pfrench@lewis-kappes.com

317.639.1210

Practice Areas

Civil Litigation and Trial Practice; Small Business Representation.

Pete French focuses his practice in two fundamental areas. First, Pete represents businesses and individuals who are involved in disputes requiring Court intervention to achieve resolution. Pete has represented numerous businesses and individuals who are plaintiffs and who are defendants in a variety of contexts, including class actions, employment disputes, real estate development disputes, intellectual property disputes, shareholder disputes, unfair competition cases, breach of contract cases, mortgage foreclosure cases, and personal injury actions. Early on in his career, Pete was able to secure the only punitive damages award by a jury in Marion County Superior Court 6. In 2000 Pete obtained a $2.1 million dollar jury verdict in Federal Court in favor of a California business whose trade secrets and intellectual property had been misappropriated by a Missouri Corporation. In 2005, Pete successfully defended three businesses and their officers and directors in a securities class action.

Pete's experience in business and intellectual property litigation complements his representation of small and medium size businesses. Pete's business clients include professional organizations, closely held companies, and family owned enterprises in many different industries. Pete assists these clients in achieving their planning, operations and transactional goals. Some examples include: real estate development and management companies, restaurateurs, health care professionals, industrial dry-cleaning distributors, construction companies, uniform sales and distribution companies, and telecommunications and internet service providers. Pete recently assisted a client in the successful acquisition of two limited liability companies whose function and purpose will be to own and operate commercial retail malls in Indianapolis.

Education

The College of William and Mary, A.B., Government, Minor in Macro-Economics, 1989.

Tulane University School of Law, J.D., Environmental Law, 1992.

National Institute of Trial Advocacy, 1995.

Bar Admissions

Indiana State Bar, 1992; United States District Court Southern District of Indiana, 1992; United States District Court Northern District of Indiana, 1998; Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 1998; United States District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2003.

Publications and Presentations

Author: "Damages for the Buyer and Seller: What's It Worth", Indiana Continuing Legal Education Foundation, May 2002; "Issues all Physicians Should Consider in Choosing the Right Practice Options", Indiana University School of Medicine, Orthopedic Residency Group, 1998; "Current Trends in Employment Law", 1997; "Parent Corporation Liability: An Evaluation of the Corporate Veil Piercing Doctrine and its Application to the Toxic Torts Arena", 5 Tulane Environmental Law Journal 605-634, 1992.

Experience

Director, Lewis & Kappes, P.C., 1999 to present; Associate 1992 to 1999.

Affiliations

Member, American Bar Association (Litigation, Commercial, and Law Practice Management), American Trial Lawyer's Association, Federal Bar Association, Indiana Bar Association (Litigation, Business and Environmental), Indianapolis Bar Association.

Pro Bono and Community Activities

Member, Indiana Bar Association Grievance Committee, 2001 to present. Penrod Society, 1996 to present (2007, President, 2006, Fair Chairman, 2005, Artists Chair, 2004, Artists Chair, 2003 Allocations Chair, 2003 Beverage Chair, 2002 Projects Chair). Stacey Toran Foundation, Board of Directors, 2005 - present. Park Tudor School Alumni Board 1994 to 1998 (Treasurer 1996 to 1998); Treasurer, Friends of Karen Freeman Wilson, 2000 to 2001; Graduate, 2002 Leadership and Education Development, Stanley K. Lacy, Leadership Society.

Honors and Awards

AV Peer Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Indiana Super Lawyer (Business Litigation, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Indianapolis Business Journal "Top Forty under 40", 2005
Co-Recipient, Lewis & Kappes ‘Great Year Award,’ 2006
Recipient, Lewis & Kappes "Great Year Award", 2004
Recipient, Lewis & Kappes "Great Year Award", 1999