Barnes & Thornburg appointed Timothy Emerick as the new managing partner of their South Bend and Elkhart offices.

“Tim is a long-time member of Barnes & Thornburg and a significant contributor to the advancement of the firm’s South Bend and Elkhart offices,” said Andrew Detherage, managing partner, in a press release. “Tim is appreciated by his clients, colleagues and constituents for being a likable, objective and forthcoming individual, attributes that will certainly prove beneficial as Tim steps into this new leadership role.”

Emerick has been an attorney with the firm since 2006. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, commercial financing transactions and joint ventures. Emerick also drafts legal opinions and business contracts.

As an attorney and a certified public accountant, Emerick brings accounting acumen to his role at Barnes & Thornburg. Before attending law school, he worked for two national accounting firms.

“As I step into this role, I look forward to building on the firm’s historical significance and long-term commitment to the South Bend and Elkhart region with a modern approach to the practice of law,” Emerick said.

Emerick succeeds John Smarrella, the current office managing partner. Smarrella is stepping down from the role to focus on his corporate and mergers and acquisitions practice.

Barnes & Thornburg is the product of a 1982 merger of Indianapolis-based Barnes, Hickam, Pantzer & Boyd and South Bend-based Thornburg, McGill, Deahl, Harman, Carey & Murray. The firm has been a member of the South Bend and Elkhart communities for almost 100 years.