Clarks Hill Lawyers

Former Lake County Superior Court Judge Paul Stanko is one of Indiana's most experienced, distinguished & respected criminal trial lawyers, with over FOUR DECADES of courtroom experience in Indiana criminal law, dating back to 1979. As a prosecutor in Starke & Lake Counties, presiding judge in the Superior Court of Lake County, Constitutional Law & Criminal Justice professor at Indiana University & criminal defense attorney throughout northern Indiana, he has helped THOUSANDS of persons and tried MANY HUNDREDS of criminal cases. The Law Offices of Paul Stanko do not accept any cases other than criminal defense in Indiana Trial...

John M. Acosta Jr. was born and raised in Southern California. In July 1996, he enlisted in the United States Army. He served as a Military Police Officer for almost two years, with his remaining three years as a Military Police K-9 Officer, at various military installations and was honorably discharged. In 2001, he pursued a career in law enforcement. He spent almost twelve years with various Police and Sheriff’s Offices throughout the State of Georgia. During that time, he worked as a patrol officer and was eventually promoted to the rank of Sergeant. As a U.S. Army Military Police...

Kurt L. Kazmierczak was born in 1976 in Elkhart, Indiana. After college, he moved to Indianapolis and became a financial advisor. In 2006, he and his family embarked on an adventure and moved to the Denver, Colorado area. After deciding to leave the financial business and go into the law (and after not striking it rich with his gold panning hobby), the family decided in 2012 to move back to Indiana where he attended Valparaiso University Law. After graduating, he and some friends from law school opened a law firm handling a wide area of law....

Our firm concentrates in personal injury cases of all types, medical malpractice, and wrongful death litigation. We concentrate our practice in Northwest Indiana.

¡Yo hablo español! I was elected Lake County Sheriff in 2002 and I took my oath of office on January 1, 2003. I was the only elected Sheriff of Lake County with a Juris Doctorate and only one of seven nationwide. My experience in law enforcement first as an Indiana State Trooper, Public Defender, and Deputy Prosecutor prepared me well for the challenges and duties of a Sheriff. At the Indiana State Police Academy I was awarded the Donald Flint Award for being first in my class. My short stint as a steelworker at Inland Steel as an Apprentice Millwright equipped...

I am an experienced criminal trial attorney, with over 26 years practicing law, including felony trials for cases such as Reckless Homicide, Leaving the Scene Resulting in Death, Drug Dealing, Fraud, Burglary, and Robbery. The first 16 years of practicing law were spent as a deputy prosecuting attorney where I concentrated on OWI cases including OWI Causing Death cases, I assisted law enforcement with search warrants for such things as blood evidence, black box data, and vehicle and home searches. In my capacity as a deputy prosecuting attorney I would routinely go to crash scenes at all hours of the day...

Ryan P. Dillon is a lifelong Hoosier and a resident of Johnson County since 2006. He grew up in rural Shelby County, where his family is actively involved in the agricultural community. He and his family currently reside in northern Johnson County. From an early age, Ryan has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America, earning the Eagle Scout Award in 2001. Ryan recently was recognized for twenty years of tenure in the organization, and currently serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster, a council volunteer, and the Vice President of the Firecrafter Alumni Association. Prior to attending law...

Paul Stracci is a uniquely experienced trial attorney who has had remarkable success in the courtroom. He successfully defended his first murder case 10 months out of law school, with the jury returning a not guilty verdict on all counts. Paul is a straight shooter and clients may rely upon his honesty, integrity, and willingness to tell the facts as they are. Paul maintains a strong rapport with his clients as well as with other legal professionals in the area. He is a relationship builder, who has built strong relationships with local officials, lawyers, and government...

The purpose of injury law is to prevent accidents and injuries. When this purpose is not followed in our society, it is necessary that we move to a secondary purpose, which is to compensate the injured person for their losses. Another truth about injury law is that, “this is the one and only time you have to seek just compensation for your loss!” I make this statement to the jury in every case that goes to trial. If you have received an injury or lose due to the wrongful act of another, the hiring of an experienced and certified attorney...

Matt is a 1990 graduate of Columbia City High School. He received his Bachelors Degree from Indiana University in 1994 and graduated from the Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis in 1998 where he was a member of the Indiana International & Comparative Law Review. Prior to joining Bloom Gates & Whiteleather, LLP, Matt practiced in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Matt concentrates his practice in real estate, litigation, corporate law, and represents multiple governmental entities and sewer districts throughout Northeast Indiana. Matt has litigated cases in both federal and state courts in...

I have been practicing law for 28 years and am licensed in Indiana and Illinois. I am a people lawyer representing clients and helping them in their day to day legal needs throughout Indiana and Illinois. I also have clients across the country. I am a leading contributor each month to WWW. LAW GURU.COM where over 100,000 people have viewed my answers to various legal questions.

Presently I am assisting a number of victims who have suffered side effects from drug medications such as Avandia, Levaquin and Yaz. Sometimes that means suing the drug manufacturers, other times, the doctor...

Leah graduated Magna Cum Laude from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University-Bloomington. After graduating from law school, Leah became a member of the Michigan Bar where she clerked for a Judge in the Circuit Court. After returning home to Indiana, she became a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, the Allen County Bar Association where she formerly served as Chair of the Probate, Tax, and Trust Section and the State Bar of Michigan. Leah is on the board of Healthier Moms and Babies and is...

Tracy is a 1994 graduate of the Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington. She also received her undergraduate degree in Business-Marketing from Indiana University - Bloomington. Tracy has been admitted by the Supreme Court of Indiana to the Indiana Bar and to the U.S. Southern District Court. She participates as a member of the Indiana State Bar Association and the Allen County Bar Association. She is a former President of the Fort Wayne Estate Planning Council, Co-Chair of the Probate, Tax and Trust section of the Allen County Bar Association, and Board Member of Early Childhood Alliance. She is...

Alexander (Alex) Passo is a trial lawyer that represents clients on a variety of matters with a concentration on: internal business disputes, emergency business litigation, breaches of contract, fraud and professional negligence. Alex has successfully resolved several cases where his clients have recovered over $1,000,000.00.

Alex is a problem solver. Akin to the most notable historical Alexander, he enjoys solving the 21st century’s version of the Gordian knot - complex business disputes. These types of legal controversies often contain a multitude of problems and he employs an analytical approach to solving them - first identifying his clients’ objectives and...

Mr. Vinovich has been practicing law for over 30 years. He concentrates his practice primarily in medical malpractice, wrongful death and personal injury. He handles cases throughout the state of Indiana. He is inducted as a Fellow into the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers which is reserved for only 1% of lawyers who exhibit exceptional trial skills and advocacy for their clients. Mr. Vinovich has extensive experience in jury trials and mediations, having resolved thousands of cases for his clients. Mr. Vinovich has been very active in legal organizations, having served as President for Indiana State Bar Association and Lake...

Roseann's passion has always been working in the field of law. She began her career at the largest law firm in Northwest Indiana and within six months followed her desire to begin her own law firm. Roseann Ivanovich has been the lead defense attorney on countless jury trials. These were felony cases that consisted of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Dealing in a Controlled Substance, Neglect of a Dependent, Robbery, Possession of Cocaine, Felony Theft, and Murder. Also included were misdemeanor cases: Driving While Intoxicated, Battery, Battery on Law Enforcement, Domestic Battery, Theft and Traffic Citations. ...

Originally from a small town in eastern NC; I attended NCCU located in Durham, NC to be exposed to the diverse culture and gain a sense of unwavering pride of my African heritage. I received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. I began my career as a dispatcher for the NCCU PD. I remained faithful despite the 12 hour rotating swing shifts I until I was recruited as a sworn law enforcement officer with the NC Dept. of Public Safety as a Probation/Parole officer. After over 11 years of service, I realized that I was walking adjacent...

Maen’s focus areas revolve around an empathetic approach to understanding his clients and focusing on meeting their goals in the best possible manner. Since Maen is the oldest of seven children, he has learned the necessity of patience and understanding. This allows him to truly relate to each client and provide specified planning to each individual client situation. Because of this, Maen has had the pleasure of working with a wide range of clients from all different backgrounds and understands that everyone has different needs. Maen’s goal is to satisfy every client’s desire in the best and most efficient manner...

What is the most important attribute in a Criminal Defense Attorney? Aggressive Advocacy. An attorney who isn’t afraid to stand up for you and your rights, no matter how long it takes! Attorney Bauer is your Aggressive Advocate. Joe started his career in the prosecutor’s office and participated in four jury trials and countless bench trials in the counties of Porter, Tippecanoe, and Berrien, MI, securing convictions on misdemeanors and low-level felonies. Understanding the prosecutorial process only broadens Attorney Bauers’ knowledge of the Due Process and helps him in negotiating your case for the best possible route. After gaining experience from...

While passing the bar in both Indiana and Texas in the same year, I decided early on to stay true to my roots as a Hoosier and remain close to family in Johnson County, Indiana. For eight-and-a-half years, I practiced with one of the largest law firms in the county where I focused on bankruptcy, consumer rights, foreclosure defense, and general litigation. In 2015, I decided to make the leap and open the Law Office of Matthew M. Cree, where I continue to provide personal, caring service to those facing the most stressful times of their lives.

In my personal life,...

Walter F. Sandoval was born in Northwest Indiana and graduated from Portage High School in 1992. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 1996. He obtained his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2002 and successfull passed the Indiana and Illinois bar examinations. Now, he worked at Hilbrich Law Firm. Hilbrich Law Firm represents those who have been injured by negligent drivers in traffic accidents, by negligent property owners in slip-and-fall cases, by using dangerous or defective consumer items, and anyone injured by negligence in virtually any accident scenario. We handle personal injury cases on...

Michael P. McCready received his undergraduate degree cum laudefrom the University of Richmond in three years and continued at the University of Richmond obtaining his law degree in 1992. Following graduation, he served as a law clerk for a federal judge in Virginia. He came to Chicago the next year and began working at a law firm handling personal injury cases. After four years, he rose to partner. In 1999, he left the partnership to form his own firm, The Law Offices of Michael P. McCready & Associates. Since venturing out on his own, the firm has grown rapidly. Mr....

Handling Family Law Cases For Decades

Attorney Elizabeth Rizos Zougras is an experienced and skilled lawyer who relentlessly protects her clients' rights.

At the center of every family law issue is a family — not just a case or legal problem. At the our law firm, we focus our practice on providing sound legal advice and courtroom advocacy for clients throughout Northwest Indiana. With 28 years of experience, we are committed to providing the best possible representation and personalized attention you need to overcome the legal issues your family faces.

Family disputes and other legal problems can be difficult to talk about. We...

Attorney David M. Wendlinger grew up in Schererville and graduated from Lake Central High School in 1994. He graduated from Northwood University in 1999 with a B.B.A. in International Business Management. He attended Valparaiso University School of Law and graduated in 2002. While in law school, David participated in the Mediation Clinic. Members of this clinic helped parties in small claims cases reach non-trial dispositions through mediation. David was admitted to the Illinois State Bar and the U.S. District for the Northern District of Illinois in 2002. He was then admitted to the Indiana State Bar in...

Edward J. Calderaro was born and grew up on the north side of Chicago. Mr. Calderaro moved to Indiana, married and began an eleven year career in law enforcement. Mr. Calderaro worked for the City of Gary and the Town of Dyer, as a police officer. While working full time, he pursued his education, graduating "with distinction" from Purdue University. Mr. Calderaro obtained a Bachelor Degree in Management, with a double major in Accounting and Finance. Mr. Calderaro left law enforcement after being accepted to Loyola Law School in Chicago. He received his Juris Doctorate degree and Certificate in Tax...

Attorney Ivancevich graduated with a Legum Magister (LL.M) from the University of Dayton School of Law and obtained her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the Appalachian School of Law. Attorney Ivancevich is a licensed attorney in Indiana and Illinois and Indiana Notary Public. Additionally, she is a passionate adjunct professor and teaches Cannabis and the Law.

Brian was accepted to and attended the prestigious Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in 2016. The Trial Lawyers College was established by legendary trial lawyer Gerry Spence to train attorneys who represent the interests of people and not insurance companies, the government or large corporations.

Brian has handled federal and state court cases involving: commercial, rental, and employment contracts; trade secrets; torts including wrongful death, product liability, serious personal injury and malpractice; consumer fraud; federal criminal defense; class actions; employment discrimination; business disputes; construction disputes; fraudulent conveyances; judgment collection; and appeals of such matters including presentation of oral argument to appellate...

I am a Registered Civil Mediator and civil litigation trial attorney licensed in Illinois and Indiana with first chair jury trial experience as in-house counsel to three major insurance carriers. For over 29 years, I have served as the attorney or managing attorney for hundreds of insurance defense cases, which often involve personal injury, auto/trucking accidents, premises liability (dog bites, slips & falls, etc.),and construction. I am known for ethically and aggressively representing clients, as well as a proven and excellent communicator highly skilled in negotiating, conflict resolution, and client relationship development. You will find I am able to...