Representative Matters

• Represented conglomerate of multi-state, multi-million-dollar businesses in defending against lawsuit brought by estate of a founding member attempting to take control of businesses; ultimately resolved dispute with divestiture of estate’s ownership in all businesses
• Represented trustees of multi-million-dollar estate involving varied real estate parcels to be divided among multiple heirs; defeated all allegations of breach of fiduciary duty and prevailed in trial court judgment for clients
• Represented different business clients in separate embezzlement cases, including judgments against offenders, coordination of criminal prosecution, seizure of assets, collection measures against offenders, and pursuit of malpractice action with client-favorable settlement against accounting firm whose annual reviews failed to meet GAAP standards
• Represented longstanding manufacturing client in issuing first industry-standard safety warning system for products by researching, analyzing, and drafting product warning labels compliant with ANSI standards in coordination with engineering employees
• Represented national companies in defending against collective action brought under FLSA for wage misclassification and underpayment; ultimately resolved dispute by capitalizing on rare opportunity to warrant nominal client involvement
• Regularly represent multiple business and individual clients in interpreting, negotiating, and drafting various contracts or successful termination of contracts, including executive/management employment agreements, compensation plans, separation/severance agreements, change-in-control, confidentiality/non-disclosure, non-competition agreements, operating agreements, partnership agreements, and bylaws, as well as third-party contracts involving franchised transactions, real estate, joint venture, commerce, intellectual property, patent license, franchise, retail, rental, supply, manufacturing, warranty, regulatory, and consumer-related matters
• Regularly represent clients to obtain or defeat injunctive relief being sought and to otherwise resolve lawsuits involving non-competition claims, including those involving medical/physician, executive/management, shareholder/founders, sales, industrial/manufacturing, and financial/banking
• Regularly assist multiple business clients with formation of entities, conversion of entities, governing documents, corporate governance, legal compliance issues, and preparation of private placement memoranda
• Regularly counsel numerous businesses who hire employees subject to non-compete or other restrictive covenants, and/or employees who need legal analysis of enforceability or compliance respecting prospective employment
• Regularly counsel and assist clients in obtaining certification for minority business enterprise (MBE), woman-owned business enterprise (WBE), disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE), and service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) with various regional, state, and local governmental or certifying agencies
• Regularly serve as outside general counsel for various privately-held businesses, providing legal advice or project management to meet their daily, varied legal and business needs

REPORTED CASES

• Webster v. Methodist Occupational Health Centers, Inc., 141 F.3d 1236 (7th Cir. 1998)
• Indiana Dept. of Ins. v. Vernon General Ins. Co., 784 N.E.2d 556 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003)
• Sherrell v. N. Cmty. Sch. Corp. of Tipton County, 801 N.E.2d 693 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004)
• Allgood v. Meridian Sec. Ins. Co., 836 N.E.2d 243 (Ind. 2005)
• Lawler Mfg. Co. v. Bradley Corp., 2009 WL 1159577 (S.D. Ind. 2009)
• Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. v. John Hancock Life Insurance Co., 582 F.3d.721 (7th Cir. 2009)
• In re Miller, 935 N.E.2d 729 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010)

Awards & Recognition

• Distinguished Senior Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Foundation, 2014
• Distinguished Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2011
• The Best Lawyers in America ®
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships: 2026
  • Litigation — Labor and Employment: 2026
• Indiana Super Lawyers®
  • Business Litigation: 2007 – 2009, and 2021 – present

Community Activity

• Pass The Torch For Women Foundation, Board Member, 2019 – 2023
  • Pass the Torch for Women Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose vision is to create a unique and powerful community galvanized by a shared belief in the value of women’s leadership. Its approach in supporting women throughout their career pathway with mentoring relationships, networking, and leadership training sets the Foundation apart from other organizations.
• Indiana Federal Community Defenders, Inc., Board Member, 2019 to present
  • The Indiana Federal Community Defenders, Inc., a non-profit corporation formed in 1993, is led by Chief Federal Defender Monica Foster. Its mission is to provide high-quality, client-centered representation to indigent defendants charged with a federal crime, as well as to provide resources and training to Federal Criminal Justice Act panel attorneys. The Board, comprised of 13 attorneys selected by the judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, is charged with overseeing, supporting, and charting the best possible course for the IFCD to provide the best service to clients and the court.
• Assistance League of Indianapolis, Advisory Council to the Board, 2007 – present
  • Assistance League of Indianapolis is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization committed to serving the needs of children and adults through ongoing philanthropic programs developed and managed by its members.
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Local Rules Advisory Committee Member, 1999-2020
• Upon request of various schools or non-profit programs, Kathleen serves as an inspirational speaker to empower challenged teenage students.