Member Headlines: December 15, 2023
Congratulations to these IndyBar members on their accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Robert Adams to be featured.


Nick Alford has been promoted to partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. He represents clients in complex litigation, including product liability, mass torts, class actions and state attorney general actions. Nick also helps clients manage and mitigate risk associated with product recalls.


Olivia Clavio  has joined Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in the Intellectual Property Department. Her experience includes advertising claim development, substantiation, and defense of claims; drafting contest and sweepstakes rules; social media interactive campaigns; user-generated content review; co-promotional agreements and influencer agreements.


Kian Hudson has been promoted to partner at Barnes and Thornburg LLP. Hudson assists clients through the litigation process and is a member of the firm's appellate practice.


Katrina Ornelas has joined Doehrmen Buba Ring as an associate attorney. 


Dylan Pittman has been promoted to partner at Barnes and Thornburg LLP in the Litigation Department. He serves governmental entities and businesses involved in all levels of state and federal litigation.


Jessica Reiss has been promoted to partner at Barnes and Thornburg LLP in the Environmental Department. Her work covers numerous positions in the environmental field including with a state regulatory agency, in environmental consulting, in house with regulated entities, and performing public and private research. 


Abe Shanehsaz  has been promoted to partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. He advises clients on all aspects of U.S. and international trademark, copyright, social media, internet and technology matters. Abe’s core experience includes national and international prosecution, clearance, due diligence, dispute resolution and agreement negotiation and drafting.


Dominic Yobbi has been promoted to partner at Barnes and Thornburg LLP in the Intellectual Property Department. He assists clients with a range of IP needs, particularly in the preparation and prosecution of patent applications.

 

Each year the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Annual Recognition Breakfast is capped off by the celebration of those members of the association celebrating their 50th anniversary in the practice of law in 2023. Storied careers, these lawyers are featured here and in past issues of The Indiana Lawyer. – 

Assigned court? 
Marion Superior Court Criminal 30

How long have you been a Marion Superior Court judge? 
Judicial officer?  I was appointed as Judge in March 2021.  I had no prior judicial experience.

Other projects, committees, or service roles you are involved in off the bench?  
I am on the Marion Superior Court Executive Committee and the Supreme Court Domestic Violence Advisory Committee.

Best tip you have for lawyers appearing in your court or criminal law courts in general?  
Be prepared. Have caselaw available.  Don’t take cases personally. Treat everyone with respect and kindness. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of more experienced counsel or the Judge.  You don’t know what you don’t know.

Your mentor(s) and the greatest insight you gained from them?   
I have had several mentors in my life, starting with my parents who taught me the value of hard work and never giving up.  As a new attorney, a defense attorney, Dave Martenett, who was opposing counsel in domestic violence court who taught me that the things that happen in court are secondary to the relationships outside of court.  Judicial mentors were Judges Sheila Carlisle and Grant Hawkins.  They were my first Judges when I became a prosecutor.  I try to learn something in all my interactions with people.  

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? 
My free time is spent with my family watching children play basketball, volleyball, dancing and acting.  I have recently taken up pickleball.  I enjoy reading, doing jigsaw puzzles and watching all the Star Trek available.

If you weren’t a judge, what would you be doing?
I would take up semi-truck driving, move rocks or retire to the beach renting chairs or selling ice cream cones.
 

Member Headlines: December 1, 2023
Congratulations to these IndyBar members on their accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Robert Adams to be featured.


Thomas M. Fisher has joined EdChoice. He previously served as a Deputy Attorney General and as Indiana’s first Solicitor General. In that role he handled high profile litigation for the State, advised the Attorney General on a range of legal policy issues, and managed the State’s U.S. Supreme Court docket. 


Plunkett Cooney Attorneys & Counselors at Law has been named by Best Companies Group (BCG) as one of its 2023 Best Places to Work: Law Firms! Top performing law firms are ranked based on such factors as employee satisfaction, employee benefits, company policies, and more. Congratulations on this achievement!

IndyBar is honored to announce the winners of these awards for 2023. 

The Deborah J. Shook Award for Excellence in Family Law recognizes Family Law section members who have made contributions to the legal profession and community, specifically demonstrating a commitment to furthering knowledge of issues affecting families as they relate to the law. This year it is awarded to Shelley Haymaker, Attorney at Law.

The Michael C. Daniells E-Discovery Professional of the Year Award, the E-Discovery, Information Governance and Cybersecurity recognizes professionals who have positively contributed or stands out in the local sector. This year it is awarded to Doug Swetnam, Office of the Indiana Attorney General.

The Criminal Justice Section Lifetime Achievement Award is periodically presented to a seasoned public servant within Indy’s criminal justice community. It honors an individual who has worked tirelessly to make the criminal justice system a better place for everyone. This year the award is given to Fran Watson, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

The Gil I. Berry Award is given to an outstanding member of the legal community by the Criminal Justice Section. It recognizes an exceptional non-lawyer in the criminal justice community in an attempt to shine a light on individuals who work, often behind the scenes, to make our community and profession a better place. This year’s it is jointly awarded to Donna Agal, Sherrie Gibson, and Marie Southern who all work at the front desk in the Community Justice Center.

The Patricia Paxton Wagner Excellence in Estate Planning & Administration Award is periodically presented to an individual showing extraordinary efforts and positive achievements administering the law in a fair and efficient manner, achieving and maintaining high standards of prompt service, improving public knowledge and awareness of section-related laws, and working constructively for needed reform of these laws when warranted. This year the award is given to Claire Lewis, Law Office of Claire E. Lewis.

The Women & the Law Division Mentor Award recognizes a need to honor female attorneys who are on the path to becoming trailblazers while also demonstrating a commitment to mentor others. Recipients are not only future leaders in the legal profession, but they are also making a concerted effort to help mentor and train other future trailblazers. The 2023 award was given to Kellie Barr, U.S. Courts of the Southern District of Indiana, in February 2023.

The Young Lawyer of the Year Award is given to an IndyBar attorney member who is 36 years old or younger or have been in practice eight years or less and have made exceptional contributions to support the Young Lawyer Division and its activities or programs, be recognized as a good role model for the legal profession, and be deserving of special recognition. This year the award is given to Amanda Gallagher, Barnes & Thornburg LLP.

The Zeff Weiss Excellence in Real Estate Award is potentially awarded to a practicing or recently retired attorney or land use planner in the Indianapolis community who has made significant impacts in the legal and development community in the same manner the original recipient (Zeff Weiss) did throughout his career. This year’s award is given to Rory O'Bryan, Harrison & Moberly LLP.
 

Member Headlines: November 17, 2023
Congratulations to these IndyBar members on their accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Robert Adams to be featured.


Isaac Jordan has joined Densborn Blachly LLP. He serves the business and litigation needs of firm clients. His work involves primarily contract negotiations, formation, administration, enforcement, and dispute resolution.


Kayla Carmosino has joined Wilson Kehoe Winningham LLC. Her practice is focused on catastrophic injury cases involving medical malpractice, transportation accidents, and premises liability. 


Stephanie Eckerle, Krieg DeVault LLP, has been named Chair of the Firm's Health Care Practice. She will lead a growing team of attorneys and professionals in one of the Firm’s most prominently served industries.


LaToya Highsaw has joined Paganelli Law Group. She concentrates her practice in family law. LaToya is deeply involved with the Indianapolis Bar Association, serving as a member of its Board of Directors and on several committees. 


Jerimi Ullom has joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP.  He serves as bond and borrower’s counsel for healthcare, governmental and other nonprofit clients. He also routinely serves as underwriter’s counsel and/or lender’s counsel in financing transactions.


Nabeela Virjee has joined Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP as Of Counsel. Representing both public and private clients, Nabeela has litigated professional liability, product liability, premises liability, civil rights, and employment law disputes.


M. Elizabeth Walker has joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP.  She represents borrowers, issuers, underwriters and lenders across the nation in tax-exempt and taxable financings. Her practice focuses on debt financing for 501(c)(3) and governmental organizations, with particular expertise in healthcare finance.

IndyBar is your home for convenient, cost-effective programming to complete your yearly CLE requirements. Check out our options for on-demand and in-person programming throughout the remainder of 2023. Members save 50 percent on seminar fees! Not a member? Join for 2024 online or on-site at IndyBarHQ and get instant access to discounted programming!

Live: Check out live online and in-person programs on hot topics and need-to-know info throughout the remainder of 2023.

Earlier this week, the Marion Superior Court sadly announced the passing of Superior Court Judge Shatrese M. Flowers (Court 28, Criminal Division). With nearly twenty years on the bench, Judge Flowers proudly served the community and will be missed by her family, friends, and colleagues. 

The Marion County Judicial Selection Committee is already in the process of filling a vacancy for Judge Heather A. Welch’s upcoming retirement as announced on October 20. And with Judge Flowers’ passing, there is now a second judicial vacancy in Marion County.

Read More Here
 

Member Headlines: November 4, 2023
Congratulations to these IndyBar members on their accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Robert Adams to be featured.


Tamara Rogers has rejoined IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law as a Research and Instructional Services Librarian. She will teach legal research and provide reference services.

J. Timmons Law, LLC recently celebrated their seven year anniversary. Congratulations!

On September 28, 2023, the inaugural Bourbon with the Bar networking event was held at IndyBar HQ.  It was hosted by the Commercial & Bankruptcy Section, Criminal Justice Section, and Solo and Small Firm Division.  This event provided an opportunity for section and division members to meet attorneys who practice in other areas of law as well as mingle with some of Marion County’s judges.