Law Firm Overview

One of Michiana's most distinguished law firms, Jones Obenchain, L.L.P., has been in continuous practice since 1906, with offices located in the heart of South Bend at 600 Key Bank Building, 202 South Michigan Street. Vistus Jones founded the firm over 90 years ago, and was joined by Roland Obenchain, Sr., after World War I. A proud heritage includes three generations of Obenchain, and two generations of Jones, Ford and Lewis. Over the years, members of the firm have served the community as civic leaders, judges, educators and board members of non-profit agencies, and several partners are widely recognized as experts in their fields.

Today, Jones Obenchain, L.L.P. is a full service law firm, with 15 lawyers practicing mainly in north central Indiana and southwestern Michigan. By resisting mergers with out-of town firms, Jones Obenchain has remained large and diverse enough to provide virtually any service offered by a bigger, more expensive firm, but small and independent enough to do so without sacrificing the comfort and familiarity people have a right to expect from their attorney.

Jones Obenchain's clients include individuals and local, national and international businesses and institutions, and the firm caters especially to the needs of privately held companies and entrepreneurs. Traditional values of experience, competence, high ethics and hard work are combined with the latest technology, allowing the firm to provide the highest quality legal services at competitive rates.

Jones Obenchain is an independent member of Meritas, the world’s largest network of business and commercial litigation law firms. Meritas has nearly 170 affiliates throughout the United States and in 60 foreign countries. The only Meritas law firm in St. Joseph County, and one of only four in Indiana, Jones Obenchain has the capability to arrange for quality representation for its clients virtually anywhere in the world.

The firm concentrates its practice in the following areas: Corporate and General Business, Commercial and General Litigation, Real Estate Transactions, Labor and Employment Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor's Rights, Mergers and Acquisitions, Personal Injury and Products Liability, Estates Planning and Probate, Land Use and Zoning, Construction Law, Condominiums, Banking, Insurance, Appeals from Trials in State and Federal Courts, Worker's Compensation, Environmental Law, Domestic Relations, Health Care and Mediation and Arbitration Services.

Individual members of the firm are actively involved in leadership roles in community organizations, as well as local and state bar associations, and national professional organizations. Members of the firm are participants and lecturers for the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum and the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Members of the firm have served as Adjunct Professors at the Notre Dame Law School, Indiana University at South Bend and Ivy Tech.

Partners: Timothy W. Woods; Robert M. Edwards, Jr.; John B. Ford; Mark J. Phillipoff; John W. Van Laere; Thomas F. Lewis, III; Jacqueline Sells Homann; J. Thomas Vetne; Colin J. Reilly; Scott A. Loitz; Janet G. Horvath and Brian M. Kubicki. Associates: Brian R. Gates and Joshua R. Payton. Of Counsel: John R. Obenchain Paralegals: Kevin Railing and Cynthia Meyer. Administration: Minnie P. Guntermann.

Areas of Practice

• Corporate and General Business
• Commercial and Insurance Litigation
• Real Estate Transactions
• Labor and Employment Law
• Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Personal Injury and Products Liability
• Estate Planning and Probate
• Land Use and Zoning
• Construction Law
• Condominiums
• Banking
• Insurance Appeals from Trials in State and Federal Courts
• Worker's Compensation
• Environmental Law
• Domestic Relations
• Health Care and Mediation and Arbitration Services

West Practice Categories

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bankruptcy Law, Business & Commercial Law, Business Organizations, Construction Law, Employment Law -- Employer, Estate Planning, Health & Health Care Law, Insurance Law, Litigation & Appeals