Section Chairs

Business Litigation Section Chair

Anne Cowgur
acowgur@paganelligroup.com

Anne Cowgur primarily represents clients in appellate, employment, trust and estate, and commercial litigation. Anne, who is well known in the Central Indiana legal community for her leadership on the Indiana State and Indianapolis Bar Associations, has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Women and Top 50 Indiana Super Lawyers in the area of Appellate Law and in the Best Lawyers in America®.

Anne’s extensive experience as a trial lawyer has encompassed cases including access to public records, defamation defense, constitutional law, administrative disputes, and breaches of fiduciary duties, among others. She also is highly regarded for her appellate and municipal law work.

Anne is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law. Her professional affiliations include serving as a faculty member for NITA Deposition Skill Training and an Indianapolis American Inn of Court.

Construction Law Section Chair

Jeffrey Kraft
jkraft@dsvlaw.com

Jeff concentrates his practice in construction law and general civil litigation. He has experience representing individuals and businesses across the construction industry (owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, surveyors, etc.) in a wide range of construction-related claims, including: design/construction defect claims; performance/payment disputes; lien actions; breach of contract claims; professional liability claims; personal injury claims (job-site injuries, slip-and-falls, car accidents); defamation claims; breach of non-compete/confidentiality agreement claims; and environmental compliance/site cleanup claims.

Jeff was named an Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2022 – 2024.

Employment Section Chair

Fallback Image
Laureen White
Laureen.White@heplerbroom.com

Health Care Section Chair

Ami Anderson
Ami.Anderson@lewisbrisbois.com

Ami T. Anderson is a partner in the Northwest Indiana office of Lewis Brisbois and a member of the General Liability Practice. Ms. Anderson joined Lewis Brisbois in December 2019 after spending several years with a Chicago-based national law firm.

Ms. Anderson has an extensive and diverse litigation practice, and she frequently appears before both Indiana state and federal courts as well as the Indiana Workers’ Compensation Board. Ms. Anderson represents defendants in a variety of matters including general liability, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, professional liability, products liability and

workers’ compensation matters. Ms. Anderson has tried numerous cases to verdict before both juries and the bench. She has also successfully handled multiple appeals before both the Indiana Court of Appeals and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Product Liability Section Chair

Stacey Everton
saeverton@kopkalaw.com

Stacey Everton is an Associate at Kopka Pinkus Dolin in their Carmel, Indiana office.  Stacey focuses her practice on general civil defense.  She defends both individuals and businesses in lawsuits involving premises liability, product liability, auto accidents, construction defects, and appeals.  In the past, Stacey has obtained summary judgment for her clients in numerous cases and has successfully defended her clients at trial in several small claims matters.  She is admitted to practice in Indiana and Pennsylvania, as well as the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.  In addition to being a member of DTCI, Stacey is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association and the Indiana State Bar Association.

Stacey received her J.D. from the Villanova University School of Law, where she graduated cum laude.  While in law school, Stacey served as Articles Editor for the Villanova Law Review and Treasurer of the Villanova chapter of the Federal Bar Association.  Stacey also externed for a U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and assisted low-income taxpayers in the Philadelphia area through Villanova’s Federal Tax Clinic.   Immediately following law school, Stacey clerked for Judge Abigail M. LeGrow in the Delaware Superior Court’s Complex Commercial Litigation Division.  Prior to law school, Stacey attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied Economics, with a minor in Business.

Trial Tactics

Evan Norris
enorris@dsvlaw.com

Evan concentrates his practice in the areas of construction litigation, premises liability, and coverage actions.  He has represented clients who have been named in catastrophic accidents, including transportation and construction matters that center on claims of negligent design, construction, and maintenance defects.  Evan also has considerable experience representing governmental officials in a wide variety of actions ranging from intentional torts to wrongful death claims.  Evan has tried several cases to verdict across the State of Indiana.  He is a frequent presenter on topics concerning both construction litigation and government tort liability.  Evan is active in the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana where he served as the Chair of the Construction Law Section and assists with legislative efforts on behalf of the organization.  Evan was recognized as the “Outstanding Young Lawyer” for 2022 by the Defense Counsel of Trial Indiana for his commitment, leadership, and service to the Indiana defense bar, the national defense bar, and the community.  Evan has also been recognized in the 2023 edition The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for his work in both Construction Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation – Defense and as a 2023 Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Star .

Worker's Compensation Section Chair

Fallback Image
Christopher Appel
cappel@duedoyle.com

Christopher (Chris) J. Appel is a partner at the law firm of Due Doyle Fanning & Alderfer, LLP, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born in Indianapolis and grew up on the city’s north side. Mr. Appel graduated from Bishop Chard High School in 2005. In 2009, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Indiana University.

Mr. Appel earned a J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2012. While in law school, Mr. Appel clerked for Cline Farrell Christie & Lee, P.C. He also served as a notes editor for the Indiana International & Comprehensive Law Review.  Mr. Appel is admitted to the Indiana State Bar. He is licensed to practice in Indiana and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana. Mr. Appel is also a member of the Indiana State Bar Association and DTCI. In 2024 he is the section leader of the DTCI’s workers’ compensation section.

Mr. Appel focuses his practice on Worker’s Compensation Defense, Insurance Defense,  subrogation, as well as general business litigation.

Business Litigation Section Chair

HeadShot-Cowgur-Anne2023-04-28-at-20.24.13@2x

Anne Cowgur primarily represents clients in appellate, employment, trust and estate, and commercial litigation. Anne, who is well known in the Central Indiana legal community for her leadership on the Indiana State and Indianapolis Bar Associations, has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Women and Top 50 Indiana Super Lawyers in the area of Appellate Law and in the Best Lawyers in America®.

Anne’s extensive experience as a trial lawyer has encompassed cases including access to public records, defamation defense, constitutional law, administrative disputes, and breaches of fiduciary duties, among others. She also is highly regarded for her appellate and municipal law work.

Anne is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law. Her professional affiliations include serving as a faculty member for NITA Deposition Skill Training and an Indianapolis American Inn of Court.

Construction Law Section Chair

Headshot-Kraft-JMK-320x300

Jeffrey Kraft
jkraft@dsvlaw.com

Jeff concentrates his practice in construction law and general civil litigation. He has experience representing individuals and businesses across the construction industry (owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, surveyors, etc.) in a wide range of construction-related claims, including: design/construction defect claims; performance/payment disputes; lien actions; breach of contract claims; professional liability claims; personal injury claims (job-site injuries, slip-and-falls, car accidents); defamation claims; breach of non-compete/confidentiality agreement claims; and environmental compliance/site cleanup claims.

Jeff was named an Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2022 – 2024.

Employment Section Chair

default-headshot

Health Care Section Chair

PicAnderson_Ami

Ami T. Anderson is a partner in the Northwest Indiana office of Lewis Brisbois and a member of the General Liability Practice. Ms. Anderson joined Lewis Brisbois in December 2019 after spending several years with a Chicago-based national law firm.

Ms. Anderson has an extensive and diverse litigation practice, and she frequently appears before both Indiana state and federal courts as well as the Indiana Workers’ Compensation Board. Ms. Anderson represents defendants in a variety of matters including general liability, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, professional liability, products liability and

workers’ compensation matters. Ms. Anderson has tried numerous cases to verdict before both juries and the bench. She has also successfully handled multiple appeals before both the Indiana Court of Appeals and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Product Liability Section Chair

PicStaceyEverton(SOCIAL)Photo

Stacey Everton
saeverton@kopkalaw.com

Stacey Everton is an Associate at Kopka Pinkus Dolin in their Carmel, Indiana office.  Stacey focuses her practice on general civil defense.  She defends both individuals and businesses in lawsuits involving premises liability, product liability, auto accidents, construction defects, and appeals.  In the past, Stacey has obtained summary judgment for her clients in numerous cases and has successfully defended her clients at trial in several small claims matters.  She is admitted to practice in Indiana and Pennsylvania, as well as the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.  In addition to being a member of DTCI, Stacey is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association and the Indiana State Bar Association.

Stacey received her J.D. from the Villanova University School of Law, where she graduated cum laude.  While in law school, Stacey served as Articles Editor for the Villanova Law Review and Treasurer of the Villanova chapter of the Federal Bar Association.  Stacey also externed for a U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and assisted low-income taxpayers in the Philadelphia area through Villanova’s Federal Tax Clinic.   Immediately following law school, Stacey clerked for Judge Abigail M. LeGrow in the Delaware Superior Court’s Complex Commercial Litigation Division.  Prior to law school, Stacey attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied Economics, with a minor in Business.

Trial Tactics

PICnorris-evan-dtci-mug

Evan Norris
enorris@dsvlaw.com

Evan concentrates his practice in the areas of construction litigation, premises liability, and coverage actions.  He has represented clients who have been named in catastrophic accidents, including transportation and construction matters that center on claims of negligent design, construction, and maintenance defects.  Evan also has considerable experience representing governmental officials in a wide variety of actions ranging from intentional torts to wrongful death claims.  Evan has tried several cases to verdict across the State of Indiana.  He is a frequent presenter on topics concerning both construction litigation and government tort liability.  Evan is active in the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana where he served as the Chair of the Construction Law Section and assists with legislative efforts on behalf of the organization.  Evan was recognized as the “Outstanding Young Lawyer” for 2022 by the Defense Counsel of Trial Indiana for his commitment, leadership, and service to the Indiana defense bar, the national defense bar, and the community.  Evan has also been recognized in the 2023 edition The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for his work in both Construction Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation – Defense and as a 2023 Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Star .

Worker's Compensation Section Chair

default-headshot

Christopher Appel
cappel@duedoyle.com

Christopher (Chris) J. Appel is a partner at the law firm of Due Doyle Fanning & Alderfer, LLP, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born in Indianapolis and grew up on the city’s north side. Mr. Appel graduated from Bishop Chard High School in 2005. In 2009, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Indiana University.

Mr. Appel earned a J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2012. While in law school, Mr. Appel clerked for Cline Farrell Christie & Lee, P.C. He also served as a notes editor for the Indiana International & Comprehensive Law Review.  Mr. Appel is admitted to the Indiana State Bar. He is licensed to practice in Indiana and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana. Mr. Appel is also a member of the Indiana State Bar Association and DTCI. In 2024 he is the section leader of the DTCI’s workers’ compensation section.

Mr. Appel focuses his practice on Worker’s Compensation Defense, Insurance Defense,  subrogation, as well as general business litigation.