jzoccola@lewis-kappes.com

317.639.1210

Practice Areas

Civil Litigation, Health Care, Small business Representation and Entrepreneurial Services, Labor/Workers Compensation, Real Estate and Sports Law.

Jim Zoccola has been a mainstay in the Indianapolis legal community since 1991 having litigated a wide variety of actions including multimillion dollar wrongful death claims, natural gas explosion claims, worker's compensation claims, international transport disputes and insurance coverage disputes. Jim has also counseled many Indiana, national and international companies and health care groups over the course of his career. Common issues among his business and health care clients have included entity formation, business succession, preparation and negotiation of employment agreements, termination agreements, business acquisitions, regulatory compliance, restrictive covenant and non-compete preparation and enforcement, executive buy-out negotiations, construction defect disputes and numerous commercial real estate transactions.

Jim's sports law experience has involved counseling over 30 professional athletes. In addition to contract and endorsement negotiations, player representation has led to issues including multi-state property acquisition and maintenance, investment consultation and screening, interfamily agreement drafting and negotiation, coordination and implementation of estate planning and charitable foundation formation.

Jim's experience with wrongful death claims has been extensive. He has litigated complex claims including trucking accidents, drownings, gas explosions, motor vehicle accidents, scaffold accidents, industrial worksite accidents, boating accidents, and fire losses, among others.

Education

Indiana University School of Business, B. S., 1988;
Indiana University School of Law- Indianapolis, J. D., 1991.

Bar Admissions

Admitted to Indiana State Bar, 1991; U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, 1991.

Experience

Director, Lewis & Kappes, P. C., 2004 -Present; Partner, Jennings Taylor Wheeler & Bouwkamp, P. C., 1994 -2004; Associate, Coots Henke & Wheeler, P. C., 1991- 1994; Law Clerk 1989- 1991; International Veneer Company- Transtadio Veneer, Seregno, Italy 1988.

Affiliations

Lewis & Kappes Management Committee 2010-present; Member, Indianapolis Bar Association and Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana; Meridian Hills Country Club- General Counsel 2002 to present; The Lawyers Club of Indianapolis -- Member; Indiana Bulls Baseball, Inc.- Director; Enis Furley Foundation, Inc. (Charitable Foundation to Scott Rolen of Cincinnati Reds and formerly of St. Louis Cardinals)- Director 2001 to present; Indiana Youth Links- Transportation Committee; Indiana Mustangs Coach, 2006-2010; Carmel Dads Club and Indiana Youth Hockey Association Coach; Hamilton County Leadership Academy- Graduate 1992.

Areas of Experience

wrongful death
trucking accidents
drowning
gas explosions
motor vehicle accidents
boating accidents
non-compete
employment agreements
health care
termination agreements
construction defect

Representative Clients

Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center
Northwest Radiology Network
Comcast Corporation
Republic Services
Allied Waste
Sager Corporation
The Austin Company
Hokanson Companies, Inc.
Liberty Mutual
Hoosier Gasket Corporation
Behavior Analysis Center for Autism