John W. Van Laere
John W. Van Laere is a partner practicing in various areas of business and consumer matters. Born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, he attended Purdue University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science majoring in Computer Science. He returned to the South Bend area, married his high school sweetheart, worked for a nationwide computer banking service and attended night school at Indiana University of South Bend towards a Masters in Business Administration, prior to attending law school at Indiana University, Bloomington, where he obtained his degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence. After working as an associate attorney in Illinois for a couple of years, he returned to the South Bend area after he learned that he and his wife were expecting their first child, to be with his and his wife's family and extended family and to join Jones Obenchain. He joined Jones Obenchain in 1984 as an associate and became a partner in 1989.
Although his practice is quite diverse, he is certified in business bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification. He represents both creditors and debtors in bankruptcy matters in the Northern District of Indiana, as well as in the Indianapolis Division of the Southern District of Indiana and the Western District of Michigan. In addition to his bankruptcy practice, Mr. Van Laere represents parties in foreclosure actions, warranty disputes, creation of businesses, buying and selling of businesses and business assets, personal injury matters, and other legal matters.
Mr. Van Laere taught at Ivy Tech Community College, is a guest lecturer at Bethel College and is a frequent lecturer at local and state bar seminars. He is past chair of the Indiana State Bar Association - Debtors and Creditors' Rights Section and of the St. Joseph County Bar Association - Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights Section. He is a past president and past director of the Kiwanis Club of South Bend, Inc., past chair of Junior Achievement of Michiana, Inc. and was active in the Boy Scouts of America Explorer Program working with youth interested in pursuing careers in law.
A devoted family man, Mr. Van Laere and his wife, Julie, live in Niles, Michigan and have three children. Mr. Van Laere's hobbies including taking care of the many animals, most of which have been abandoned or given to them to raise. He enjoys the outdoors and traveling.
He has published opinions pertaining to cases in Federal Bankruptcy Court, Federal Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Mr. Van Laere was featured in the Indiana Super Lawyers 2007 as one of the top attorneys in Indiana as determined by his peers.
Reported cases: Henning v. Amsted Indus., 56 F.3d 29 (7th Cir. 1995); Wilbur v. Keybank Nat'l Ass'n., 962 F.Supp. 1122 (N.D. Ind. 1997); American Standard Ins. Co. v. Bakehorn, 147 B.R. 480 (N.D. Ind. 1992); Wright v. Kosciusko Medical Clinic, Inc., 791 F.Supp. 1327 (N.D. Ind. 1992); Korkos v. Korkos, No. 03-32402, 2005 Bankr. LEXIS 1808 (N.D. Ind. B. 2005); Porter v. Sallie Mae Servicing Corp., No. 03-33552, 2005 Bankr. LEXIS 1839 (N.D. Ind. B. 2005); In re Schmeltz, 114 B.R. 607 (N.D. Ind. B. 1990); In re General Microcomputer, 118 B.R. 96 (N.D. Ind. B. 1989); In re PMH Corp., 116 B.R. 644 (N.D. Ind. B. 1989); In re Brethren Care of South Bend, Inc., 98 B.R. 927 (N.D. Ind. B. 1989); Encore Constr. Corp. v. SC Bodner Constr., Inc., 765 N.E.2d 223 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002); West American Ins. Co. v. McGhee, Inc., 530 N.E.2d 110 (Ind. Ct. App. 1988); J.M. Schultz Seed Co. v. Robertson, 451 N.E.2d 62 (Ind. Ct. App. 1983).
John W. Van Laere
Partner
574.233.1194
574.233.8957 (fax)
Assistant: Emily Hans
Areas of Practice:
- Bankruptcy Law
- Foreclosures
- Warranty Disputes
- Business Formations & Transactions
- Personal Injury Law
Professional Credentials:
- J.D., Indiana University
- B.S., Purdue University
Bar Admission:
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Michigan
- United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
- Federal District Court of Illinois
- Federal District Court of Indiana
- Federal District Court of Michigan
Bar Associations:
- Indiana State Bar Association
- St. Joseph County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Michigan State Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
Professional Associations:
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Commercial Law League of America
100 Years of Putting Clients First Attorneys & Business Counselors Since 1906
Jones Obenchain, LLP - 202 South Michigan Street - 600 Key Bank Building - P.O. Box 4577 - South Bend, Indiana 46634
