Avilla Lawyers

Ben Bailey works with businesses and individuals in all stages of real estate transactions such as the purchase, sale, financing, and leasing of commercial, industrial, rental, and residential property. He provides counsel to landowners and prospective landowners on environmental diligence, environmental risk assessment, and risk mitigation. Ben also assists with economic development efforts by helping clients with securing local and state funding. Prior to joining the firm, he completed a one-year clerkship with Justice Derek R. Molter of the Indiana Supreme Court.

Brian focuses his practice in the areas of wills and trusts, the avoidance or reduction of estate, inheritance, and generation-skipping taxes. He also consults business owners regarding the choice of entity issues, valuation issues, buy-sell agreements, and business succession issues. A Fort Wayne native, Brian practiced for over twenty years assisting estate planning clients in the State of Florida prior to joining Barrett McNagny. Brian is licensed to practice law in the states of Indiana, Florida, and Arizona (inactive).

John Frandsen works with our transaction group which serves business clients of all sizes from sole proprietorships to Fortune 500 companies. The group provides assistance with entity selection for new businesses, the drafting of operating agreements, bylaws and shareholder agreements, and the sale and purchase of businesses, including the due diligence process and the enforceability of non-competition agreements in connection with the sale of a business.

Brandon focuses his practice in the area of real estate and land use law where he assists clients with the purchase and sale of real estate, commercial and residential leasing, development agreements, land use planning, and zoning. Prior to joining the firm, Brandon worked for the City of Fort Wayne where he practiced in the areas of utility, regulatory and municipal law. He has experience with the negotiation, review and/or preparation of contracts for real estate acquisitions, drafting and enforcing local ordinances and compliance with state regulatory requirements.

Lewis Ostermeyer is part of our business transactions team assisting with drafting and reviewing of contracts, regulatory compliance, and due diligence. He also supports business clients with general corporate matters, including advising on business structure and entity formation. Prior to joining the firm, Lewis spent two years as a Legislative Assistant for the Indiana House of Representatives, where he worked alongside three state legislators and staffed the Courts and Criminal Code Committee and other criminal justice committees and councils. He also has worked in the Allen County Voter Registration Office and in the office of the Allen County Board of Commissioners.

A partner at Barrett McNagny, Phil focuses his practice on business transactions, business succession planning, federal and state taxation, estate planning, probate matters, and estate administration. Phil also advises business owners regarding the choice of entity issues, valuation issues, buy-sell agreements, and business succession issues.

Matt Chapel is a Trial Lawyer based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is a National Institute for Trial Advocacy Master Advocate and studied under Gerry Spence. Practicing criminal defense in Fort Wayne, Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio, Matt brings 23 years of experience to every case. Matt is a former U.S. Marine. Why is this significant? Because Matt brings his fighting spirit to every case - including yours.

Caleb Peery is a member of the litigation team where he handles matters involving insurance defense, commercial litigation premises liability, products liability, collections, and contract disputes. He has experience with the court system, as he spent time following law school clerking for the Honorable Jennifer DeGroote and the Honorable Andrew Williams in Allen County Superior Court. During law school, he was a judicial intern for the Honorable Rossie Alston at the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria, VA and for the Honorable Daniel Ortiz in Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, VA.

Maria works with the family and domestic law team assisting clients with dissolutions, adoptions and guardianships. The team also is experienced at handling custody and child support issues, paternity issues and acting in the role of a guardian ad litem.

Connor Fleck concentrates his practice in the area of intellectual property where he assists clients with filing for patents, securing trademarks and helping to register and enforce copyrights. While obtaining his undergraduate degree Connor worked as a Design Engineer for a manufacture of cast aluminum automotive parts in Ohio and was a mechanical engineering intern at Steel Dynamics, Inc.

Jake Gattuso focuses his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and real estate law. He has experience working with businesses of various sizes, and represents clients in the initial formation stages, and provides day-to-day operational counsel such as providing assistance with respect to the negotiation and drafting of third-party contracts, internal governance matters. Similarly, he represents clients in the growth or fundraising stages, by providing guidance for private placements, Regulation D securities offerings, and similar matters involving state “blue-sky” laws and federal securities laws compliance. Further, Jake assists clients buying and selling businesses of various sizes. Additionally, Jake represents...

Zach has nearly twenty years of experience working with clients in the areas of elder law, estate planning, and probate & trust administration. He has experience working with individuals and families on asset protection, Medicaid eligibility, and long-term care planning. He also assists clients with wills and trusts, the appointment of health care representatives, powers of attorney, IRA and retirement planning, and general business matters.

Dave Joley is a Fort Wayne native, graduating from Bishop Dwenger High School in 1996. He is admitted to practice law in the Federal Districts of Northern and Southern Indiana, as well as the State of Indiana. His practice areas include Worker’s Compensation, Personal Injury, and Family Law, with a concentration in Criminal Defense.

Mr. Joley is a previous member of the National College for DUI Defense, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, NORML, past member of Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, American Inns of Court, Benjamin Harrison Chapter, as...

Phil Truitt joined Truitt Law Offices in 2018 after he earned his J.D. from Ohio Northern University Ohio Northern Pettit College of Law. However, his association with the law firm dates all the way back to childhood. His father, Richard, established the firm over 40 years ago.

Growing up, Phil would spend a great deal of time at the firm’s offices. He began working for the law firm in high school and handled client intake and management roles throughout law school.

Today, Phil combines the practice of law with a role as administrator of the firm’s three offices in Indiana. Those duties...

Serious criminal defense. Significant Jury Trial Experience.

I am a graduate of Valparaiso University School of Law, a member of the National Lawyers’ Guild, and a private practice attorney representing clients in Indiana State and Federal Courts concentrating in Personal Injury Practice, General Civil Litigation and Family Law.

Larry W. Rudawsky has over thirty years of experience in the area of employee benefits and has extensive knowledge in the areas of reviewing, developing and implementing defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, employer-sponsored IRA plans and managed IRAs. Larry has overseen regulatory compliance for qualified, nonqualified, and VEBA plans and he has drafted plan documents for Taft-Hartley, 401(a), 401(k), 403(b), 457 and 409A plans. He counsels clients on employee benefit issues in mergers and acquisitions, on equity incentive compensation, and on the design and operation of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Prior to joining the firm,...

Jennifer has a diverse practice ranging from high conflict custody matters and complex divorce actions to collections. She regularly represents clients in Child of Need of Services actions, both as private counsel and Guardian Ad Litem. Jennifer is a registered domestic relations mediator. She is tough but fair, and strives to be at least one step ahead of the other side.

Justin T. Molitoris concentrates his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, data privacy and cybersecurity. He works with clients of all sizes including sole proprietors, family-owned businesses and Fortune 500 companies assisting with a variety of corporate and business law matters, ranging from business formation and organization, corporate governance matters, contract drafting and review, and business transitions. He also has experience working on antitrust matters and assisting companies with Hart-Scott-Rodino analysis. Justin is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (United States) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. He advises businesses on the impact of privacy laws in...

Please visit our firm's website at bradbaberatty.com to find out more about us and what we do.

Mr. Churchward’s legal career began at the Allen County Prosecuting Attorney’s office where he tried cases in both the Misdemeanor and Felony divisions. While serving as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, he was exposed to a wide variety of cases ranging from violent crimes to misdemeanor and financial offenses, during which time he gained invaluable experience that he applies to his current practice. in 2000, Mr. Churchward took a position as an associate attorney at Leonard, Hammond, Thoma and Terrill and immediately began working for his clients with the same dedication that he displayed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney....

Thomas L. Stucky practices primarily in the area of family law and as a mediator on family law related matters. His practice also includes collection and creditors rights, as well as a general civil litigation practice, real estate transactions, preparation of wills and trusts, and handling of minor and adult guardianship matters.

Tom has also been trained in collaborative lawyering. He obtained his Bachelor of Science from Indiana University in 1978 and Juris Doctor from Ohio Northern University in 1981 and is admitted to practice law in the Indiana Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the Northern...

Robert Scremin is a former deputy prosecutor and a former SWAT/Narcotics Detective. Robert is also a graduate of the coveted National Criminal Defense College at Mercer Law School in Macon, Georgia. He has practiced law for over 22 years, including California, Florida and Indiana.

Jennifer Hitchcock is devoted to representing clients who have faced discrimination in the workplace. As a plaintiff's attorney she handles all types of employment discrimination cases, including cases based on race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, age, disability, and sexual harassment. As a former nurse, she has a unique ability to connect with and counsel her clients, and guide them through the complexities of a discrimination lawsuit.

Dan is a native of Fort Wayne. With almost 30 years of experience, he has developed a diverse practice. He has extensive experience in family law, estate planning and probate, real estate, personal injury, business formation contract drafting, civil litigation and creditor’s rights. Dan is a registered family law mediator and has received training in collaborative law.

Greggory W. Hockemeyer obtained his bachelor’s degree with honors at Wabash College (Crawfordsville, IN) in 1985. Hockemeyer attended IU School of Law at Indianapolis following college. While attending law school, he worked for Indiana Attorney General Lin Pearson. Upon completing law school in 1989, Hockemeyer took a position with the City of Indianapolis as an attorney with its Department of Metropolitan Development. In 1992, Hockemeyer moved back to Whitley County to enter private practice. In 1995, he joined Attorney Jon Myers to found the law partnership which later became Myers Hockemeyer & McNagny, LLP, where he...

Your Fort Wayne bankruptcy debt relief specialist and bankruptcy attorney with over 30 years experience.

Since 1984 Fred Wehrwein P.C., has provided dedicated, expert consumer and small business debt reorganization in the Greater Fort Wayne area, filing Chapter 7, Chapter,11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13. If you are having troubles involving debt, wage garnishment, lawsuits, creditors or foreclosure, call our law office today and get piece of mind.

Our law office limits its practice to Fort Wayne area bankruptcy matters and our staff has decades of experience to help guide our clients through the reorganization process.

For over 35 years, Richard Fox has represented businesses, lenders, developers and governmental entities with complex financings. He has assisted in the use of federal, state and local tax incentives for public-private partnerships using the New Markets, low-income housing and historic Tax Credits. He has experience with the Indiana State Tax Credits such as the Community Revitalization Enhancement District (CReED) and Industrial Recovery (Dino) Tax Credits and local economic development financing supported by tax incremental financing (TIF) revenues. Over the years he has served as issuer's counsel, bond counsel, borrower's counsel and underwriter's counsel in taxable and tax-exempt bond and...

Marian Welling was admitted to the Indiana, Missouri and Illinois Bars in 1994 after graduating from St. Louis University School of Law. She joined a busy consumer bankruptcy firm and specialized in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies in St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois. She returned to her Fort Wayne, Indiana roots in 2000 and continued her consumer bankruptcy specialty practice.
Marian is also a member of the Volunteer Lawyers Program of Northeast Indiana, providing pro bono legal services for indigent clients. She also serves as a board member and past president of Vincent Village,...