Making a difference by serving clients and communities alike.
by Cassie Richardson
Today's young attorneys take their jobs as seriously as they take their suits. The area's young and rising stars give back to their communities through philanthropic efforts or service on boards. Meet our top 10 picks from young legal professionals who are giving back and making a difference in their communities.
Carly Brandenburg, 32
Partner, Eichhorn & Eichhorn LLP
Carly Brandenburg entered law school with the notion of entering politics after graduation.
After trying her hand at arguing cases in Moot Court, however, the then-law student knew a career in litigation would be more fulfilling. Today, Brandenburg argues and resolves general, civil and medical malpractice disputes on behalf of clients in the utility, construction and hospital industries.
“Until tested, you never really know what kind of person you will be, as far as articulating things well in a public setting,” she says.
This sentiment appears to be a running theme in Brandenburg's life outside the courtroom, as well. Brandenburg helps local youths explore artistic and civic endeavors that may lead them to discover their own, fulfilling path in life. She is a member of the Beaux Arts Ball committee, which recently hosted its 15th annual fundraiser to benefit South Shore Arts Everykid program, which provides art opportunities to more than 28,000 children and youth annually.
Additionally, Brandenburg volunteers for Junior Achievement and teaches a five-week course that offers Hammond second-graders lessons in economics and good citizenship.
Christopher Drewry, 32
Partner, Drewry Simmons Vornehm LLP
While many young professionals in today's uber-social networking climate use online platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter to make business connections, Christopher Drewry helps millennials expand their business networks by championing the arts.
Drewry is a Leadership Council member of The Scene–the young professionals group dedicated to advancing the mission of The Center of Performing Arts. When he's not practicing construction, labor and employment law from his Carmel office, or coaching his daughter's soccer team as part of the Carmel Dad's Club, Drewry is busy promoting cultural involvement among his peers under age 40.
“What the center has done as far as really trying to get new types of shows from all around the world, is a really neat aspect to see here locally. We're here in the middle of Indiana and it's really starting to become somewhat of a cultural epicenter for the various types of music and art and everything else,” Drewry says.
Timothy Emerick, 36
Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Attorney Timothy Emerick specializes in business transactional law. He represents corporate clients in matters of real estate, financing and complex business contracts. And, he has a hand in improving the quality of life for the spectrum of people living in South Bend.
Emerick serves on the board of directors for Unity Gardens Inc., a network of community gardens aiming to provide greater access to healthier, locally grown food. He is also an active member of Young Professionals Against Poverty, a dedicated group of young philanthropists who raise awareness about homelessness as well as funds that help South Bend's Center for the Homeless break the cycle of homelessness and extreme poverty. Emerick, a certified public accountant, also provides free income tax preparation for low income families at the University of Notre Dame/St. Mary's Tax Assistance Program.
“It is easy to become complacent in our everyday lives and take things for granted,” he says. “By serving our communities, we are given the opportunity to take a step back and appreciate the opportunities made available to us. The personal satisfaction of service is a great feeling and it is amazing to be a part of something bigger.”
Kristina Jacobucci, 34
Associate, Newby, Lewis, Kaminski & Jones
Kristina Jacobucci says she has always had an interest in helping families, and she credits her adoptive parents for instilling in her the importance of volunteerism. It's no surprise, then, that Jacobucci has become a strong advocate–in and outside the courtroom–for the children of LaPorte County.
Jacobucci, who specializes in family and adoption law, as well as hospital, medical malpractice and appellate law, often shares her legal expertise to help local families grow stronger and healthier.
Jacobucci helps local teens understand the implications of unlawful lifestyle choices by serving as a judge in LaPorte County's Youth Service Bureau Teen Court. This program helps non-violent first-time offenders make amends for their behavior through a combination of community service, counseling, and other activities. Teen Court–where youths between 10 and 17 serve as jurors and participate in hearing proceedings–is an alternative to juvenile detention.
Jacobucci also protects children from the physical and emotional scars of child abuse through her work on the Dunebrook Inc. board of directors. And, as chairman of the LaPorte Hospital Foundation's planned giving committee, Jacobucci organizes estate planning workshops aimed at raising funds that help uninsured, low-income children and adults receive much-needed hospital care.
Steven Lammers, 33
Associate, Krieg DeVault
As a high school senior, litigator Steven Lammers was part of a team that won Indiana's annual Mock Trial Competition. That victory sparked his passion for the law.
Today, Lammers represents businesses, hospitals and banks in complex litigation issues in federal appellate courts covering Northwest Indiana and Illinois. He also serves on the board of Chasing Dreams Inc., a Valparaiso-based resource center that provides social, physical and educational programming in seven counties, for those affected by autism, Down syndrome and developmental disabilities.
In his volunteer role, Lammers raises funds and awareness about developmental disabilities and the Chasing Dreams organization, particularly among members of the Indiana business community.
“I like providing insight. I like seeing what we're able to achieve in terms of providing opportunities that individuals might not get elsewhere, [but] that they can get at Chasing Dreams at no cost. It's free for them and their families to experience these things,” Lammers says.
Michael L. Meyer, 34
Associate Attorney, Hoeppner Wagner & Evans LLP
For Michael Meyer, variety creates his zest for life. Primarily, Meyer specializes in labor and employment law. He also takes on insurance defense and commercial litigation cases. And with this mix of legal matters on his hands, describing a typical work day is difficult at best.
Every day presents new opportunities to do things differently because he's always working with a different set of facts, Meyer says. “That's what I think is fun about the practice of law.”
Meyer takes the same approach to giving back to his community. He serves on the Porter County Community Foundation's communications committee, where he helps craft recommendations that facilitate effective communications between the foundation's board of directors and donors, local non-profits and the community.
“I like doing this because the Community Foundation is not just about one organization or one group or one cause. It's there to help any number of charitable organizations that might have all sorts of different goals,” Meyer says. “For me, I feel like being involved with the communications committee of the Community Foundation allows me to take the time that I have to donate and use it to impact as many different organizations that I can.”
Angelica Schultis, 39
Associate Attorney, Blachly, Tabor, Bozik & Hartman LLC
After passing the Indiana State Bar Exam, Angelica Schultis received surprising news that offered a valuable lesson. The firm where she expected to practice law could no longer afford to hire her. Schultis went from promising, incoming associate attorney to jobless, in a heartbeat.
Eight months later, Schultis landed a position at Blachly, Tabor, Bozik & Hartman LLC, where today she specializes in personal injury litigation and matters related to Social Security disability and veterans disability. But she never forgot how it felt to wonder how she would pay her rent.
“Regardless of your station in life, you can still find yourself in a situation where you need help,” she says.
It's this lesson that fuels Schultis' passion for helping the homeless. She is the incoming secretary and a member of the board of directors for Housing Opportunities–a state-certified, non-profit agency that helps Northwest Indiana families and individuals find access to safe, decent and affordable housing. She also serves on the board's governance and legal issues committees.
Jared Tauber, 32
Partner, Tauber Law Offices
Jared Tauber says that growing up in Highland, with the benefits of a good education, a supportive father and access to youth sports activities, had a lot to do with his fast-track to success.
At 32, Tauber is the town prosecutor for the Village of Highland. He also serves as legal counsel for Highland's Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.
So, when a friend invited him to help coach youth athletes of Highland Soccer Club, Tauber saw the opportunity as a fun way to give back. Unfortunately, the soccer team's coach, Jeff DeVries, was diagnosed with melanoma. And what Tauber thought would have been a lighthearted pastime grew into a much larger cause.
DeVries died just months after learning he had the disease. Tauber stepped in to help with DeVries' coaching duties, but he wanted to do more. In 2013, Tauber teamed up with local businessman Milan Kesic to host a major benefit that raised money for the DeVries family and the Miles for Melanoma charity for melanoma research. Meanwhile, Tauber is training to take a seat on the American Red Cross of Northwest Indiana board of directors.
Jennifer VanderVeen, 39
Of Counsel, Tuesley Hall Konopa LLP
Certified elder law attorney Jennifer VanderVeen “fell” into her practice specialty.
Years ago, while between jobs and pregnant with her 11 year-old son Benjamin, VanderVeen took a temporary position with an elder law firm. She started out working as a tax and an estate planning attorney and fell in love with her work.
“It's the one area of the law where you truly feel that everything you do is to help someone,” she says. VanderVeen's temporary position turned into a permanent job, which she kept until the firm broke up. “So many of our seniors don't have a voice and don't always understand the intricacies of what is going on around them, particularly those who may not have the capability to make decisions for themselves whether through dementia or other ailments.”
When she's not solving problems and collecting hugs from satisfied clients, VanderVeen serves on the National Academy of Elder Care Attorneys board of directors. In addition to her board responsibilities, VanderVeen spends numerous hours planning conferences for the organization. She also volunteers with the Michiana Gerontology Institute.
Ann Marie Woolwine, 34
Associate Attorney, Burke Costanza Carberry LLP
Early in her career, Ann Marie Woolwine rolled up her sleeves and volunteered in her community whenever she had the chance.
“I could do things like a Habitat for Humanity build or volunteer in a soup kitchen…or visit a nursing home with my dog, which I did regularly in my 20s,” she says.
These days, with the responsibilities of being a wife, a mother and an attorney with an impressive list of clients who depend on her expertise in transactional business law, wills, trusts, and estate planning, Woolwine finds that she has less time for hands-on community service. Yet her desire to get involved remains strong.
Woolwine balances work with her passion for service by leading her firm's charge to reduce hunger. In 2011, she enrolled her firm in Indiana's March Against Hunger food drive and organized the employee collection effort. Since then, the annual food drive has become an anticipated event. Every year Woolwine motivates employees to give, and in 2013 Burke Costanza & Carberry received an Attorney General's Cup award for donating the most non-perishable food items.
In addition to her food drive efforts, Woolwine serves on the boards of directors for the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Indiana and the Legacy Foundation.
