574.294.1499 contact@irvrudley.com
Areas of Practice

We are a multi-faceted law office that specializes in numerous practice areas.  Whatever the case may be we have an attorney that will be best suited to give you advice and help you make the best legal choice possible.

WE KNOW LAW

 

At Sanders Pianowski, LLP professional service to our clients is our first and compelling priority.

A commitment to excellence in legal representation is the hallmark of our business practice. We have the ability, experience and resources to successfully counsel clients in an extensive variety of transactional and situational legal matters. Attorneys in the firm have negotiated complex transactions with national and even international implications. While the core of our practice is small and medium sized firms, we also have a long and accomplished history of service to companies with locations throughout North America. The firm is small enough to be responsive on a personal basis, but big enough to handle any business needs.

Adoption

Our families and children bring us life’s greatest joy and our most endearing relationships. When you decide to make an addition to your family by adoption, the attorneys at Sanders • Pianowski have the experience, resources and knowledge to guide you through the process and to facilitate the completion of your family. We are prepared to obtain adoptions in Indiana and Michigan, and we have successfully assisted petitioners in an extensive number of procedures through the years, including stepparent and grandparent adoptions, as well as private placement adoptions.

 

Appellate Law

Sanders Pianowski, LLP has a proven and highly successful appellate practice, and the Firm is widely regarded as one of the preeminent appellate law firms in Michiana. Attorneys with Sanders • Pianowski, LLP have successfully navigated appeals in dozens of cases in numerous state and federal courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the Indiana Supreme Court and the Indiana Court of Appeals. Our appellate attorneys represent clients in appeals arising from all areas of civil law, including personal injury, product liability, insurance coverage issues, contract and business disputes and a myriad of other complex issues.

Creditors’ Rights

Sanders • Pianowski, LLP regularly represents lending creditors, trade creditors, businesses, and other major parties-in-interest in out-of-court restructurings, Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcy cases, commercial litigation, and other credit defaults. The attorneys in the practice group are experienced in representing secured and unsecured creditors, committees, equity holders, investors and acquirers. The scope of our practice includes mainly counties in Northern Indiana Federal and State courts; however, we have regularly represented clients in the Southern District of Indiana Federal courts as well as venues throughout the country either directly or through our trusted network of local counsel. We also have several Michigan licensed attorneys who can assist with Michigan litigation matters since we are located in a border region.

Corporate and Business Planning
Our attorneys take a hands-on approach and consult closely with clients to determine their business objectives. After securing all relevant information, we work with the client to develop business and strategic planning alternatives to optimize the client’s opportunities. We enjoy excellent relations with many local sources of financing and capital, and our wide-ranging experience with business development in our community enables our clients to achieve the maximum potential for success.
Estate Administration

Through the efficient use of paralegals, support staff and knowledgeable professionals, the firm is able to provide the most capable and cost effective representation of personal representatives, trustees and heirs. The attorneys and paraprofessionals in the estate planning team work closely with our clients to insure that their objectives are fully realized. We use all available means to minimize the client’s federal estate tax and state inheritance tax liabilities and to affect the transfer of wealth to the appropriate beneficiaries with minimal delay and complication.

Estate Planning

Mike Pianowski has built a solid reputation of expertise in estate planning, and his leadership has enhanced the ability of the attorneys in the estate planning group to assist clients in realizing their goals of family and business succession. Employing a multi-disciplinary approach and the latest legal techniques, our attorneys work hard to make sure that our clients satisfy their objectives of wealth transfer in the most efficient and productive manner, while minimizing tax liability and preserving assets for the benefits of the client’s beneficiaries. Throughout the firm’s existence, we have focused on assisting individuals to make the appropriate choices necessary to meet the financial and security needs of their families.

Family Law

We counsel families in all aspects of matrimonial law, including pre-nuptial agreements, dissolution (divorce), legal separation, property division, child custody and visitation, spousal maintenance, paternity, and related areas. At Sanders • Pianowski, LLP, the emphasis is on finding creative solutions to legal problems, and that emphasis is especially relevant in the area of family law. Our reputation lies in our ability to bring parties together to resolve disputes without unnecessary legal intervention. This is achieved through a proactive approach to our clients’ needs by seeking to protect their families from needless and potentially destructive adversarial proceedings. However, when litigation is unavoidable, our clients appreciate the firm’s reputation for vigorous and tenacious advocacy.

Guardianship

When it becomes necessary for families to consider the appointment of a guardian for the protection of the person or assets of a minor or incapacitated adult, our attorneys stand ready to provide prompt, efficient and cost-effective service. The attorneys at Sanders • Pianowski, LLP are knowledgeable of Indiana and Michigan law relating to guardianships, and we have extensive experience in shepherding guardians through the legal rules and procedures required to comply with the law. We work closely with family members to insure that assets are identified, preserved and reported in accordance with statutory mandates, and we collaborate with banks, accountants and financial institutions as necessary to provide the maximum benefit to the protected person.

Immigration

Sanders • Pianowski, LLP is dedicated to assisting individuals, families and businesses throughout Elkhart County and the surrounding counties with a broad range of immigration solutions.  We pride ourselves on our accessibility and responsiveness because we understand how complex and stressful the immigration process can be.  We understand the importance of keeping families together, of attracting and retaining a skilled workforce and of complying with I-9 recordkeeping and immigration compliance matters.

Insurance

The firm has deep roots in insurance practice. One of the founding members of the firm, Philip E. Byron, Jr., was widely regarded as the premier insurance defense practitioner in northern Indiana. The tradition has continued with Bob Sanders, who practiced in the insurance defense field for more than thirty-five years before retiring a short time ago, and with the firm’s other attorneys who continue to practice in insurance defense matters.

Labor and Employment

The firm has a long and distinguished history of representation of employers in every phase of labor law.  In particular, attorneys of the firm have successfully represented clients in wrongful discharge cases in court and before labor arbitrators, unfair labor practice and election cases before the National Labor Relations Board, and employment discrimination cases in state and federal courts and agencies. The labor and employment attorneys of the firm have represented clients in administrative agencies for a wide array of claims, including claims for unemployment benefits, social security proceedings and wage and hour claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Litigation

Sanders • Pianowski, LLP has forged a reputation as a major a force in trial and litigation practice throughout Northern Indiana and Michigan for decades.  Matt Yeakey heads the attorneys of the firm who have tried cases to juries and judges in State and Federal courts throughout the area. At Sanders • Pianowski, LLP, the emphasis is on finding creative solutions to legal problems. Our reputation lies in our ability to bring parties together to resolve disputes without unnecessary legal intervention. This is achieved through a proactive approach to our clients’ needs by seeking to protect them from potential exposure by thoughtful strategic planning. However, when litigation is unavoidable, our clients appreciate the firm’s reputation for vigorous and tenacious advocacy. The hallmark of the firm is its proven experience in handling clients’ legal matters in a successful and cost-effective manner.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers and Acquisitions law has become a major component of the firm’s practice, under the leadership of Mike Pianowski, who has handled more than five hundred transactions. Sanders • Pianowski, LLP attorneys have represented buyers and sellers of businesses in asset, stock, and hybrid transactions, and we have earned a reputation as the law firm of choice in Michiana when complex business transactions call for innovative solutions. Our clients also benefit from the ability of each practice group to draw upon the skills and talents of attorneys in the other groups for assistance with a particular problem or opportunity. We believe that an integrated team approach not only produces sound legal advice, but also helps achieve the optimum practical result for a client’s business. Our attorneys pride ourselves on our accessibility and responsiveness. Our knowledge, experience, and commitment to success provide our clients with their best opportunity to achieve the ultimate objective in merger and acquisition matters.

Personal Injury

Sanders • Pianowski, LLP enjoys a reputation as one of the foremost personal injury litigation firms in the area. Our trial attorneys have successfully represented injured parties in all manner of claims, from the simplest vehicle collision through the most complex product liability and medical malpractice cases. We have access to a full panoply of experts and consultants, the litigation attorneys at Sanders • Pianowski, LLP stand ready and able to take on the most formidable cases and to secure full and fair compensation to deserving clients.

Real Estate

Robert C. Daniels, one of the founding members of the firm, dedicated his professional practice to real estate law, and he was acknowledged as the premier expert in his field by local banks, realtors and title agencies. That legacy of excellence has been continued by the other members of the Real Estate team, who, working closely with other professionals, represent clients in matters ranging from simple leases through complex and innovative real estate transfers. At Sanders • Pianowski, LLP, the emphasis is on finding creative solutions to legal problems. Our reputation lies in our ability to bring parties together to accomplish goals without unnecessary legal intervention. Our clients also benefit from the ability of each practice group to draw upon the skills and talents of attorneys in the other groups for assistance with a particular problem or opportunity. We believe that an integrated team approach not only produces sound legal advice, but also helps achieve the optimum practical result for a client’s business and real estate needs. We pride ourselves on our accessibility and responsiveness. Our knowledge, experience, and commitment to success provide our clients with their best opportunity to achieve their business and personal objectives in the arena of real estate law.