Top Business Lawyers in ZIP 46601 | 5 available

Kristy M. Rans – Partner. Kristy Rans, a founding partner of Gardner & Rans P.C., was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, and is a life-long resident of Northern Indiana. She has spent her entire law career litigating cases throughout the State of Indiana on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants, including catastrophic injury, first and third party insurance claims, and insurance coverage disputes.. An accomplished trial attorney, Ms. Rans has litigated hundreds of cases, trying many of them to successful jury verdicts and judgments. She has also been involved in multiple appeals heard by both the Indiana Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and has presented oral argument to the Seventh Circuit. In addition to her trial and appellate experience, Ms. Rans also has significant experience in preparing for, and submitting cases to both mediation and arbitration. Considering herself a “trial attorney” in the truest sense possible, given her extensive experience in representing both injured parties and insurance companies, she believes that she brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to all of her clients, regardless of which side they may find themselves on in any one particular case.. Practice Areas. Personal Injury                             Insurance Defense. Wrongful Death                            Insurance Coverage. Products Liability                         Appellate Practice. Traumatic Brain Injuries              General Litigation. Locations of Practice. All of Indiana in both State and Federal Court. Bar Admissions. Ms. Rans is admitted to the Indiana Bar, United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Reported Cases. Brotherhood Mutual v. Michiana Contracting, 971 N.E.2d 127 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). Hathaway v. Cintas Corporate Services, 903 F. 669 (N.D. Ind. 2012). Trinity Homes v. Ohio Casualty Insurance Co. et al., 629 F.3d 653 (7th Cir. 2010). Mart v. Berkshire Hathaway et al., 854 F. 577 (N.D. Ind. 2012). Walters v. Austin, 968 N.E.2d 233 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). Sims v. Parrett Veterinary Clinic et al., 758 F. 737 (N.D. Ind. 2010). Professional Recognition. Honored in 2015 by Sassy Magazine as a “Women to Watch”. Education. Ms. Rans received her law degree from Valparaiso School of Law in 2004, where she was a member of the Moot Court Society. During law school, her activities, honors, and awards included the following:. ·         Semi-finalist in the Luther M. Swygert Interschool Competition in  both 2003 and 2004;. ·         Competitor at the American Bar Association’s National Appellate    Advocacy Competition, February 2003;. ·         Competitor at the August A. Rendigs, Jr., National Products Liability Moot Court Competition, Spring of 2004; and. ·         Honorary recognition for her outstanding Pro Bono Work, Spring 2004.. While at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where Ms. Rans obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Political Science and English in 2000, she was on the Dean’s List and consistently recognized for Semester Honors. She was also a member of the Golden Key Honor Society, Pi Eta Sigma, and Pi Sigma Alpha.. Professional Affiliations. * Member, State Bar of Indiana. * Saint Joseph County Bar Association. * Indiana Trial Lawyers Association. * Robert A. Grant Inn of Court (prior member)

James A. Masters  (M.B.A., J.D., University of Notre Dame, 1978) has been a member of the firm since 1980 and is President of the law corporation.  Mr. Masters' areas of practice include business, corporate, and commercial law, real estate transactions, probate and estate planning.  A substantial part of Mr. Masters' practice is devoted to business and commercial litigation, including defense of condemnation cases, and real estate transaction, including zoning and other land use planning issues.