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BESTLAW YERS.COM
P U R E LY P E E R R E V I E W TM Evansville Business | 27
Based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation, the Best Lawyers® list provides the names of 55 of the area’s top legal talent most recommended by colleagues in the field. Trusts and Estates Brian K. Carroll
Real Estate Law
Kent A. Brasseale II
Natural Resources Law John H. Henderson
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law Michael A. Fiorella
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law William J. Kaiser, Jr.
The Best Lawyers in America 2019© is published by BL Rankings, Aiken, South Carolina and can be ordered directly from the publisher. For information call 803-648-0300; write 801 Broad Street, Suite 950, Augusta, GA 30901; email info@bestlawyers.com; or visit www.bestlawyers.com. Online subscriptions to Best Lawyers® are available at www.bestlawyers.com. “The Best Lawyers in America” and “Best Lawyers” are registered trademarks of BL Rankings. BL Rankings Inc., has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All listed attorneys have been verified as being members in good standing with their respective state bar associations as of July 1, 2018, where that information is publicly available. Consumers should contact their state bar for verification and additional information prior to securing legal services of any attorney. This list is excerpted from the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, the pre-eminent referral guide to the legal profession in the United States. Published since 1983, Best Lawyers lists attorneys in 145 specialties, representing all 50 states, who have been chosen through an exhaustive survey in which thousands of the nation's top lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The 2019 edition of Best Lawyers is based on more than 7.8 million evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers. The method used to compile Best Lawyers remains unchanged since the first edition was compiled more than 30 years ago. Lawyers are chosen for inclusion based solely on the vote of their peers. Listings cannot be bought, and no purchase is required to be included. In this regard, Best Lawyers remains the gold standard of reliability and integrity in lawyer ratings. The nomination pool for the 2019 edition consisted of all lawyers whose names appeared in the previous edition of Best Lawyers, lawyers who were nominated since the previous survey, and new nominees solicited from listed attorneys. In general, lawyers were asked to vote only on nominees in their own specialty in their own jurisdiction. Lawyers in closely related specialties were asked to vote across specialties, as were lawyers in smaller jurisdictions. Where specialties are national or international in nature, lawyers were asked to vote nationally as well as locally. Voting lawyers were also given an opportunity to offer more detailed comments on nominees. Each year, half of the voting pool receives fax or email ballots; the other half is polled by phone. Voting lawyers were provided this general guideline for determining if a nominee should be listed among "the best": "If you had a close friend or relative who needed a real estate lawyer (for example), and you could not handle the case yourself, to whom would you refer them?" All votes and comments were solicited with a guarantee of confidentiality ― a critical factor in the viability and validity of Best Lawyers’ surveys. To ensure the rigor of the selection process, lawyers were urged to use only their highest standards when voting, and to evaluate each nominee based only on his or her individual merits. The additional comments were used to make more accurate comparisons between voting patterns and weight votes accordingly. Best Lawyers uses various methodological tools to identify and correct for anomalies in both the nomination and voting process. Ultimately, of course, a lawyer's inclusion is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow attorneys. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, the breadth of the survey, the candor of the respondents, and the sophistication of the polling methodology largely correct for any biases. For all these reasons, Best Lawyers lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate and useful guide to the best lawyers in the United States available anywhere. 28 June/July | 2019
Appellate Practice James D. Johnson Jackson Kelly 812-422-9444 221 N.W. Fifth Street Evansville Banking and Finance Law Donald J. Fuchs Bingham Greenebaum Doll 812-437-0200 1 Main Street, Suite 600 Evansville Mark S. Samila Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Marco L. DeLucio Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders 812-424-7575 20 N.W. First Street, Ninth Floor Evansville Michael A. Fiorella Sullivan Mountjoy 270-926-4000 100 Saint Ann Street Owensboro, Kentucky Sandra D. Freeburger Deitz, Shields & Freeburger 270-942-1028 101 First Street Henderson, Kentucky Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law Terry G. Farmer Farmer Scott Ozete Robinson & Schmitt 812-602-3570 21 S.E. Third Street, Suite 900 Evansville Shannon S. Frank Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville
Bruce A. Smith Smith & Miller 812-882-0222 312 Main Street Vincennes Commercial Transactions/ UCC Law Jeffrey K. Helfrich Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Construction Law Kent A. Brasseale II Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Tony W. Fehrenbacher Manion Stigger 812-425-5200 20 N.W. First Street, Suite 200 Evansville G. Michael Schopmeyer Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Dirck H. Stahl Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders 812-424-7575 20 N.W. First Street, Ninth Floor Evansville Corporate Law Marco L. DeLucio Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders 812-424-7575 20 N.W. First Street, Ninth Floor Evansville Marc D. Fine Jackson Kelly 812-422-9444 221 N.W. Fifth Street Evansville
William J. Kaiser, Jr. Bingham Greenebaum Doll 812-482-5500 212 W. Sixth Street Jasper
Criminal Defense: General Practice Dennis L. Brinkmeyer Blackard & Brinkmeyer 812-423-3125 512 Main Street Evansville
Mark S. Samila Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville
Criminal Defense: White-Collar Dennis L. Brinkmeyer Blackard & Brinkmeyer
812-423-3125 512 Main Street Evansville DUI/DWI Defense Dennis L. Brinkmeyer Blackard & Brinkmeyer 812-423-3125 512 Main Street Evansville Mark A. Foster Foster, O’Daniel, Hambidge & Lynch 812-424-8101 3820 Oak Hill Road Evansville Economic Development Law Brian P. Williams Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Employment Law - Individuals Kyle F. Biesecker Biesecker Dutkanych & Macer 317-537-9920 411 Main Street Evansville Employment Law Management Jon D. Goldman Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Energy Regulatory Law David T. McGimpsey Bingham Greenebaum Doll 812-482-5500 212 W. Sixth Street Jasper Environmental Law Blair M. Gardner Jackson Kelly 812-422-9444 221 N.W. Fifth Street Evansville
J. David Roellgen Kolb Roellgen & Kirchoff 812-882-2280 801 Busseron Street Vincennes Family Law Mediation J. David Roellgen Kolb Roellgen & Kirchoff 812-882-2280 801 Busseron Street Vincennes Healthcare Law Robert F. Barron II Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville L. Montgomery Porter Jackson Kelly 812-422-9444 221 N.W. Fifth Street Evansville Insurance Law R. Michael Sullivan Sullivan Mountjoy 270-926-4000 100 Saint Ann Street Owensboro, Kentucky Labor Law - Management Jake R. Fulcher Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Jon D. Goldman Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Labor Law - Union Charles L. Berger Berger & Berger 812-425-8101 2906 First Avenue Evansville
G. Michael Schopmeyer Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville
Land Use and Zoning Law Maria L. Bulkley Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville
Family Law Kelly A. Lonnberg Stoll Keenon Ogden 812-425-1591 1 Main Street, Suite 201 Evansville
Marco L. DeLucio Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders 812-424-7575 20 N.W. First Street, Ninth Floor Evansville Evansville Business | 29
Litigation - Environmental Jeffrey W. Ahlers Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Blair M. Gardner Jackson Kelly 812-422-9444 221 N.W. Fifth Street Evansville G. Michael Schopmeyer Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Litigation - First Amendment Patrick A. Shoulders Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders 812-424-7575 20 N.W. First Street, Ninth Floor Evansville Litigation - Labor and Employment Jake R. Fulcher Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Litigation Trusts and Estates Jeffrey B. Kolb Kolb Roellgen & Kirchoff 812-882-2280 801 Busseron Street Vincennes Bruce A. Smith Smith & Miller 812-882-0222 312 Main Street Vincennes Medical Malpractice Law Defendants Michele S. Bryant Wooden & McLaughlin 812-401-6151 25 N.W. Riverside Drive, Suite 310 Evansville Mergers and Acquisitions Law Jeffrey K. Helfrich Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville
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Mining Law Blair M. Gardner Jackson Kelly 812-422-9444 221 N.W. Fifth Street Evansville Natural Resources Law Blair M. Gardner Jackson Kelly 812-422-9444 221 N.W. Fifth Street Evansville John H. Henderson Stoll Keenon Ogden 812-425-1591 1 Main Street, Suite 201 Evansville David H. Thomason Stoll Keenon Ogden 812-425-1591 1 Main Street, Suite 201 Evansville John A. Thomason Stoll Keenon Ogden 812-425-1591 1 Main Street, Suite 201 Evansville Oil and Gas Law Bryan R. Reynolds Sullivan Mountjoy 270-926-4000 100 Saint Ann Street Owensboro, Kentucky Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Frank Stainback Sullivan Mountjoy 270-926-4000 100 Saint Ann Street Owensboro, Kentucky Ronald M. Sullivan Sullivan Mountjoy 270-926-4000 100 Saint Ann Street Owensboro, Kentucky Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs Charles L. Berger Berger & Berger 812-425-8101 2906 First Avenue Evansville Charles E. Moore Charles E. Moore 270-683-4513 104 E. Fourth Street Owensboro, Kentucky
Real Estate Law Steven T. Barber Barber & Bauer 812-618-1940 124 S.E. First Street, Suite 101 Evansville Kent A. Brasseale II Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Nick J. Cirignano Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders 812-424-7575 20 N.W. First Street, Ninth Floor Evansville Allison K. Comstock Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Marco L. DeLucio Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders 812-424-7575 20 N.W. First Street, Ninth Floor Evansville Shannon S. Frank Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Jeffrey K. Helfrich Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Jeffrey W. Henning Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders 812-424-7575 20 N.W. First Street, Ninth Floor Evansville John E. Rhine Bingham Greenebaum Doll 812-437-0200 1 Main Street, Suite 600 Evansville G. Michael Schopmeyer Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn 812-423-3183 501 Main Street, Suite 305 Evansville Scott S. Stone Stone & Stratman 812-425-5345 915 Main Street, Suite 404 Evansville
Christopher C. Wischer Stoll Keenon Ogden 812-425-1591 1 Main Street, Suite 201 Evansville Trusts and Estates Steven T. Barber Barber & Bauer 812-618-1940 124 S.E. First Street, Suite 101 Evansville Brian K. Carroll Johnson, Carroll, Norton, Kent & Goedde 812-205-2661 2230 W. Franklin Street Evansville Randall K. Craig Law Offices of Randall K. Craig 812-477-3337 5000 E. Virginia Street, Suite 1 Evansville Jeffrey B. Kolb Kolb Roellgen & Kirchoff 812-882-2280 801 Busseron Street Vincennes George Thacker II Thacker Hodskins & Knight 270-926-4500 209 W. Fourth Street Owensboro, Kentucky Water Law Blair M. Gardner Jackson Kelly 812-422-9444 221 N.W. Fifth Street Evansville Workers' Compensation Law Claimants Randal M. Klezmer Klezmer Maudlin 812-425-3180 123 N.W. Fourth Street, Room 22 Evansville Nathan B. Maudlin Klezmer Maudlin 812-425-3180 123 N.W. Fourth Street, Room 22 Evansville Workers' Compensation Law Employers Timothy A. Klingler Jackson Kelly 812-422-9444 221 N.W. Fifth Street Evansville
LAWYER PROFILES SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Charlie Berger
Berger & Berger
Born and raised in Evansville, Charlie Berger truly is a local attorney. He graduated from the University of Evansville in 1969 and received his law degree with honors from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis in 1972. Charlie returned to Evansville after law school to begin practicing law with his father Sydney Berger. Charlie has been actively involved in his profession and in the community for the past 47 years. Charlie has been listed in The Best Lawyers in AmericaŠ for 32 years and is the only personal injury lawyer in the southwestern Indiana region recognized by Best LawyersŽ. In November 2014, Charlie was selected as the Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association. When you call Charlie, you talk to Charlie, not to an associate or junior partner. You get the experience of his 47 years of practicing law. Charlie works to make the law be of benefit for those injured through the fault of others. He will be direct and highly objective in analyzing your legal questions and honest in his assessment of your case. If you have a question regarding a personal injury, wrongful death claim, or need a trial lawyer on another matter, Charlie welcomes your inquiry.
bergerlaw.com 2906 First Ave. 812-425-8101 Evansville Business | 31
LAWYER PROFILES SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Jackson Kelly PLLC Jackson Kelly — National Reputation. Industry Insight. Client Focus. The One Firm you need. What’s in a tagline? With respect to Jackson Kelly PLLC, quite a lot. It informs all aspects of the legal experience you can expect to receive.
National Reputation. Jackson Kelly is a rare find — it’s a multi-office regional law firm with a national reputation. 32 June/July | 2019
Why is this important? It means you get the best of both worlds — the knowledge, sophistication, experience, and resources of a larger firm coupled with the personal attention, efficiency, responsiveness, and charm of a smaller one. All from a firm that is consistently acknowledged to be one of the best. Industry Insight. With more than 165 attorneys located in 11 offices from D.C. to Denver, Jackson Kelly is a full-service firm focused on the specific needs of the businesses and individuals
LAWYER PROFILES SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Meet our Evansville based team, photographed on the Old Courthouse steps. Front Row: Chad Sullivan, Cassee Layne, Seth Zirkle, Josh Claybourn, Charles Compton, Angela Freel, Kevin Halter, and Nathan Dewan. Back row: Spencer Tanner, Christopher Lucas, Monty Porter, Timothy Klingler, Blair Gardner, Ross Yates, Marc Fine, and James Johnson.
we are proud to serve. Our lawyers are strategically placed in both legal area practice groups and business specific industry groups. Not only do we know the law, we understand your business. Client Focus. It’s no accident Jackson Kelly is about to embark on its third century as a law firm. The firm’s commitment to its clients is unparalleled. Jackson Kelly has received numerous external recognitions for providing superior client service, including being regularly named to BTI Consulting Group’s “Client Service A-Team.” National Reputation. Industry Insight. Client Focus. These are more than just words to the Jackson Kelly team — they’re words to practice by. The One Firm you need. That speaks for itself.
jacksonkelly.com 221 N.W. Fifth St. 812-422-9444 Evansville Business | 33
LAWYER PROFILES SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
M. Beth Burger, Robert M. Becker, Laura A. Scott, Jamie B. Dameron, Terry G. Farmer, Andrew C. Ozete, Lindsay B. Schmitt, and Daniel R. Robinson Jr.
Farmer Scott Ozete Robinson & Schmitt LLP Whether you’re an entrepreneur growing a business or an individual interested in planning for your future, the attorneys at Farmer Scott Ozete Robinson & Schmitt LLP will not only help protect what you create, but also help it thrive in the world. With almost 200 years of combined legal experience, we bring skill and professionalism to every matter and customize our support to your individual needs and concerns. “Our clients come from almost every industry: agriculture, banking, construction, and manufacturing, just to name a few. We have experience with major litigation, have one of the most well-respected and experienced estate planning teams in the area, and closed more than $760,000,000 in transactions in the last 12 months,” explains Terry Farmer. Laura Scott adds, “We’ve spent a lot of time in the courtroom and the board room, and it culminates in creative solutions to address your problems. We are especially proud to be headquartered in Evansville and of our community service to more than 50 local organizations.” 34 June/July | 2019
fsolegal.com 21 S.E. Third St., Ste. 900 812-602-3570
LAWYER PROFILES SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn Since the firm’s 1908 founding in Evansville, Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP, has earned a reputation for effectively providing results-oriented legal services to regional, national, and international clients in a wide array of industries. How has KDDK thrived for more than 110 years? It’s because of attorneys like our 12 lawyers included in the 2019 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©: Jeff Ahlers, Ted Barron, KAB Brasseale, Maria Bulkley, Allison Comstock, Shannon Frank, Jake Fulcher, Jon Goldman, Jeff Helfrich, Mark Samila, Mike Schopmeyer, and Brian Williams. Yes, they know the law (and very well at that). They also embrace the fact that an effective attorney-client relationship depends on experience that can’t be learned in a law book. Effective legal representation requires listening with empathy and asking the right questions. It entails strategy, creativity, research, insight, and attention-todetail. It involves having the perseverance and tenacity to advocate for you and your interests in even the most complex cases. And, an effective attorney-client relationship depends on a foundation of mutual trust and good rapport. When your business, your reputation, your family, or your future is on the line, see how one of the more than 30 attorneys at KDDK can help.
KDDK.com 501 Main St., Ste. 305 812-423-3183 Evansville Business | 35
LAWYER PROFILES SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Wooden McLaughlin
Wooden McLaughlin, LLP
At Wooden, clients and community matter. Our attorneys excel in the profession, earning honors from our peers in publications such as Best LawyersŠ, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and The Indiana Lawyer and from organizations such as the Evansville and Indiana State Bar Associations and Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana. But, we also choose to serve others. We support the efforts of many impactful organizations including Youth First, Kiwanis Club, Rotary, ANEW, Leadership Evansville, Evansville Bar Association, and Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, just to name a few. So, you’re just as likely to see us in the courtroom as you are to see us volunteering at your schools, churches, and fundraisers. We proudly call Wooden and Evansville home. 36 June/July | 2019
woodenlawyers.com 25 N.W. Riverside Drive, Ste. 310 812-401-6151
LAWYER PROFILES SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Steve Barber Barber & Bauer, LLP
Steve Barber has a distinctively broad-based civil litigation practice. He has represented large and small corporations, class action representatives, governmental entities, trustees, and beneficiaries. He is a frequent speaker and has published two textbooks. He has been named to Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers©, Outstanding Lawyers of America, and is a member of American Trial Lawyers Association. Steve’s firm, Barber & Bauer, is a general practice law firm with experience in complicated business matters, complex estates, serious injury cases, and most litigation matters. The firm handles real estate matters, employment law, estate planning, family law, corporate matters, social security claims, and more. barlegal.net 124 S.E. First St. 812-425-9211
Foster, O’Daniel, Hambidge & Lynch We are here to help. We the attorneys at Foster, O’Daniel, Hambidge & Lynch work together to achieve our common goal: we want to help people. Whether it’s a criminal, family law, business, or estate planning/administration matter, we are here to listen, offer advice, support, and help our clients reach their desired goals. We believe every person has a story to be told and deserves to have an advocate on their side to help them through the issues life can bring us. Our aim is to not only help our clients have a better today, but also have a better tomorrow and future. fohlaw.com 3820 Oak Hill Road 812- 424-8101
Evansville Business | 37
LAWYER PROFILES SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Scott Stone & Scott Stratman Stone & Stratman, LLP
Scott Stone was recognized this year in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of real estate law. He focuses his practice on assisting clients with commercial and residential real estate matters, as well as all aspects of business law, from formation to the sale of the business. Scott Stratman focuses his practice on estate planning, nursing home asset protection, and litigation. Stone & Stratman prides itself on its ability to provide personal attention to their clients’ needs and to utilize their many years of experience to provide trusted legal counsel in a small firm setting where every client is treated as a priority. 915 Main St. • 812-425-5345
Rick Martin Martin IP Law Group
Rick Martin opened Martin IP Law Group at Innovation Pointe in 2016 to serve the growing community of innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and startups in the area. The firm helps clients big and small acquire and protect their intellectual property — patents, trademarks (branding), copyrights, and trade secrets. Born and raised in the Evansville area, Rick returned home after serving as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and cutting his teeth with some of the premier intellectual property law firms in the U.S.
ipsolutionslaw.com 318 Main St., Ste. 503 812-492-4478
38 June/July | 2019
LAWYER PROFILES SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Jared Michel Thomas, Esq. Thomas Law
Jared Michel Thomas, Esq. operates a general practice law office servicing the greater southern Indiana area. After graduating from law school, he came home and opened his own law office concentrating in criminal defense, family law, and property cases. His practice centers around the maxim of treat people right, work hard to accomplish your goals, and the rest will follow suit. Over eight years of practice, he has provided counsel to hundreds of clients and continues to give back to the community through his involvement in the Hadi Shriners and as a member of the Evansville Redevelopment Authority. jmthomaslegal.com 111 S.E. Third St., Ste. 200 812-492-1900
F. Stephen Sheets
Lindsay Blessinger Charles
Steven T. Charles
Sheets Charles & Charles
Blackard & Brinkmeyer
We are elder law attorneys, practicing in the areas of estate planning, probate, nursing home Medicaid planning, special needs planning, and business and real estate transactions. We are proud to serve and provide for southern Indiana’s elder law needs.
With a reputation for skilled and dedicated criminal defense, attorneys Barry Blackard and Dennis Brinkmeyer provide each client with the personalized and attentive service of a small firm, paired with the knowledge and resources you would expect from a large firm. We will aggressively defend your rights and provide you with a strategic defense.
sccelderlaw.com • 2801 Lincoln Ave. • 812-476-2762
blackardbrinkmeyer.com • 512 Main St. • 812-423-3125
Elder Law Attorneys
Evansville Business | 39