Years ago (and I do mean YEARS ago), a true rap anthem asked and answered:
Whose world is this?
The world is yours; the world is yours
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine

Congratulations to these IndyBar members on their accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Robert Adams to be featured.

Rachel Bir has joined Paganelli Law Group. She represents clients in commercial and civil litigation cases. She also has extensive experience related to renewable energy litigation, including judicial review of administrative agency decisions, challenges to board of zoning appeals’ actions, and tax appeals. 



Magistrate Drew Bloch was recently named as the winner of the Nanette K. Raduenz Award. The Nanette K. Raduenz Award is given every other year to honor a judicial officer who has gone above and beyond to improve the judiciary. Magistrate Bloch was recognized for his activity in both the ISBA Family Law Section and many other organizations. He has served on several boards and committees, presented at numerous seminars, and helped revise family law guidelines.
 

Nicolette Mendenhall has started a new position as Director of Legal Services at Indiana Department of Transportation. She provides legal advice to INDOT and its employees on a wide array of issues including permitting issues, contractual issues, construction project planning, public record requests, administrative law, procurement, federal and state compliance requirements, right-of-way, real estate matters, and more.

Julie Denise Owens has recently joined the Office of Chief Counsel for the IRS in Los Angeles, CA.

Elizabeth Polleys Burden was promoted to the Steering Committee, Roche Women’s Alliance at Roche and also joined the Core Team for Roche International Women’s Network. As part of the Core Team she represents the community of women’s professional networks across the Roche Pharma and Diagnostics organizations and promotes Roche's DEI initiatives - specifically gender diversity in leadership levels. 

Congratulations to these IndyBar members on their accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Robert Adams to be featured.

Ellen Pactor has joined Ogletree Deakins. She defends employers in federal and state court litigation against a variety of employment-related allegations, including claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Ellen is also an Executive Committee member for IndyBar's Women and the Law Division.



Andrew Klein, former dean of Robert H. McKinney School of Law and current Interim Chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), was recently celebrated for his years of service to Indiana before departing to assume the role of Dean at Wake Forest University School of Law.


Mark Lopez Law has recently celebrated 14 years since their founding. Congratulations!


Wanzer Edwards PC recently celebrated the 12th anniversary of the founding of their firm. Congratulations!

Congratulations and best wishes to these IndyBar members on their career moves and accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Julie Armstrong to be featured.

Wilson Law Associates is excited to add Ann Skirvin to the firm's team! She will focus her practice on probate, family, health, and elder law as well as assist with the firm’s business clients. Ann received her law degree with a Health Law Certificate from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Ann is an attorney in good standing with the Indiana Bar and the Federal District Courts for Northern and Southern Indiana.

Valerie Horvath has joined Camden & Meridew PC as Of Counsel. Valerie has a breadth of experience from her 20+ years as an attorney. Valerie practices family law - divorce, custody, child support, parenting time, paternity - and criminal defense. Valerie has significant experience in domestic violence, all types of partner abuse, narcissism, protective orders and stalking.

Faith Alvarez has opened her own firm Alvarez Legal. Attorney Alvarez's practice is focused on federal litigation, particularly in the areas of wrongful death, personal injury, and civil rights. Alvarez is admitted to practice in Indiana, in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and in the United States Supreme Court, and assists clients in both Spanish and English. 

For the first time, the Indianapolis Bar Foundation’s Lawyers Links Classic golf outing presented by Wilson Kehoe & Winingham LLC is being held at one of Indy’s finest golf courses, The Brickyard Crossing on July 20th .  Even more, due to the generosity of Penske Entertainment who is hosting the tournament, the foundation can raise even more dollars which will be aimed at improving diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within our legal community.

Congratulations and best wishes to these IndyBar members on their career moves and accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Julie Armstrong to be featured.

Molly Lokitis has joined Harwell Legal Counsel. She received her law degree from Charleston School of Law and started her legal career as a Public Defender with the Marion County Public Defenders Agency. She has case management and trial experience from misdemeanors up to major felonies.

Van Valer Law Firm welcomes Michelle Maslowski as Of Counsel beginning May 15, 2023. Ms. Maslowski brings over 15 years of experience in employment law, construction law, and litigation. Ms. Maslowski's representation experience spans across a wide range of industries, from retail and hospitality to construction, technology, and manufacturing, and includes clients in size ranging from Fortune 500 companies to individual entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.

Andrew Bartelt has joined Emswiller, Williams, Noland & Clarke, LLC as an associate and will focus his practice on family law, probate, and general civil litigation matters. Andy is trained in collaborative law, an increasingly popular alternative to litigation, and he is a Board Member of the Central Indiana Association of Collaborative Professionals and member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

Cohen & Malad, LLP is excited to welcome attorney Mary Kate Dugan to the firm's class action team where she will specialize in lawsuits against hospitals, employers, and other trusted entities that mishandle plaintiffs’ private information. She has successfully represented numerous individual employees in various legal matters such as breach of contract, discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblower cases.

The Domestic Relations Committee of the Judicial Conference of Indiana is seeking comments on proposed changes to Indiana’s Child Support Rules and Guidelines, which are used to make decisions about child support in dissolutions of marriage, legal separations, paternity cases, Title IV-D proceedings, and all other actions for child support.

Congratulations and best wishes to these IndyBar members on their career moves and accomplishments! Have something to share? Email Julie Armstrong to be featured.

Jim Cavanaugh recently retired from Fisher Maas Howard Lloyd & Wheeler P.C. Jim is originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has been a resident of Indianapolis since beginning law school in 1982.  He joined Fisher Maas Howard Lloyd & Wheeler as an attorney in 2020 after a longtime partnership with Gaston Cavanaugh & Giesel. Jim’s practice has been state-wide and involved third-party insurance defense, insurance coverage, and insurance subrogation litigation, including court trials, jury trials, and appeals. 

Amanda Wilhite has joined Dentons in Indianapolis as an associate. A member of Dentons’ Corporate practice, Amanda focuses her practice on corporate and transactional law. Amanda is experienced in advising clients on corporate governance and other corporate transactions. Prior to joining the private sector, Amanda was an Assistant State Attorney at the Cook County State Attorney's Office. Upon graduation from law school, she served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable Judge Herman C. Dawson of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County.

Brent Mosby has joined Dinsmore Shohl LLP. For the past 20 years, Brent has provided pragmatic, responsive legal advice to his clients. Those clients have ranged from large enterprise software companies, where Brent has served as general counsel, to closely-held businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and private investment firms, which Brent has represented during his time in private practice. He is an active IndyBar Business Law Section member and has previously served on the Executive Committee. 

Anne Cowgur has joined Paganelli Law Group. Cowgur will primarily represent clients in appellate, commercial litigation, employment, and trust and estate matters. Anne is well known in the Central Indiana legal community for her leadership on the Indiana State and Indianapolis Bar Associations. She has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Women and Top 50 Indiana Super Lawyers in the area of Appellate Law and in the Best Lawyers in America®.

Laura Gaskill has joined Massillamany Jeter & Carson LLP and leads the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) / Mediation Practice Group. Laura returns to private practice after serving over 9 years on the bench as a magistrate in Marion County where she presided over family law related cases. Laura’s experience as a judicial officer provides her with a unique approach to assisting parties in settling their family’s legal disputes outside of court.

Chugh, LLP expands to Indianapolis, led by partner Ritu Chokshi and inspired by Navneet Chugh's unique journey. Chugh, LLP, recognized for its global outreach and individualized legal solutions, is excited to announce the opening of a new office in Indianapolis. Spearheaded by partner, Ritu Chokshi, the Indiana branch expansion is inspired by Navneet Chugh, who has cultivated a strong foundation by blending his background in law and accounting. To mark the opening of the Indianapolis office, Chugh, LLP will host a welcoming Open House celebration on June 1st from 3-6 pm. For more information and the full press release, click this link.

Congratulations to our newest class of Distinguished Fellows and Distinguished Life Fellows!

Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb appointed the Honorable Charnette D. Garner to the Marion County Superior Courts. Judge Garner’s appointment was among the first gubernatorial appointments following the passage of House Enrolled Act 1036 in 2017, creating merit selection of judges in Marion County.