Do you miss networking and in-person events? Good news: registration is open for the 2021 Indianapolis Bar Association Bench Bar Conference in Louisville, KY! We are going back to the basics for this year’s CLE programming.  

After a year apart from our friends, colleagues and mentors, the IndyBar is, as always, on the forefront of creating dynamic new content while adapting to new trends in technology and the law. 

The Indiana Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure has posted four proposed rule amendments online for public comment.   

“What if you could get exactly what you want in life by reading and understanding the body language of murderers?” asks Janine Driver, New York Times Best-Selling Author and Award-Winning Keynote Speaker. With more than 16 years of experience as a federal law enforcement officer within the Department of Justice, Janine will be presenting the opening plenary session for the 2021 Bench Bar Conference in Louisville from June 17-19.

Enjoy an escape from the day-to-day to reconnect with colleagues and recharge your practice. Offering opportunities that’ll spur both thoughtful discourse and meaningful introspection, the 2021 Bench Bar Conference has been designed to offer networking and education in a safe, comfortable environment.

On Jan. 28, 2021, the Indiana Supreme Court affirmed freedom of contract principles and upheld discounts of over thirty percent in the fair market valuation of shares in a dispute over the buyback provision in a shareholder agreement among all of the shareholders of a closely held company. In a recent case, the Supreme Court unanimously held that the plain language of the shareholder agreement contemplated the fair market valuation of the selling shareholder’s shares and that a third-party appraiser could apply minority and marketability discounts in the valuation of those shares. The Supreme Court rejected the plaintiff’s claims that the discounts should not have been applied.

Super Bowl Sunday is upon us. While celebrations around the 2021 contest will be more muted than in previous years, companies are still running promotions leading up to the game, hoping to take advantage of the buzz surrounding one of the most-watched sporting events in the United States. Because the National Football League (NFL) owns the trademark on the name "Super Bowl" however,  businesses without a license from the NFL cannot explicitly refer to the game by its official name in their advertisements. 

How can you keep up with pending legislation that’s important to you and your practice? With the help of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, the IndyBar Legislative Committee (chaired by Mindy Westrick of the Indiana Energy Association) provides weekly Bill Watch reports throughout the session, which highlight progress and recent actions taken on bills being monitored by the association.

Looking to find your next great law clerk or show your support for diversity in our community? Employer and sponsor registration is now open for the 2021 Diversity Job Fair!

The Indiana Court of Appeals recently expanded the de facto merger principles to impose successor liability on the purchaser of assets in New Nello Operating Co., LLC v. CompressAir. The de facto merger doctrine is an exception to the general rule that the purchaser of assets is not responsible for the seller’s liabilities absent fraud or an agreement to assume the liability. In New Nello, the Court concluded that the purchaser of assets in a strict foreclosure sale was responsible for certain liabilities of the seller, notwithstanding that there was no overlapping ownership between the companies.