Kouts Lawyers

Lauren Minke concentrates her practice in the area of litigation, with an emphasis in insurance defense and medical malpractice defense. She also represents clients in general liability defense and provides litigation services related to disputes concerning premises liability, real estate, and contracts. She has first chair bench trial and second-chair jury trial experience.

With nearly two decades of experience, Emily approaches issues in a practical and compassionate manner for clients. In her domestic and family law practice, Emily Szaferski concentrates on dissolutions, adoptions, paternity matters, custody disputes, child support issues, and guardianships. She handles various types of adoptions including private, agency and foster adoptions, adoptions that involve the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, and the finalization of international adoptions.

Josh has extensive experience in servicing businesses and individuals in all areas of real estate law, including land use, financing, real estate taxation, and government incentives. He regularly represents businesses in matters concerning the purchase, sale, financing, leasing and development of commercial and industrial real estate and the identification and negotiation of state, regional and local government-based economic development incentives in connection with such projects. Josh has appeared before county boards of zoning appeals and plan commissions in connection with land use and development matters, including rezoning requests, development plans, and variances. He also works with various local, regional, and...

Chad E. Delventhal grew up in Auburn, Indiana, graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in Business in 1996, and earned his J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law in 2008. He founded The Delventhal Law Office in 2009 after working for Boughter Law Office. Chad practices exclusively in personal injury, criminal, and civil rights cases and is often consulted by other attorneys on complex injury and wrongful death cases.

One of the most enjoyable parts of being a lawyer is combining my genuine interest in others with my passion for helping people and fixing situations.

Most people seem to have headaches in a few key areas. That’s why I focus on the fields of family law (divorce, visitation, guardianships, etc.), business law (business formation, law suits, breach of contract, etc.), real estate law and personal injury (car accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, and other acts of negligence).

My Experience
I started my career as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I “paid my dues” in busy courtrooms and...

We provide bankruptcy and personal injury legal services to the greater Indianapolis and Central Indiana area.

J. Michael Deweese began as a law clerk in 2015 before joining the firm in 2016 as an Associate, concentrating his practice in the areas of utility and business law, including commercial and business litigation. Mr. Deweese graduated magna cum laude from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in May 2016. During his time in law school, Mr. Deweese served as a note development editor on the Indiana Law Review and advised lower-level students through the Dean’s Tutorial Society.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Deweese graduated summa cum laude from Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus with a Bachelor...

Gregory A. Cranston represents clients (adults and children) who have been charged with a crime or who are under investigation. Greg has represented clients throughout many counties within Indiana in cases involving serious felonies, misdemeanors and driving related matters. He has also represented clients in family law cases, landlord and tenant issues, civil lawsuits, and personal injury.

Cranston Law Can:

Help you understand the charges against you

Learn the potential range of outcomes for people in situations like yours

Provide general expectations for outcomes based on experience

Help navigate you through the system

Mount a strong defense on your behalf

Make sure your rights are protected every...

Christopher L. LaPan practices exclusively as a family lawyer, civil litigator, and mediator. He received his Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University in 2009, and is admitted to practice law in the Indiana Supreme Court and the United States District Courts, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. He also holds a Masters Degree from Purdue University. Chris is formally trained in collaborative lawyering, and is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. His ability to successfully navigate even the most contentious and complicated divorces to creatively advocate for his clients inspires a fluid transition from being together...

Carla graduated summa cum laude and with Honor’s from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, with majors in both English and Latin. She then obtained her Law Degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, graduating magna cum laude. During law school, Carla served as an Articles Editor and Associate Member with the Indiana Law Journal and was a member of the Women’s Law Caucus, Public Interest Law Foundation, and Children’s Law Discussion Group. Carla began her legal career with the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana as a Law Clerk for the Honorable David F....

William J. Webster practices as an attorney in Westfield, Indiana, serving clients throughout the State of Indiana. For nearly a decade, William has assisted individuals and businesses in protecting the things that matter most. He offers clients practical solutions for their estate, business, and family needs.
William is a lifelong resident of Hamilton County and resides in Westfield with his wife, Robbie, and four children, Dayton, Corbin, Bryce and Austin.
William obtained a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Marian University, a Masters in Business Administration from Valparaiso University, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

Gurleen Kahlon concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial litigation and general liability defense. Specifically, she provides litigation services related to disputes concerning contracts, real estate, insurance defense matters, and premises liability. Prior to joining the firm, Gurleen practiced in Washington D.C. at a litigation firm where she focused her practice primarily in the areas of insurance coverage and bankruptcy disputes involving commercial liability, products liability, and complex torts. She assisted in representing major insurance companies in complex litigation in federal and state courts across the country.

Gregory L. Fumarolo graduated from Indiana University School of Business in 1975 and Indiana University School of Law (Indianapolis) in 1978. His legal career began in 1978 as an Allen Superior Court Law Clerk. Fumarolo was Chief Deputy Prosecutor of Allen County from 1983 to 1986, but the vast majority of his career has been in the criminal defense arena either via private practice or as a public defender, primarily in Allen County.

His practice has included death penalty litigation, appellate practice, trial practice and as court appointed lawyer in CHINS and TPR cases. Mr. Fumarolo’s career as a public defender...

Shannon gives his total commitment and vigorous representation to all clients. The most rewarding part of his practice is working with clients and helping guide them through difficult situations. He graduated cum laude from DePauw University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, and later from Saint Louis University School of Law. He has given presentations for the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum (ICLEF) and various other groups. He is a graduate of the ICLEF Trial Advocacy College. He is the District 5 Representative for the Indiana Bar Litigation Section Council, and a past President of...

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.

Attorney Rosy Meza, a member of the prestigious American Immigration Lawyers Association, is committed to assisting her clients in their quest of achieving the American Dream. With over 15 years of experience in the field, immigration law is both her mission and her passion.

Because immigration law is a dynamic and ever- changing field, it provides challenges and opportunities for problem-solving in a dedicated and creative manner. Fully bilingual in Spanish and English, Attorney Meza is able to bridge the cultural gap often present among the foreign-born and is able to make the client an intrinsic part of the team.

In addition...

Jennifer Naue attended IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law. After living in Indianapolis for a few years, Jennifer Naue practiced in White County and Benton County before making the move to Kosciusko County to be closer to her family. Jennifer invested in the community and strives for excellence in her legal representation. Jennifer Naue practices primarily in Kosciusko County and Marshall County, but for certain legal issues she can provide legal services across Indiana. Upon admission to practice law, Jennifer Naue began her legal career as a staff attorney for the Department of Child Services. After working for the State...

I was born and raised in the greater Lafayette area. I pursued my undergraduate studies in Political Science and Law & Society at Purdue University, where I graduated with Highest Distinction. During my time at Purdue, I was honored with Phi Beta Kappa recognition and was nominated as an Outstanding Senior in Political Science. I furthered my legal education at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. There, I was an Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity (ICLEO) Fellow and served as a Judge Coordinator for the Sherman Minton Moot Court Competition. Additionally, I had the opportunity to clerk for the Honorable...

Injured? Arrested? Get Justice. For over 22 years Susannah Hall-Justice has been helping the people of Lafayette IN with their personal injury, car accidents, criminal defense, wrongful death, slip and fall and expungement cases. Call Hall-Justice law firm for a free case evaluation. We will fight to give you the personal justice you deserve and help you get your life back in order.

Dr. John Marlow Starbuck is the founder and owner of the Starbuck Law Firm. Starbuck holds numerous degrees including a B.A. from Indiana University Indianapolis, an M.A. from Penn State, a Ph.D. from Penn State, and a J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Prior to beginning his legal career as an attorney, Starbuck was a researcher at the Indiana University School of Dentistry, a lecturer at Indiana University Northwest, and a professor at the University of Central Florida. Before starting the Starbuck Law Firm, Starbuck worked as a prosecutor and focused on child support, juvenile delinquency,...

Providing no-nonsense legal representation at a reasonable price for more than 25 years.

During high school, Benjamin (“Ben”) Bentrup won numerous #1-in-state awards for his Spanish classes. After completing both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Spanish, he embarked upon a ten-year teaching career. Concerned about the state of religious freedom in our country, he decided to enter law school and subsequently graduated in the top quartile from Ave Maria School of Law. In law school, Ben achieved the Dean’s List twice, and scored above an A- average combined (graded on a class curve) on his research papers. He won the CALI Award for Excellence in Bioethics (top grade in class),...

Gary is the Chair of the firm's Labor and Employment Practice Group. He advises clients in all areas of employment and labor law. Gary's strengths are his responsiveness and his ability to communicate complex subjects in a straightforward and understandable way.

Gary represents a wide range of clients, including steel manufacturers, automotive suppliers, health-care providers, municipalities, print shops, agribusiness, construction companies, and food producers. He has represented and advised clients in over twenty U.S. states and Canada. Although Gary’s primary expertise is employment and labor law, many clients seek Gary’s advice on a wide range of legal issues because...

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.

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...

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.