Thorntown Business Lawyers

KENT FRANDSEN has practiced with the firm since 1977, concentrating in civil litigation, electric utility, zoning and land use, and education law. Following graduation from law school in 1975, Mr. Frandsen served as a law clerk to The Honorable James E. Noland, Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

Mr. Frandsen has tried nearly 100 civil jury trials in state and federal courts, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He has represented parties on appeal in over fifty cases in state and federal appellate courts. In three cases he has persuaded the Indiana Supreme Court...

J. Michael Deweese began as a law clerk in 2015 before joining the firm in 2016 as an Associate, concentrating his practice in the areas of utility and business law, including commercial and business litigation. Mr. Deweese graduated magna cum laude from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in May 2016. During his time in law school, Mr. Deweese served as a note development editor on the Indiana Law Review and advised lower-level students through the Dean’s Tutorial Society.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Deweese graduated summa cum laude from Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus with a Bachelor...

Katherine Sheets is engaged in the general practice of law, with emphasis on civil litigation matters. Ms. Sheets graduated summa cum laude from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in May 2018 and also earned a Graduate Certificate in Advocacy Skills. During law school, Ms. Sheets was named to the Moot Court Society Order of the Barristers in the fall of 2016, served on the Moot Court Board as the Associate Justice for Scorekeeping, was an associate member of the Indiana International and Comparative Law Review, and advised first-year students through the Dean’s Tutorial Society. In addition,...

Michael Smith advises clients with starting up new businesses, buying and selling businesses, negotiating contracts, resolving internal disputes among the owners of businesses, and protecting the rights of businesses and business owners through litigation. He is particularly experienced in creating and advising limited liability companies (or LLCs). His practice also includes tax exempt, nonprofit organizations, including 501(c)(3)'s. He also represents clients in appeals, both civil and criminal. Mike was born and raised in Tennessee, but he has been a Hoosier for most of his life. He moved to Indiana in 1978 after receiving a B.E. in chemical engineering...

JAMES A.L. BUDDENBAUM is a partner with the Indianapolis office of Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse LLP, where he concentrates in corporate law, acquisitions, business transactions, utility, real estate, employment, and complex insurance, and other business litigation.

Mr. Buddenbaum is experienced in representing all types of utilities—electric generation and transmission utilities, rural distribution cooperatives, sewer, water, gas and telecommunications utilities—before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and state and federal courts. He regularly negotiates large energy, utility and other business asset sale and purchase agreements and real estate transactions. He has successfully presented more than one hundred zoning and land use matters...

Ms. Borissov represents energy and communications companies, water and sewer utilities, cooperatives, and small businesses in a variety of practice areas including regulatory law, cooperative law, corporate governance, labor and employment matters, commercial transactions, real estate matters, and corporate compliance. Ms. Borissov began her legal career as an Associate with the firm in 2007 and represented electric, gas, and telecommunications clients before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission in territory and interconnection disputes, general investigations, fuel cost adjustment proceedings, financing petitions, and rate cases. She also represented clients in commercial contract negotiations, labor and employment matters, real estate transactions, easement acquisitions,...

RANDY HOLT practices in the areas of corporate law and governance, electric cooperative law, corporate formation, mergers and acquisitions, utility law, commercial contracts, real estate transactions and employment law. Mr. Holt has previous work experience in the areas of business administration, purchasing, human resources and labor relations in the public and private sector.

Mr. Holt is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Electric Cooperative Bar Association, and is a former consumer member of the Indiana Board of Accountancy. Mr. Holt is admitted to practice in the state of Indiana, the Northern and Southern Districts...

MIKE SCHULTZ concentrates his practice on representing commercial and residential policyholders in high risk, high value disputes over insurance claims and claim handling. He frequently litigates large property damage cases involving claims of breach of the insurance agreements and bad faith by insurance companies, as well as claims against third parties for personal injuries and property damage. Mike also has litigated extensively in the areas of employment law, civil rights, toxic torts, unincorporated associations, and general contract disputes. He routinely handles employment related disputes, representing both businesses and employees. Mike lectures frequently on insurance litigation matters and federal...