Paul A. Leonard, Jr. Reappointed To Indiana Legal Services Inc. Board of Directors

Paul A. Leonard, Jr.At the May 9,2012 Board of Managers meeting, the Lake County Bar Association reappointed Paul A. Leonard, Jr. as one of its representatives on the Board of Directors of Indiana Legal Services, Inc. 

Mr. Leonard has served on the Board of ILS, Inc. since its inception, including a term as President of the Board of Directors from 2007 to 2010.

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Zoeller Recognizes Burke Costanza & Carberry For Charitable Donations

AG Zoeller Presents Award to the March Against Hunger Medium Firm Division Winner, Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller awarded Burke Costanza & Carberry law firm for its efforts to serve local families in need.

The office participated in the fourth annual statewide March Against Hunger food drive and received the Attorney General’s Cup for winning the medium firm division. The firm gave 758 pounds of food and $4,075.64 in monetary donations to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.

“This year the Burke Costanza & Carberry law office stepped up and brought in a significant number of donations,” Zoeller said. “I am thankful for their support of the community and for families in need. Food banks across the state are facing challenges and it is my hope this friendly competition makes their efforts to help others a little bit easier.”

“We were delighted to hear of the firm’s triumph in the medium division of the Attorney General’s March Against Hunger,” George Carberry said. “Although the generosity of my co-workers and colleagues is not surprising to me, the sheer volume of their food and financial contributions in response to the Attorney General’s challenge is inspiring.  As a result of their efforts, many Hoosier families will have food on their tables in the months ahead. I’m also grateful to my colleague Ann Marie Woolwine for her smart and enthusiastic campaign leadership.”

Fifty-one law groups from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio competed and broke the record for March Against Hunger donations, both monetarily and in quantities of nonperishable goods. Donations totaled 11,404 pounds of food and $51,822 in monetary donations.

The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is one of 11 regional food banks in Indiana that partner with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry or FIsH – an organization which helps link Indiana’s resources to feed those in need. Each year, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office has joined FIsH and the Indiana State Bar Association to help challenge law firms to donate goods and raise money for these banks.

Food Bank of Northwest Indiana Director Angie Williams said the group provides nutritional support to those in need of hunger relief through its network of 100 community agencies across Lake and Porter counties.

“The 4th Annual March Against Hunger food drive has been a huge success this year in Northwest Indiana,” Williams said. “We are so thrilled to have a local firm place first in the medium firm division.  We would like to thank Burke Costanza & Carberry for the firm’s commitment to fighting hunger and the generous donation of food and funds. This support is greatly needed especially with the growing demand for food assistance across our region. With partners like the Attorney General and Burke Costanza & Carberry we can truly fight hunger and feed hope.”

Award winners within five categories will receive the “Attorney General’s Cup” for collecting the most donations. Divisions include:

• Large firm (50+ persons) 
• Medium firm (10-49 persons) 
• Small firm (1-9 person/s)
• Solo practitioner
• Public/Nonprofit

2012 Best Law Firm in Northwest Indiana

BURKE COSTANZA & CARBERRY LLP named “Best Law Firm” in NWIBQ’s “Best of Business – 2012” Survey
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For the second consecutive year, Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP garnered top honors as the best law firm in Northwest Indiana as determined by its clients and other readers of Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly, Northwest Indiana’s leading business periodical.  

BCC was named  best law firm in all four law categories: 

• Litigation
• Estate Planning
• Corporate and Business
• Acquisitions and Mergers

The firm maintains offices in Merrillville, Valparaiso and Chicago.

George Carberry, BCC’s managing partner, characterized the recognition as “very humbling,” and a testament to “the hard work that everybody at the firm puts in.  A lot of [the recognition] has to do with the people we attract. I’m so very proud of the people we have here [at the firm].”

Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP is a general practice law firm of over 20 lawyers engaged in virtually every area of civil law.

Burke Costanza & Carberry Wins Statewide Competition!

Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP is proud to announce its achievement in winning the medium division in the Attorney General’s March Against Hunger food drive campaign and in bringing the Attorney General’s Cup to Northwest Indiana, a first in competition history.

Together, attorneys and staff donated over 778 pounds of food and $4,080 dollars to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.  These dollars and pounds translated to over 20,000 points in the contest – leading the medium sized firm division.

During the month of March, contest organizers within the firm kept donations flowing in through a series of inter-firm competitions and practice group rivalries. Though the inter-firm rivalries and team spirit kept the contest lighthearted, participants were well aware their efforts addressed a very serious need in Northwest Indiana. The firm kicked off this year’s campaign with remarks from Derek Frazier, procurement manager of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.  Many were surprised to learn the Food Bank distributed over 5 million pounds of food in 2011 alone.

Managing partner George Carberry summed up the BCC’s efforts:  “We were delighted to hear of the firm’s triumph in the medium division of the Attorney General’s March Against Hunger.  Although the generosity of my co-workers and colleagues is not surprising to me, the sheer volume of their food and financial contributions in response to the Attorney General’s challenge is both inspiring and humbling.  As a result of their efforts, many Hoosier families will have food on their tables in the months ahead.  I’m also grateful to my colleague Ann Marie Woolwine for her smart and enthusiastic campaign leadership.”

For more information about the March Against Hunger food drive campaign, visit: http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/2773.htm or contact Michelle Mayer, Director of Outreach Services in the Office of the Attorney General at 317.234.6668.

Equivalent to 21,181 Pounds Donated In March Against Hunger

For the second year, Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP competed in the Attorney General’s March Against Hunger Food Drive Competition. This year, the attorneys and staff donated over 778 pounds of food and $4,080 dollars to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.  These dollars and pounds translated to over 20,000 points in the contest and BCC is hoping this number will lead in the medium sized firm division.

During the month of March, contest organizers within the firm kept donations flowing in through a series of inter-firm competitions and practice group rivalries. Creative leadership within each of the practice groups resulted in a variety of contests, bake sales, and fundraising efforts.  Though the inter-firm rivalries and team spirit kept the contest lighthearted and fun, the participants were well aware their efforts addressed a very serious need in Northwest Indiana. The firm kicked off this year’s campaign with remarks from Derek Frazier, procurement manager of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.  Many were surprised to learn the Food Bank distributed over 5 million pounds of food in 2011 alone.

At the close of the competition, the mood in the firm was nearly jubilant as the totals of donated food and funds were tallied and announced. Managing partner George Carberry summed up the BCC’s efforts:

While the generosity of my co-workers and colleagues at the firm is not surprising to me, the sheer volume of their food and financial contributions toward the Attorney General’s “March Against Hunger” is both inspiring and humbling.  The good people of BCC “Marched Against Hunger” the same way Grant, as the saying goes, “marched against Richmond;” their selfless efforts amounted to an all-out “attack” on hunger in the State of Indiana, and as a result of their good work in response to the Attorney General’s call, many, many Hoosiers will be able to feed their families in the months ahead.  I’m also very grateful to my colleague Ann Marie Woolwine for her smart and enthusiastic leadership of our office campaign.

BCC awaits word from the Attorney General’s office as to how its efforts rank in this year’s competition.  Regardless of the outcome, the firm is proud of its successful campaign and the generosity of its members.

Bob Parker Inducted As Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers

Burke Costanza & Carberry partner Robert F. Parker has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America.

The induction ceremony at which Bob became a Fellow took place recently before an audience of 614 Fellows and guests during the 2012 Spring Meeting of the College held in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship.

Membership in the college cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. There are currently approximately 5,838 members in the United States and Canada, including active Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, Judicial Fellows (those who ascended to the bench after their induction) and Honorary Fellows. The College strives to improve and elevate the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the trial profession. Qualified lawyers are called to Fellowship in the college from all branches of trial practice. They are carefully selected from among those who customarily represent parties in civil litigation, as well as those who prosecute or defend criminal cases. The college is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice.

Robert F. ParkerWith his induction, Bob becomes only the third actively practicing attorney in Northwest Indiana to achieve Fellow status. And Bob is only the second attorney in the northern half of Indiana to be both a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the prestigious, invitation-only Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. Additional information on Bob’s qualifications and achievements can be found on Bob’s biography page.

Estate Planning Discussion at Winfield-LOFS Chamber Meeting

Dana Rifai and Ann Marie Woolwine will be disucssing the topic of estate planning at the Winfield-LOFS Chamber of Commerce monthly membership meeting on March 13, 2012.  The following is an article featured in the Winfield American newspaper in the March 9, 2012 edition, which is distributed to all mailboxes in Winfield and Lake of the Four Seasons.

Indiana Attorney General's March Against Hunger Campaign

For the second year, Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP  is competing in the Indiana Attorney General’s March Against Hunger campaign.  The March Against Hunger is a friendly competition between law firms to raise the most donations – either of non perishable foods or direct monetary contributions – for Indiana’s 11 regional food banks.  As a firm, BCC is competing against 42 other firms throughout the state to raise much-needed assistance.  The food and money raised by BCC will be donated to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, a local food bank which distributes to local pantries, shelters, day care centers, and soup kitchens and serves as a link for food relief to families, the elderly, children and other individuals throughout Lake and Porter counties.

Last year, BCC raised over 500 pounds of food and aims to reach that number again this year. This year’s competition will run from March 1 to March 31st.  If would like to donate non-perishable food items and join in BCC’s efforts, please drop off your donation to the Merrillville or Valparaiso office during our regular business hours.

Indiana ADR Section Council "Boot Camp" CLE

Dan Gioia is participating in a CLE seminar panel at the ISBA Solo & Small Firm Annual Conference scheduled for May 31st through June 2nd as part of an Indiana ADR Section Council “Boot Camp” at Belterra Casino & Resort near Cincinnati.