Douglas D. Church

PARTNER
F
317.773.5320
Kara Carlson
Caroline Crouch

Education

  • Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana, J.D., 1970
  • Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, B.A. 1966

Bar Admissions

  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Indiana Supreme Court

Awards + Recognition

  • Indiana Super Lawyer 2012-2024
  • “AV Preeminent” Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell indicating the highest level of professional experience
  • Master Fellow, Indiana State Bar Foundation
  • Certificate of Merit and Appreciation, The Appellate Court of Indiana, 1970
  • American Bar Association Gold Key Award, 1970
  • Indiana State Bar Association Citation of Merit, 1982
  • Super Lawyers: 2002-2010, 2012-2018
  • Irv Merritt Award, Greater Indiana Masters Swim Association, 1989
  • Volunteer of the Year, Hamilton County Branch, Greater Indianapolis YMCA, 1996
  • Man of the Year, Hamilton County Branch, Greater Indianapolis YMCA, 1997
  • Frank Campbell Service Award, Hamilton County Bar Association, 1997
  • Hamilton County Citizen of the Year Award, Topics Newspaper, 1997
  • Josiah K. Durfee Award Recipient, Noblesville Preservation Alliance, 2000
  • Indiana State Bar Association "Cinch Strap" Award, 2000
  • Indiana State Bar Association "Cinch Strap" Award, 2004
  • Indiana State Bar Association inductee General Practice, Small Firm and Solo Hall of Fame, 2003
  • "Friend of the Arts" Award, Noblesville Cultural Arts Commission, 2012
  • Ranson Arthur Lifetime Achievement Award, United States Masters Swimming, 2012

Professional Memberships

  • Noblesville, 1988-1996, City Attorney
  • Town of Fishers, 1980-2015, Town Attorney
  • Hamilton County Bar Association, Past President
  • Indiana State Bar Association, Member, Board of Governors
  • Indiana State Bar Association, 2003-2004, Chair, House of Delegates
  • Indiana State Bar Association, 2007-2008, President
  • Indiana State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, Chairperson
  • Indiana State Bar Association, Local Government Section, Chairperson
  • Hamilton County Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • The American Board of Trial Advocates, Member
  • Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, Member
  • Indiana Municipal Lawyer Association, Past President
  • American Bar Association, National Co-Chair, Small Firm Litigation Management Committee
  • American Bar Association, Member, House of Delegates
  • Indiana University Law School Alumni Association
  • Noblesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Past President
  • Greater Indianapolis YMCA Foundation, Board of Trustees
  • United Theological Seminary, 2000-2002, Board of Trustees
  • Tri-County Mental Health Association
  • Hamilton County Leadership Development Academy, Past Board Chair
  • Hamilton County Extension Service, 1997-2001, Member, Board of Directors
  • The Hamilton County Progress Committee, Past President
  • The Greater Indiana Masters Swim Association
  • Conner Prairie Museum Inc., Past Board Chair
  • The National Eagle Scout Association
  • The United States Masters Swimming Endowment Fund, Board Chair
  • United States Masters Swimming, Inc., 2001-2005, Treasurer
  • The Journal of Cognitive Rehabilitation, Member, Board of Reviewers

Community Involvement

  • Noblesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Past President
  • Greater Indianapolis YMCA Foundation, Board of Trustees
  • Tri-County Mental Health Association
  • Hamilton County Leadership Development Academy
  • Hamilton County Extension Service, Member, Board of Directors
  • The Greater Indiana Masters Swim Association
  • Conner Prairie Museum, Inc.
  • The National Eagle Scout Association
  • The United States Masters Swimming Endowment Fund, Board Chair
  • The Journal of Cognitive Rehabilitation, Member, Board of Reviewers

About Doug

Doug concentrates his practice on civil litigation, mediation, and municipal law, including representation of municipal corporations. He served as Town Attorney for the Town of Fishers from 1980 to 2015 and was City Attorney for Noblesville from 1988 to 1996. He is routinely involved in civil litigation matters before the courts of general jurisdiction throughout the State of Indiana as well as United States District Courts.

In addition to representing numerous clients before plan commissions and boards of zoning appeals, he has also represented municipal corporations, including Fishers and Noblesville, on a vast array of legal matters. His extensive experience in litigation resulted in his induction into the American Board of Trial Advocates with the rank of Advocate. In both bench and jury trials, Doug has dealt with a wide variety of legal issues from complex commercial litigation to personal injury and medical malpractice matters to family and estate disputes. Since the advent of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, Doug has been routinely selected to serve as a mediator by parties and judges throughout Indiana.

Doug has been very active in organized bar associations and has served as president of the Hamilton County Bar Association, president of the Indiana State Bar Association, president of the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, member of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Bar Foundation and member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association. His civic and community involvement has been extensive and he considers his service on the Conner Prairie Board of Trustees and his service on the Greater Indianapolis YMCA Foundation Board of Trustees as distinct privileges.