Jones Obenchain
South Bend Attorneys
Sensible, Practical & Experienced Legal Advice
For decades Jones Obenchain has been one of the most respected law firms to come from the South Bend, Indiana market. Jones Obenchain’s attorneys serve Indiana and Michigan businesses, individuals, and families with effective legal solutions. They guide their clients with sage and sound advice, and prepare the most efficient, economical, and tailored plan for their needs. While the legal field often shuns change, Jones Obenchain welcomes it with open arms. Especially when it involves creative and innovative problem solving. In fact Jones Obenchain has taken a stance that the world will continue to turn and evolve... and a great law firm must evolve as well. otherwise they will quickly fall behind the times. By embracing change and technology in both their work, and work product they are able to help their clients be more successful and they are much more likely to achieve their objectives. This versatile approach in exploring non-traditional solutions allows Jones Obenchain clients to get back to business, and to get on with life.
“I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.”
– Abraham Lincoln
The Jones Obenchain Areas of Practice
JONES OBENCHAIN LITIGATION ATTORNEYS
Appeals
Personal Injury & Wrongful Death
JONES OBENCHAIN BUSINESS LAW ATTORNEYS
Business Management Consulting
JONES OBENCHAIN BANKRUPTCY LAW ATTORNEYS
JONES OBENCHAIN ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE LAW ATTORNEYS
JONES OBENCHAIN FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS
JONES OBENCHAIN REAL ESTATE LAW ATTORNEYS
The Jones Obenchain Edge
The simple fact is better legal firms win more cases. And make no mistake about it, a law firm's most significant assets are not their office space, their furniture, the number of clients they have on roster or even how long they have practiced law. The most significant assets of a law firm is their attorneys and their support staff. This is where Jones Obenchain shines. The partners at Jones are well known for their experience, their wins, their approaches and their targeted and very practical approach to law. However, when it comes down to it, that has everything to do with the attorneys at Jones Obenchain. Know for a no-nonsense approach to winning, a fresh way to look at cases and the use of technology, Jones Obenchain attorneys have garnered a reputation of excellence that few other law firms have.
Combine that with a support staff of assistants and paralegals that sincerely care about their clients and you get a firm that most clients dream of.
Experience, Technology, Innovation, Compassion... and exceptional attorneys and staff... that is Jones Obenchain.
"A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer."
- Robert Frost
THE JONES OBENCHAIN TEAM
Jones Obenchain Attorneys
John B Ford
PARTNER AT JONES OBENCHAIN
I’m proud to be a 4th generation St. Joseph County attorney. I was born in South Bend and went to John Adams High School (Class of ’69, summa cum, state swimming medalist, etc.). An English major, fraternity president and varsity swimmer at Ohio Wesleyan University, I continued straight on to IU Law School and then joined the firm in 1976. My dad, G. Burt Ford, was a partner. Not many sons have the honor and joy of working with their father for 30 years.
For too long I was involved with masters swimming at the Michiana YMCA and the house corporation of my college fraternity. I spent 6 years on the Evaluation and Allocations Division and Admissions Committees of United Way of St. Joseph County, and am a past president of the Winding Brook Park Homeowners Association. I’ve been a member of the Michiana Estate Planning Council since 1990 and a director since 2012. I’m also a past president of Morris Park Country Club. My handicap hovers around 10. Don’t stand behind me on the tee.
I’m blessed to have 2 adult children and 2 grandsons. My soul mate, Mary Funkhouser – a high school classmate – owns a home in The Villages, Florida, where she spends the winters and allows me a visit or 2. My retirement plan is to keep working.
Brian R Gates
PARTNER AT JONES OBENCHAIN
Brian’s legal practice combines his talent for critical analysis and attention to detail with his passion for helping families and children.
Before becoming a lawyer, Brian was both an educator and a caseworker in the mental health field. His experiences representing abused and neglected children as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate taught him the importance of supporting parents through difficult times while focusing on protecting the innocent. Brian puts those lessons to good use in his family law practice, helping parents and married couples with paternity proceedings, adoptions, prenuptial agreements, divorce, child support, guardianships, and custody matters. Brian continues to serve the community as a CASA, and also represents children and seniors as a Guardian ad Litem, helping the courts to assess children’s (and sometimes seniors’) best interests.
Brian’s advocacy skills also serve him well in his general litigation practice. Brian represents businesses and individuals in contractual disputes, landlord/tenant issues, collection matters, personal injury claims, and wrongful death suits.
find out more about Brian here
Jacqueline Sells Homann
PARTNER AT JONES OBENCHAIN
Understanding and managing risks is vital for your success in life and business. Although you can’t avoid every risk, you need to know what they are and prepare for them. So is having a lawyer and a law firm who knows how to manage risks and help you achieve your goals. That’s what solid counseling can do–whether you are in litigation (Jackie’s handled cases in state, federal, bankruptcy and appellate courts), writing, reviewing or negotiating contracts, or facing other challenges. Managing your risks and helping you achieve your goals–that’s Jackie’s goal.
Jackie is the first female partner in Jones Obenchain’s 100+ year history. She considers it her greatest privilege to provide business counseling and management of legal issues for her clients to bring a resolution as promptly as possible. Assessing risks, putting together a plan and helping you navigate your course is what Jackie does best. But if litigation results, Jackie’s a seasoned litigator who can help you understand what the issues are, both legal and business, and help you decide the right direction to take. Although she focuses on business disputes, Jackie has experience in construction and personal injury.
Jackie’s also a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee, a post she’s held since 2002. As a trustee, it’s her job to liquidate assets for distribution to creditors and assist in protecting the integrity of the bankruptcy system. As trustee, she stays connected in nearly every legal arena, giving her a unique perspective and ability to serve all her clients with a broad perspective on their needs.
Outside the office, she’s a wife and a mom; a dancer; plays golf and runs. Active in her local community, she serves in a variety of servant and leadership positions.
find out more about Jacqueline here
Janet G Horvath
PARTNER AT JONES OBENCHAIN
Janet Horvath has built a dynamic and diverse general practice that enables her to provide leading businesses, their executives and families with the commercial and personal legal assistance they need. Because she strives to develop long-term relationships with her clients, matching her legal knowledge to their changing business and family priorities, Janet has assisted with everything from multi-million-dollar transactions to estate planning and probate administration. Business owners often seek Janet’s input with ongoing management decisions, and changes to their employment handbooks and HR policies. She makes sure the company meets its objectives while also complying with the law. Janet has also defended companies against discrimination claims made by terminated employees. In the end, Janet’s goal is to help her clients solve their legal challenges promptly and effectively, helping their businesses to flourish as she also protects their personal assets.
Janet has always placed a high value on people and the community. She was raised just outside of South Bend in New Carlisle on her family’s dairy farm. Her great-grandfather purchased the farm while working at Studebaker’s during the Great Depression and the farm has remained in her family for three generations, worked by both her grandfather and father. Growing up, Janet actively participated in her local 4-H Club and showed dairy cattle from her family’s farm at the County Fair. This community-centered upbringing instilled in Janet the desire to help others and to build lasting relationships both personally and professionally. She was also raised in a culture that honored a person’s handshake as their word; today, that perspective helps Janet to keep things simple, to cut to the chase legally, without overcomplicating matters. Simply put, Janet efficiently protects her clients while keeping things simple.
“I pride myself on being exactly who my clients need me to be as their businesses and families grow,” says Janet. “I am fortunate enough to have handled so many different issues for my clients that I generally know how to help them solve their big and small challenges.”
Since 2013, Janet has shared her legal knowledge and experiences with the next generation of business leaders by teaching business law as an adjunct professor at Saint Mary’s College, her alma mater. Janet identifies a recent call from a former student, who now owns her own business, as one of her most gratifying professional experiences. “My student knew the issues to be concerned about from our class and wanted to retain me to ensure she was adequately protecting herself,” says Janet.
Janet and her husband, Leon, have two young sons who are the focus of nearly all of her free time. When she’s not at work or with her family, Janet enjoys volunteering for local non-profit organizations. Janet is a member and past president of the Junior League of South Bend and serves as a director of the Scholarship Foundation of St. Joseph County. Janet is also a past president of the Saint Mary’s College South Bend Alumnae Club and past board member of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
find out more about Janet here
Mark J Phillipoff
PARTNER AT JONES OBENCHAIN
Mark graduated from Notre Dame and Indiana University School of Law. He was a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and an associate at a small southern Indiana law firm before returning to his hometown, South Bend, and joining Jones Obenchain in 1983.
Mark’s practice includes mediation, general trial work, family law, estate planning, probate and real estate law. He has handled appeals in Indiana and Michigan, as well as the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. Unlike many of the Jones Obenchain attorneys, most of Mark’s clients are individuals rather than corporations.
In 2007, Mark was trained to become a Collaborative Family Law Lawyer and he joined the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (www.collaborativepractice.com). Collaborative divorce involves the use of attorneys for each party, often joined by other expert consultants, but, instead of court battles, the parties and lawyers pledge from the outset to work together in crafting an outcome that is fair to all without ever going to Court.
In 2008, Mark began mediating family law matters. A certified mediator with thirty years of family law experience, Mark has helped dozens of couples resolve their disputes outside of the courtroom. Mark sometimes conducts two or three mediations in a week here in the offices of Jones Obenchain. Even with that busy schedule, Mark or his assistant, Colleen, can usually schedule a mediation session very quickly when needed.
Mark and his wife live in Granger. He enjoys spending time at his family’s cottage in southwest Michigan. Mark has a love of Notre Dame and photography.
J Thomas Vetne
PARTNER AT JONES OBENCHAIN
Tom enjoys challenging his clients’ preconceived notions of who lawyers are and what lawyers do. Think lawyers only keep bankers’ hours? Tom has met with clients and witnesses before work, after work, and on weekends; their hours are his hours.
Think lawyers only write unintelligible, impenetrable legalese? Tom writes in plain English, and only plain English. Think lawyers are humorless? See if you can come up with a Monty Python quote he can’t identify by character, movie title, or television episode.
Tom focuses his practice on litigation and appeals. But unlike many other litigators, Tom actually tries cases. In fact, the Indiana Jury Verdict Reporter recognized him as Indiana’s most prolific civil trial lawyer in 2018 (he was the runner up in 2011). Tom represents insurance companies, businesses, and individuals in state, federal, and appellate courts. He has tried cases to verdict in many counties across northern Indiana, and has represented clients in administrative proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Tom is especially interested in appellate work. He has argued cases before the Indiana Supreme Court, the Indiana Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. In 2001, his advocacy garnered a commendation by the Indiana Court of Appeals in a published opinion.
Outside the office, Tom enjoys a good single-malt scotch (especially the Islay varieties), thermophilic composting (he’s open to vermicomposting but his wife put her foot down), and David Foster Wallace’s hyper-literate essays (are there any other kind?). He lives in Granger with his wife and three children.
find out more about Thomas here
R Kent Rowe III
ATTORNEY AT JONES OBENCHAIN
R. Kent Rowe, III was born in San Antonio, Texas and grew up in South Bend, Indiana. Admitted to the State Bar of Indiana 1981 and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Chicago, Illinois in 1984. His litigation-based practice concentrates on the handling of professional liability cases, including medical, surgical error, optometric, and chiropractic malpractice defense, traumatic brain injury and neuropsychological injury litigation, as well as motor vehicle/motorcycle collision cases and premises liability. He received a B.A. degree in Psychology in 1978 from Indiana University (Bloomington), and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Tulane University (New Orleans) in 1981. Mr. Rowe is “AV” rated in Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed in each edition of Naifeh and Smith’s “The Best Lawyers in America” since 1997. Mr. Rowe has also been selected as an “Indiana Superlawyer” from 2004 to 2007. (See, www.superlawyers.com/Indianapolis Monthly Magazine, March 2004-2007). Mr. Rowe is the author of “Effective Jury Selection – Principles and Practice”; ICLEF Seminar May, 2000. He is currently a member of the St. Joseph County and Indiana State Bar Associations, Defense Research Institute. Formerly a member of the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA).
Kent practiced law with his father, R. Kent Rowe, Sr. for over 30 years, and most recently, as a partner and principal at Rowe & Rowe in South Bend, Indiana. He has been with Jones Obenchain since October, 2016.
His interests include; racquetball, weight lifting/fitness, microwave cooking, Roman Classical History, guitar and drums, travel and, supporting Doctors Without Borders, CARE, and The World Food Organization.
Amanda N Zaluckyj
ATTORNEY AT JONES OBENCHAIN
Amanda thinks it is important for people have to a trusted adviser who can offer the sound legal advice and zealous advocacy that everyone deserves. She brings that approach to all of her clients today. Her goal is to make sure her clients understand the process, understand their options, and have all the information necessary to make big decisions.
Amanda is also passionate about agriculture and family farmers. She grew up on her family’s farm in Southwest Michigan, and still helps today during busy seasons. Amanda understands that most farmers are a bit apprehensive about lawyers (understandably so!), and that most business transactions on the farm are conducted with a handshake. But in today’s modern world, farming is a business and having the proper legal framework can make a family farm more efficient, provide legal safeguards, and more profitable! Amanda’s unique background and experience allows her to serve farm clients with everything from farmland lease agreements to entity formation and business compliance.
Amanda started her career in general civil litigation and handled a wide array of civil matters from defending businesses against worker’s compensation lawsuits to litigating real property boundary disputes. She’s also handled multi-million-dollar real estate transactions, eviction proceedings, and utility easement negotiations. Amanda not only understands how to set up clients for success, she knows how to avoid and handle any potential lawsuits when they come along.
Amanda graduated from Grand Valley State University before attending Michigan State University College of Law. She is licensed to practice in both Michigan and Indiana. When she’s not working for her clients, Amanda enjoys spending time with her family and dog, getting lost in the latest historical fantasy novel, and sharing life on the farm with her followers. She’s also an avid college football fan, and spends Saturdays in the fall cheering on the Michigan State Spartans.
find out more about Amanda here
Targeted and practical legal solutions. That’s the value of Jones Obenchain.
130 South Main Street
South Bend, IN 46601
574.233.1194
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