Gaston Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

Dedicated trial advocacy starts with finding an attorney with your best interests in mind. Ralph E. Sipes, an attorney based in Anderson, Indiana, has been doing just that for more than 34 years. After clerking for the Indiana Supreme Court for the late Chief Justice Richard M. Givan, he earned the position of managing partner at Busby, Austin, Cooper, & Farr, and has practiced as a solo practitioner since 2008.

Offices are located on the Atrium level of the Union Building, 1106 Meridian Street, Suite 107, in Anderson, Indiana

Mr. Karnes was born in Norfolk, Virginia and he graduated from Tabernacle Baptist School, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Mr. Karnes received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-law from Bob Jones University in 1996. He received his law degree from the Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis, magna cum laude in 2001. Mr. Karnes was a Note Development Editor on the Indiana Law Review and participated in National Moot Court Competition. He has also completed a 40 hour civil mediation training and received the Francis J. Feeney, Jr. Tax award.

Mr. Karnes’ professional memberships include the Muncie...

Education & Associations Katie graduated with honors in the top of her class from Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2007 where she received her Juris Doctorate and Certificate in Written & Oral Advocacy. She received a Traynor Honor Society award and participated and excelled in Moot Court and Negotiation competitions. Since law school she has been published in Motherly, Indy’s Child, Carmel Monthly and Zionsville Monthly. Katie is licensed to practice law in California, Florida, Nevada, Texas and Indiana. She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Central District of California, the United States District...

Prior to starting my own practice, I served as a deputy prosecutor in Indianapolis in Noblesville. I spent time as a Homicide Prosecutor and a Division Chief. I have tried numerous jury trials with a very high success rate. I practice on behalf of clients in the areas of criminal defense and personal injury as well as other areas of litigation. I am a experienced and well polished trial lawyer. I enjoy helping my clients through their legal issues and help them reach a positive outcome.

Michael Smith advises clients with starting up new businesses, buying and selling businesses, negotiating contracts, resolving internal disputes among the owners of businesses, and protecting the rights of businesses and business owners through litigation. He is particularly experienced in creating and advising limited liability companies (or LLCs). His practice also includes tax exempt, nonprofit organizations, including 501(c)(3)'s. He also represents clients in appeals, both civil and criminal. Mike was born and raised in Tennessee, but he has been a Hoosier for most of his life. He moved to Indiana in 1978 after receiving a B.E. in chemical engineering...

After graduating from law school with honors, Mr. Avnet began practicing insurance defense litigation in Hamilton County, Indiana for several years. Next, Mr. Avnet practiced transportation law at the largest transportation law firm in the country, defending trucking companies in large loss negligence and wrongful death suits around the country. Prior to forming Avnet Law, Mr. Avnet returned to Hamilton County to practice personal injury law, family law, and criminal law.

Currently, Mr. Avnet regularly practices trial court litigation in state and federal courts. His practice is devoted to serving clients on a wide variety of legal issues, but concentrates his...

If you disagree with a final court order, you have 30 days to challenge it by Notice of Appeal or Motion to Correct Errors. Consultations for these requests receive immediate response. My focus is on the efficient and cost-effective realization of YOUR vision of family life after litigation. I’ve been licensed in Indiana state and Federal courts since 1993, and also had licenses in Illinois and Pennsylvania (both voluntarily inactive). My areas of focus are family law, mediation and appeals. Let’s use the law and courts as tools to help .your family for once.

Stephen W. Thompson, Esq. is an Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyer. Attorney Stephen Thompson has been a Hoosier living and working in central Indiana his entire life. Stephen was born in Indianapolis and attended North Central High School, where he was a varsity letterman in football and wrestling. After graduating from high school, Stephen attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Stephen graduated from Wabash College magna cum laude with degrees in Religion and Political Science and with the award of distinction on senior comprehensive exams. After graduating from Wabash, Stephen attended the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University, in Bloomington, Indiana. While...

Anne is a 2008 graduate of DePauw University, where she was a Media Fellow, Honor Scholar, award-winning student journalist and on-air personality, and interned with media organizations such as Clear Channel Radio and MTV Networks. After graduating from DePauw, Anne worked for two years as an associate producer at an Indianapolis video production firm specializing in legal video. During law school, Anne volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem, was named to the Order of the Barristers, and argued in the final round of the Staton Moot Court Competition. She also participated in the Evans Constitutional Law National Moot Court...

Theresa is an architect and attorney. Theresa has twenty years of combined experience in the design and construction law industries. As an attorney, Theresa advises those who develop, design or construct. Theresa is also listed on the roster of construction law arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association. Prior to her legal career, Theresa obtained her architectural license in the State of Indiana. With the purpose of serving the legal needs of the construction community, Theresa attended law school in the evening while working full-time as an architect. Theresa is well versed in contract drafting and negotiations for contractors, designers, private owners...

I focus my practice primilarly on employment law and civil rights, representing employees in cases concerning Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, wage claims, and Due Process and First Amendment violations. I am a frequent contributing author and have presented continuing legal education seminars and presentations in employment law and discrimination. I have over 10 years of experience representing employees in Federal Court, as well as representing employees in front of federal administrative agencies like the EEOC and MSPB, and state agencies like SEAC. In addition to the federal courts in the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, I...

Kimberly Danforth is a 1985 graduate of Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. She is a member of the Indianapolis, Indiana State and American Bar Associations; Indiana Trial Lawyers Association; and American Association for Justice. She is a founding partner in the Indianapolis law firm of Jacobs Law LLC. She has practiced in the areas of Personal Injury and Litigation since 1996.

I graduated from Earlham College in 1990 with a bachelor of arts degree in English and French literature and from IU McKinney School of Law in 2000 with a doctor of jurisprudence degree. I has been practicing law in Richmond ever since with a commitment to community advocacy.

I was recently nominated Vice President of the Indiana State Bar Association with confirmation expected in October of 2020. Since 2005, I have been active with the ISBA, serving on its Board of Governors in various capacities.

I served as President of the Indiana Bar Foundation (2018-2020), with my Board tenure there beginning in...

A native of Kokomo, Indiana, Attorney Susan D. Rayl is a highly experienced criminal defense attorney. In her practice of more than 25 years, she has represented hundreds of clients in various stages of the criminal proceeding, from pre-trial investigation up to and including appeal, working with the most complex and difficult criminal cases. Ms. Rayl opened her own solo law practice in Indianapolis in 2000, focusing on criminal appeals, and later became a partner in the law firm Smith Rayl Law Office, LLC. All told, Susan has more than twenty-five years of experience in criminal defense. She has conducted numerous...

I handle a wide variety of legal issues for my clients including real estate issues, tax liens, business law, collections, accidents and personal injury. I focus on helping people who are having financial difficulties and are considering bankruptcy.I don’t just file paperwork for my clients but work with them to develop a plan to get their creditors off their back and for them to get back on their feet and get a fresh start. I will pursue your creditors who are breaking the law and I am successful in winning money damages for my clients. If you are...

I am a Hoosier, born and raised- most of my childhood was spent in Moonsville, Indiana on my Grandparent's and Great Grandparent's farm. I graduated from Anderson High School with an Academic Honors Diploma before attending Ball State University. I graduated from the Political Science Department's Legal Studies Program at Ball State University and was accepted to Thomas M. Cooley School of Law where I was awarded a Scholarship for Academic Performance. At Cooley I was a member of the U.S. Championship team for Client Counseling and Graduated Cum Laude with a specialization in Litigation in January of...

A seasoned employment law and civil litigation attorney in the Indianapolis area, Jason has practiced law since 2003. He has handled multiple federal jury trials in the Northern and Southern District of Indiana Courts and represented clients at the EEOC, MSPB, SEAC and ICRC, as well as Indiana State Courts, local government bodies and boards. He’s a DePauw University graduate, with a degree in Philosophy, who grew up in New Castle, Indiana. A third generation small business owner, he follows in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. After earning his law degree at Indiana University Maurer School of...

Carol is a family law attorney and registered family law mediator whose goal is to help people resolve their family law disputes with dignity and, when possible, without going to court. Carol was an associate, partner, and Of Counsel for 17 years at the law firm of Holt Fleck & Romine and now owns the law firm Romine Family Law Services, LLC. While Carol mediates for attorneys throughout the State of Indiana, she has recently started mediating for parties who are unrepresented by attorneys. She acknowledges that this process would not be appropriate for everyone but believes...

Since 1992. Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney. Serving all of Indiana from Offices in Indianapolis. State and Federal Court cases. DUI, Traffic Tickets, Family Law, Immigration & Personal Injuries. Former Deputy Prosecutor and Public Defender. Bilingual, Fluent in Spanish.

I am a 1984 graduate of the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington. I have focused on criminal defense and family law for the majority of my thirty years of experience. I have handled many jury trials and filed many appeals before the Court of Appeals and the Indiana Supreme Court. I have been a speaker on multiple occasions covering topics of motions practice, speedy trial rights, evidentiary issues, and due process analysis. I have worked for the firms of McClure and Kammen, Laudig George, Rutherford & Sipes and Ice Miller obtaining experience and knowledge in...

Since 1992, I have advised business clients and executives regarding business disputes and represented them in court and arbitration. I work collaboratively with clients to achieve cost-effective resolutions of disputes, whether in litigation, arbitration, mediation or otherwise. I regularly counsel and advise media organizations on media law issues, including rights of access and litigation avoidance, and represent media organizations in litigation involving the First Amendment, defamation, rights of privacy and publicity and copyright and trademark enforcement. I defend banks and financial institutions in litigation, as well as attorneys, insurance brokers and other professionals against claims of negligence...

Bradley Keffer represents clients in a wide array of legal matters. While Bradley’s primary focus is criminal law and criminal-related litigation, he oversees a 100% litigation-focused practice. As a result, Bradley has represented clients in both complex litigation and high-profile matters in both State and Federal courts. Moreover, Bradley has represented clients who have been targets of investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATFE), state and local law enforcement, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office Grand Jury Division, the Office of the Indiana Secretary of State, the Office of the Indiana...