice of entity issues, valuation issues, buy-sell agreements, and business succession issues.

Robert Scremin is a former deputy prosecutor and a former SWAT/Narcotics Detective. Robert is also a graduate of the coveted National Criminal Defense College at Mercer Law School in Macon, Georgia. He has practiced law for over 22 years, including California, Florida and Indiana.

Phil Truitt joined Truitt Law Offices in 2018 after he earned his J.D. from Ohio Northern University Ohio Northern Pettit College of Law. However, his association with the law firm dates all the way back to childhood. His father, Richard, established the firm over 40 years ago.

Growing up, Phil would spend a great deal of time at the firm’s offices. He began working for the law firm in high school and handled client intake and management roles throughout law school.

Today, Phil combines the practice of law with a role as administrator of the firm’s three offices in Indiana. Those duties...

Gary is the Chair of the firm's Labor and Employment Practice Group. He advises clients in all areas of employment and labor law. Gary's strengths are his responsiveness and his ability to communicate complex subjects in a straightforward and understandable way.

Gary represents a wide range of clients, including steel manufacturers, automotive suppliers, health-care providers, municipalities, print shops, agribusiness, construction companies, and food producers. He has represented and advised clients in over twenty U.S. states and Canada. Although Gary’s primary expertise is employment and labor law, many clients seek Gary’s advice on a wide range of legal issues because...

J. Michael Loomis is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He attended Homestead High School. He graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington with a B.A. in Forensic Studies in 1978. Mike graduated from the University of Dayton School of Law in 1981. Mike served as an aide to U.S. Senators Richard G. Lugar and J. Danforth Quayle from 1981-1983. Mike practiced law in Fort Wayne from 1983-1984 with CAPPELLI & LOOMIS, focusing on business and real estate. In December, 1984 Mike and his wife moved to Indianapolis, where Mike served as a Marion County (Indianapolis) Deputy...

Jennifer has a diverse practice ranging from high conflict custody matters and complex divorce actions to collections. She regularly represents clients in Child of Need of Services actions, both as private counsel and Guardian Ad Litem. Jennifer is a registered domestic relations mediator. She is tough but fair, and strives to be at least one step ahead of the other side.

I am a graduate of Valparaiso University School of Law, a member of the National Lawyers’ Guild, and a private practice attorney representing clients in Indiana State and Federal Courts concentrating in Personal Injury Practice, General Civil Litigation and Family Law.

Larry W. Rudawsky has over thirty years of experience in the area of employee benefits and has extensive knowledge in the areas of reviewing, developing and implementing defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, employer-sponsored IRA plans and managed IRAs. Larry has overseen regulatory compliance for qualified, nonqualified, and VEBA plans and he has drafted plan documents for Taft-Hartley, 401(a), 401(k), 403(b), 457 and 409A plans. He counsels clients on employee benefit issues in mergers and acquisitions, on equity incentive compensation, and on the design and operation of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Prior to joining the firm,...

Robert J. Boughter, the founder of Boughter Sinak, LLC, dedicates his life to the representation of people seriously injured or killed in accidents and on the job. He is known as “The Fighter” because of his aggressive and straightforward approach to representing his clients in and out of court. Mr. Boughter prides himself on being honest, tenacious and loyal. He has a vast range of experience, having successfully prosecuted almost every type of injury or death case imaginable – from trucking accidents to chemical explosions. Mr. Boughter was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He received his undergraduate degrees in criminology...