- GuardianshipStuart & Branigin’s estate and trust lawyers are highly skilled litigators in the arena of trusts, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. We regularly represent clients in large and complicated disputes. We do not outsource these matters. We regularly handle disputes involving assets across Indiana and the United States.
- Wrongful DeathHis litigation work on behalf of freight and passenger railroads centers on defending against injury and wrongful death claims related to grade crossing accidents, workplace incidents, trespasser occurrences, and other disputes. He acts as Indiana state counsel for a Class I railroad in these types of cases, and handles similar litigation for other carriers operating in Indiana and in Illinois. A long-standing partner to his clients, David takes pride in working effectively with in-house attorneys, claims representatives, and operations personnel to deliver strong outcomes.
- Embezzlement
- Corporate LawWith a background in business and corporate law that spans over a century, Stuart & Branigin is a trusted partner to businesses and organizations across Lafayette, Indiana and beyond. Our Business Services lawyers are knowledgeable, willing and able to counsel your organization’s complex legal needs in their entirety.
- Mergers and AcquisitionsLarge regional businesses, smaller family-owned companies, and start-up entities have all turned to David for guidance as they navigate growth and change. His work includes advice on entity formation, contracts, financing, employment matters, dispute resolution, and succession planning, in addition to strategic transactions. In the area of transactions, David represents clients in sales of real estate, stock, and membership interests, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
- Business DisputesAt Stuart & Branigin, our attorneys are proficient at guiding businesses through all stages, including establishment, growth, development, and sale. By getting to know our clients, their businesses, and their goals, our lawyers are able to effectively advise clients on a comprehensive range of business law needs.
- Business TransactionsAs legal counsel for Purdue University and the Purdue Research Foundation, Tom has had a lead role in the negotiation of numerous enterprise-critical business transactions, including the groundbreaking Purdue University-Kaplan University transaction, the ERP implementation agreements with SAP and BearingPoint for the OnePurdue project, and the novel Amazon student agreement. He has further advised Purdue in strategic transactions related to the university’s intellectual property portfolio, including the sale of substantial pharmaceutical assets. Tom also represents Purdue in business, trademark, and copyright matters more generally.
- Construction Contracts
- Trade Secrets
- Intellectual Property
- Unfair Competition
- Antitrust
- Wrongful TerminationLarge corporate and institutional clients – including Purdue University – have relied on Steve for representation in employment disputes and government liability matters. He has successfully defended against discrimination and wrongful termination claims, and has resolved disputes related to alleged violations of other federal law, including the Family and Medical Leave Act and Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Employment DiscriminationSummary judgment dismissing allegations of sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title VII and Equal Pay Act (EPA), and age discrimination in violation of Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and related state law claims.
- Employment ContractDavid also facilitates transactions and provides guidance on selected intellectual property and employment matters. He has been involved with mergers and acquisitions as well as private placements for closely held businesses, inventors, and entrepreneurs. A wide range of clients have turned to David to manage trademark registrations and to draft estate planning documents, operating and shareholder agreements, and supplier and employment contracts. He also works with commercial lenders to provide loan documents.
- Employment LitigationAndrew enjoyed his summer as a law clerk at Stuart & Branigin in 2020 before joining the firm as an associate in 2021. Andrew’s practice areas include property law, estate matters, labor/employment disputes, and railroad disputes.
- Non-compete Agreement
- Severance AgreementEmployers are subject to a complex range of constantly evolving laws and regulations that govern the workplace. Creating and implementing well-crafted employment policies can help reduce exposure to costly litigation. Stuart & Branigin has provided guidance in virtually every area of employer services for over a century. Our clients vary widely and so do their legal needs. Our guidance is tailored to the unique interests of each client. Our employer counseling services cover a broad range of employment matters, including hiring and firing, disciplinary practices, severance negotiations, executive compensation, workplace protocol, and privacy policies and procedures. We also advise larger clients on acquisitions, mergers, contract negotiations and other high-level endeavors. With the help of Stuart & Branigin, businesses can understand how the law affects their bottom line.
- Sexual Harassment
- Real Estate LitigationThe core of his practice is representing flagship clients in complex business and real estate matters, including Purdue University, the Purdue Research Foundation, Franciscan Alliance, Kirby Risk Corporation, and The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette-Indiana.
- Premises LiabilityHis personal injury defense work includes product and premises liability claims for retailers, manufacturers, and higher education. For more than 15 years, he served as national trial counsel in product liability cases for a large privately held pool product company based in the Southeast. He also defends insureds in motor vehicle and workplace accident claims.
- Construction LitigationWhen disputes arise, we help resolve issues both inside and outside the court room. Whether representing the owner, contractor, developer, or material suppliers, we help project participants understand their contracts and comply with them. Stuart & Branigin attorneys can provide counseling at all stages of complex construction disputes involving dispute review boards, mediation, and arbitration.
- Real Estate TransactionsHis work with the Purdue Research Foundation involved complex real estate transactions, including the development of three certified technology parks in the state of Indiana. He also helped the foundation with numerous campus expansions, large-scale renovations, financings, and public-private redevelopment initiatives. Beyond real estate, Tony advised foundation leaders on endowment investment decisions and policy changes.
- Eminent DomainAt Stuart & Branigin, our knowledge, skills, and resources enable us to serve a wide range of clients and to tackle projects of any size. Our experience extends to all things real estate – from the development of industrial parks, multi-family apartment complexes, commercial shopping centers, and residential real estate to the negotiation of construction contracts, demolition and liquidation, easement rights, commercial leases, environmental issues, condemnation and eminent domain, and the multi-generational transfer of family farms. In all of these areas, our clients benefit from Stuart & Branigin’s acclaimed legal guidance in negotiating agreements, navigating and structuring transactions, transferring title and ownership, reviewing lending, negotiating leases, and resolving disputes.
- Easement
- Land Use and ZoningA self-described “dirt lawyer,” Marianne’s true passion is counseling clients on complex real estate transactions. Give Marianne what looks to be a complex real estate transaction, and she will devote herself to identifying the critical elements of each project and working efficiently to negotiate terms, conduct due diligence, facilitate financing arrangements, secure zoning and land use approvals, and assist in management and leasing operations.
- Property DamageBarry also defends trucking companies in tort matters related to injury and property damage. Although he typically resolves disputes before they go to trial, he has successfully tried transportation cases to verdict as a first-chair lawyer, and has prevailed on summary judgment in state and federal courts numerous times.
- Personal InjuryA personal injury can cause enormous stress, uncertainty, and physical and emotional pain. It can be overwhelming, but we can help.
- Medical MalpracticeAt Stuart & Branigin, we aim to build relationships with our clients by providing a diversified, trusted service that is backed by experience and reputation.Stuart & Branigin lawyers can assist with medical malpractice, design and construction malpractice, accounting malpractice, legal malpractice, errors and omissions, and director and officer liability.
- Auto Accidents
- Estate PlanningStuart & Branigin has been serving Indiana clients for over 137 years. We’ve earned a reputation for effectiveness and proficiency, specifically in areas of wills, trust and estate planning.
- WillsIn the estate planning area, Kevin enjoys working with individuals to create wills, trusts and overall plans to protect and transfer assets from generation to generation. From young families just starting out to business owners with substantial property and business assets, he is dedicated to creating plans suited to each client’s unique circumstances and to careful oversight of estate administration. With substantial experience in dispute resolution, Kevin is also relied on to represent individual clients in will contests and other contentious estate matters.
- TrustsThe truth about wills, trusts and estates is that they can be complicated. In most matters of planning and administering – whether it’s a first generation will or a multi-million-dollar estate – there are a multitude of influencing factors.
- Power of Attorney
- ProbateFew law firms are as well-versed as Stuart & Branigin. We are a multi-talented team, highly trained and adept in the nuances of trust law, estate and charitable planning, taxation, real estate, business planning, probate law, and estate and trust administration. Our extensive financial understanding gives us the ability to serve a multi-purpose role. In addition to serving as your legal counsel, Stuart & Branigin partners are capable and qualified to act on your behalf as trustees, executors and financial agents.
- BankruptcyFirm clients also turn to Jason for representation in creditors’ rights and bankruptcy-related matters. His experience representing lenders, businesses and individuals in Chapter 7, 11, and 13 and bankruptcy litigation matters – and background in management and finance – enable him to identify efficient strategies to recover and preserve assets. Beyond creditors’ rights issues, he also works with banks and credit unions on commercial loan documentation matters.
- Foreclosure
- Tax LawOur approach is personable and hands-on. From the beginning, we’ll review options, determine appropriate actions, and make every effort to simplify the intricacies of tax law along the way.