Pryor joins Southern District as magistrate judge
A new magistrate judge has begun her duties in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, filling a vacancy created by the August death of Magistrate Judge Denise K. LaRue.
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Notre Dame law students’ Impowerus wins raves for empowering immigrant teens
Notre Dame Law students created an online platform — Impowerus — designed to connect pro bono attorneys with people who need legal services. What sets this product apart from the other sites is its focus — a specific demographic, immigrant youth — and its aim to be self-sufficient, charging lawyers licensing fees rather than relying on donations.
Med-mal, PI firm reorganizes, ready for next 38 years
After almost 38 years in business, Montross Miller Muller Mendelson & Kennedy has undergone a significant reorganization. Two founding partners, John Muller and Tilden Mendelson, retired in 2017, and all four associates — Nathan Miller, Belinda Kunczt, Brad Kallmyer and Kerri Farmer — have been made partners.
AG’s office contracts with national firm to consider opioid litigation
As numerous government agencies continue to fight the state’s growing opioid crisis, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office has contracted with a national law firm to help determine whether to pursue legal action against opioid manufacturers.
Taft works to advance social entrepreneurship in central Indiana
Indianapolis law firm Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is hoping to advance what’s known as “social entrepreneurship” in central Indiana by bringing together people who want to both generate a profit and improve society with their business endeavors.
Emerging smart contracts offer possibilities and risks
Though the idea of smart contracts was first proposed by computer scientist Nick Szabo almost 25 years ago, only recently has true potential of the format begun to be realized. Smart contracts soon may change the way many lawyers practice.
Retired detectives now providing litigation support services to attorneys
Persistence, experience and a healthy dose of intuition — with those three attributes, two retired Indianapolis police officers have created a litigation support operation that local attorneys say provides invaluable investigative work and strengthens their cases.
Now hiring: Labor statistics project paralegal job market booming
They’re the silent saviors, the unsung heroes of the practice of law. Without them, most attorneys agree the show could not go on. So, it’s no surprise that the paralegal job market is in the midst of a growth spurt predicted to last for at least eight more years.
Habegger’s general counsel outsource firm builds on 11 years in house
Ben Habegger is combining his knowledge of business with his entrepreneurial mindset. He has launched a solo practice, Outsourced General Counsel, LLC, offering his services as an in-house lawyer to small businesses that do not have a legal department, and to larger companies that may need short-term legal help with a project or to cover a leave of absence.
Hill Fulwider dissolves, yielding two new firms
The Hill Fulwider law firm in Indianapolis has dissolved just shy of its 37th year. Its nine former attorneys reorganized into two new firms or joined existing ones.
Messaglia named managing partner at Krieg DeVault
Michael Messaglia has been tapped to be the managing partner of Krieg DeVault LLP, where he began his legal career as an associate in 1993. He succeeds Deborah Daniels, who will remain with the firm as a partner. Daniels had served as managing partner since 2015.
Taft moves to single-class partnership structure
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP announced Wednesday the firm has adopted a new one-class partnership structure. This move eliminates the two-tier system — equity and non-equity — that had been in place at the firm for more than a quarter-century.
COA affirms dismissal of malpractice suit against Barnes
A South Bend-based staffing company has failed to state a claim for relief in its legal malpractice complaint against Barnes & Thornburg LLP, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in a Tuesday opinion upholding the dismissal of the complaint against the law firm.
Pass-through tax break passes over attorneys
The sweeping changes that came with the overhaul of the federal tax system included a deduction for pass-through businesses, but attorneys and other professional service providers were brushed aside and likely will not be able to reap that tax break.
Leadership in Law nomination deadline extended
The nomination deadline for Indiana Lawyer’s Leadership in Law Awards has been extended until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, due to technical issues with the online nomination submission form.
Speedway attorney’s discipline added to indefinite suspension
A Speedway attorney with a lengthy disciplinary history has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for 90 days, a suspension that will run concurrently with the indefinite suspension he is already under.
Suit by female Ogletree shareholder alleges gender discrimination
Employment defense firm Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart P.C., which has a significant presence in Indianapolis, is accused of discriminating against female shareholders in a federal lawsuit seeking $300 million in damages on behalf of 100 non-equity women shareholders at the firm.
Study: Many law firms unprepared for future challenges
Are law firms simply fighting the last war? Are they preparing for the future, or are they stuck in the past? Those questions are at the center of a report released Thursday that focues on stagnating demand growth, declines in productivity and a rise in expenses.
Indiana eighth to offer state employees parental leave
Gov. Eric Holcomb last month signed an executive order establishing paid parental leave for state employees, effective Jan. 1. Labor and employment attorneys say many private organizations, including law firms, also are offering paid leave to new parents.
2018 outlook: Litigation spending up, law firm rosters down
In a legal market that continues to ask firms to do more with less, there is a bright spot expected to bring about a possible business increase in 2018: litigation.