Congratulations to 13 KDDK attorneys – Jeffrey W. Ahlers, Robert F. (Ted) Barron II, Kent A. (KAB) Brasseale II, Maria L. Bulkley, Allison K. Comstock, Monica E. Edwards, Shannon S. Frank, Jake R. Fulcher, Jon D. Goldman, Jeffrey K. Helfrich, Mark S. Samila, Michael (Mike) Schopmeyer, and Brian P. Williams – on being selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 for their work in 17 areas of law. In addition, Mike Schopmeyer has been named the 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction Law in the Evansville metro area.
First published in 1983, The Best Lawyers in America has become regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which almost 50,000 leading attorneys cast nearly five million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed. “Lawyer of the Year” awards are presented annually to a single outstanding lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area. (https://www.bestlawyers.com/About/FAQ/Inclusion)
KDDK attorneys selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2020 are:
Jeffrey W. AhlersRecognized for: Litigation – Environmental
Jeff is an experienced attorney who represents clients on environmental and real estate matters and complex business and commercial disputes; defends businesses and insurance companies in personal injury and product liability cases; defends businesses and management in employment and discrimination claims; represents units of government, and litigates personal injury claims on behalf of victims. An Indiana Registered Civil Mediator, Jeff earned his Bachelor’s Degree from DePauw University and his Juris Doctor from the Valparaiso University School of Law.
Recognized for: Health Care Law
Ted, who is licensed to practice law in Indiana and Kentucky, regularly assists hospitals, health systems and physicians on contractual matters, joint ventures, regulatory and compliance issues related to the Stark Act and Anti-Kickback Statutes, various operational matters, physician practice acquisitions and employment issues. Ted is fluent in Spanish and also speaks Portuguese. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from IU, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and his Juris Doctor cum laude from the IU Maurer School of Law, where he served as Assistant Editor of the Indiana Law Journal.
Kent A. (KAB) Brasseale IIRecognized for: Construction Law, Real Estate Law
2017 and 2019 Evansville “Lawyer of the Year” for: Real Estate Law
KAB’s chemical engineering degree and decades of legal experience equip him to represents clients in matters involving real estate development; brownfield redevelopment projects; construction contracts; oil, gas and coal lease transactions; mineral asset sales and acquisitions; mineral project capitalizations; trademark and copyright registrations and infringement claim resolution; and confidentiality agreement negotiation and claim prosecution. Licensed to practice in Indiana and Illinois, he has been a Real Estate Certification Program Instructor since 1996. KAB earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University and his Juris Doctor from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
Maria L. BulkleyRecognized for: Land Use and Zoning Law
Maria routinely assists clients with the local government processes connected with land use and real estate development, and negotiates encroachment agreements, easement agreements, economic development incentives, and other agreements essential to real estate development. She also represents clients in family law matters with an emphasis on dissolutions of marriage involving complex marital estates, and serves as a mediator for domestic relations and general civil matters. Maria earned Bachelor’s Degrees in Spanish and Finance/Economics/International Business from the University of Evansville and her Juris Doctor from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
Allison K. ComstockRecognized for: Real Estate Law
Allison regularly handles real estate matters including acquisitions, sales, leasing and development of commercial and residential properties, and §1031 tax-deferred like-kind exchanges; and represents the interests of small businesses and healthcare providers. Allison also assists individuals in developing their estate plans to effectively utilize available estate and gift tax exemptions and provide for the strategic transition of assets to children and incapacitated family members; and advises executors and trustees during probate and trust administration. Allison earned her Bachelor’s Degree magna cum laude from Azusa Pacific University, and her Juris Doctor cum laude from Southwestern Law School.
Monica E. EdwardsRecognized for: Real Estate Law
Monica has extensive experience in recovery of funds for environmental investigation and clean-up at petroleum-, chlorinated solvent-, and heavy metal-impacted sites. She represents clients on state and federal environmental matters and draws upon her scientific experience as a technical services chemist and prior environmental consultant in her practice of environmental law. Monica earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry and her Master’s Degree in Hazardous Waste and Materials Management from Southern Methodist University, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.
Shannon S. FrankRecognized for: Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Real Estate Law
Shannon has more than 25 years’ experience representing closely held companies in a variety of matters, including buy and sell transactions, business organization, contracts, sale and leasing of properties, and employment issues. She also assists many builders, subcontractors and suppliers in the construction industry; and assists clients with their estate and wealth transfer planning and during the probate and trust administration process. Shannon earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and her Juris Doctor from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
Jake R. FulcherRecognized for: Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
Jake represents public and private employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, handling arbitrations, representing clients at all levels of administrative proceedings (including matters before the EEOC, NLRB, and the DOL), and reviewing and drafting employment contracts, consulting agreements, handbooks, severance packages, etc. He devotes much of his practice to daily client counseling, developing best practices, and providing management and supervisor training on a variety of issues. Jake earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Southern Indiana and his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law.
Jon D. GoldmanRecognized for: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management
Jon advises employers on compliance with federal and state employment laws such as the National Labor Relations Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. He also advises public and private universities in a broad range of federal and state statutory and regulatory issues and in matters before the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. Jon has extensive experience in non-competition/non-solicitation and trade secret disputes and other issues that arise between employers and their employees. Jon earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University and his Juris Doctor from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Jeffrey K. HelfrichRecognized for: Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Commercial Finance Law, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Real Estate Law
Jeff advises and represents clients in the purchase and sale of businesses; commercial and residential real estate transactions; proper business entity selection; business organization structuring; and negotiation, drafting and review of business contracts and complex loan transactions and documentation. He is licensed to practice law in Indiana and Kentucky. Jeff earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University and his Juris Doctor from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law.
Mark S. SamilaRecognized for: Banking and Finance Law, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law
Mark is a business lawyer whose practice includes tax and estate planning, financial services (including bank and bond financing, creditors’ rights, workouts and bankruptcy) and business law. Formerly a tax and management consultant to privately-owned businesses for Ernst & Young, Mark is licensed to practice law in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri and is an Indiana certified civil mediator. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree cum laude from the University of Missouri and his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri.
Michael (Mike) Schopmeyer2020 Evansville “Lawyer of the Year” for: Construction Law
Recognized for: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Construction Law, Economic Development Law, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, Real Estate Law
Mike has significant experience in brownfield redevelopment and clean-ups, business supply contracting, industrial and headquarter construction projects, property tax incentives, real estate acquisition, leasing, condemnation and environmental legal actions. He is an American Arbitration Association Level II Arbitrator. Mike earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Evansville and his Juris Doctor from the IU McKinney School of Law.
Brian P. WilliamsRecognized for: Economic Development Law
Brian’s more than 30 years of legal experience includes serving as lead attorney for significant regional economic development projects, representing clients in commercial real estate litigation, litigating disputes related to contested wills and trusts, representing clients in defense of discrimination claims, and representing clients in litigation involving a broad range of matters; and has been a party to numerous published cases. Brian earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University and has Juris Doctor from Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law.
