Carol Sparks Drake

Carol Sparks Drake has extensive appellate and utility law experience. She has authored appellate briefs on behalf of national, publicly traded companies and Indiana utilities in complex business and territorial disputes, as well as upon personal matters such as adoption, custody, and other family law issues. She has briefed appeals upon matters of first impression impacting Indiana litigants. Because of her long-time practice in Boone County, Carol also has substantial experience providing healthcare and other business and professional legal services, particularly contract negotiation and drafting for real estate, construction, and general business needs. In addition, having a county seat practice enabled her to work with local municipal and corporate clients, along with individuals desiring estate planning, probate, adoption, dissolution, child support, and other personal legal services.

Carol has functioned as general counsel to utilities, municipalities, and other clients, including the county hospital, while continuing to meet individual client needs.

She serves as counsel for Zionsville's Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.

Areas of Practice:

Business Law/Corporations; Appellate Law; Utility Law; Healthcare; Real Estate and Zoning; Family Law; Estate Planning; Litigation

Bar Admissions

Indiana, 1978
U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 1978
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit

Education

Indiana University at Bloomington School of Law, Bloomington, Indiana, 1978, J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence -- Honors: Cum Laude
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 1975, B.A., Bachelor of Arts -- Honors: Dean's List 1971, 72, 73, 74 and 75; Alpha Lambda Delta -- Major: Political Science and Forensic Studies

Representative Cases

Laflamme v. Goodwin, 911 N.E. 2d 660 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009)
Porter Development v. First National Bank of Valparaiso, 866 N.E. 2d 775 (Ind. Supreme Court 2007)
Coca-Cola Co. v. Babyback's International, Inc., 841 N.E. 2d 557 (Ind. Supreme Court 2006)
Borth v. Borth, 806 N.E. 2d 866 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004)
Indiana Department of Environmental Management v. Boone County Resource Recovery Systems, 803 N.E. 2d 267 (Ind. Ct.App 2004)
In re: Witham Memorial Hospital v. Lalas, 706 N.E. 2d 1083 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999)
Knox County Rural Elec. Membership Corp. v. PSI Energy Inc., 663 N.E. 2d 182 (Inc. Ct. App. 1996)
In re: Guardianship of Koors, 656 N.E. 2d 530 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995)
Rogers V. Grunden, 589 N.E. 2d 248 (Ind.Ct. App. 1992)
Compton v. Pletch, 580 N.E. 2d 664 (Ind. Supreme Court 1991)
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. v. Public Service Comm'n of Indiana, 552 N.E. 2d 23 (Ind. Supreme Court 1990)
United Rural Elec. Membership Corp. v. Indiana & Michigan Elec. Co., 549 N.E. 2d 1019 (Ind. Supreme Court 1990)
Manns V. State, 541 N.E. 2d 929 (Ind. Supreme Court 1989)

Classes/Seminars Taught

Faculty, Appellate Skills Institute, ICLEF, 2009
Lecturer, Appellate Practice Seminar, ICLEF, 2007
Faculty, Appellate Skills Institute, ICLEF, 2006
Co-Chair, The Art of Appellate Practice (Masters Level Series), Continuing Legal Education Forum (ICLEF), 2005
Panelist, Current Indiana Appellate Topics: Civility, Sanctions, and Whether to Publish Opinions, ISBA Appellate Practice Section Fall Meeting Roundtable, 2005
Co-Chair, Appellate Practice Seminar, ICLEF, 2004
Faculty, Developing Appellate Skills, ICLEF, 2003
Lecturer, Appellate Practice and Procedure, ICLEF, 1993
Lecturer, Life After Opt-Out, Indiana Rural Electric Membership Cooperatives, 1998
Lecturer, Organizational Issues for Your Cooperative's Board of Directors, 1995
Lecturer, Readying Your Cooperative for Competitive Challenges, 1994

Honors and Awards

Fellow, Indiana Bar Foundation (1993 to present)
Boss of the Year, presented by Boone County Legal Personnel (1996)

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Member, Indiana State Bar Association, Appellate Practice Section, 2003 - Present;
Indiana State Bar Association, Appellate Practice Section, 2003 - 2004, Chair;
Member, Boone County Bar Association, 1983 - Present;
Boone County Bar Association, 1997 - 1998, President;
Member Indiana State Bar Association, Appellate Practice, Utility, Real Estate and Land Use, & Agricultural Law Sections;
Charter Member, Electric Cooperative Bar Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), 2000 - 2009;
Member, Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association, 1991 - Present;
Member, Indianapolis Bar Association, Appellate Practice Section

Past Employment Positions:

Parr Richey Obremskey & Morton, Partner, 1983 - 2007
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Administrative Law Judge, 1981 - 1983
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Staff Counsel, 1981
Indiana Court of Appeals, Law Clerk to Judge Eugene N. Chipman (1978-1981) and Judge Robert Neal (1981)

Areas of Experience

Business law
Business litigation
Corporate governance
Contracts
Utility Law
Wind Farm Leases
Real Estate
Zoning
Land use
Easements
Appeals
Municipal Law
Civil litigation
Personal Injury Litigation
Physician contracts
Non-compete agreements
Estate Planning
Division of marital assets
Child custody disputes
Support
Prenuptial Agreements