Kevin S. Smith

PARTNER
F
317.572.1609
Matthew S. Skelton
Kevin W. Vanderground

Education

  • Indiana University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
  • Indiana University, B.S., with high distinction

Bar Admissions

  • Indiana State Bar Association
  • U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana

Awards + Recognition

  • Certified Christian Conciliator™

Professional Memberships

  • Indiana State Bar Association, Appellate Practice Section
  • Hamilton County Bar Membership
  • Indianapolis Bar Association, Appellate Practice Section
  • Christian Legal Society

About Kevin

Kevin joined the firm in June 2016 after serving Hoosiers for more than a decade as both the Clerk of the Indiana Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Tax Court, and Supreme Court Administrator, managing 28 employees and gaining invaluable insight into the inner workings of Indiana’s Judicial Branch and its three highest courts. He also worked extensively on interpretations of and revisions to the Indiana Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Indiana Admission and Discipline Rules, and the Indiana Administrative Rules; led a multi-discipline team of public and private practitioners, court staff, and IT professionals in planning and implementing Indiana’s appellate e-filing initiative; taught numerous seminars on appellate procedure; and oversaw the Supreme Court’s legal and administrative caseload of approximately 1,000 matters per year and its transition from paper to electronic records.

Before government service, Kevin spent many years advising clients on a wide variety of labor and employment issues, such as civil rights and discrimination claims, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage and hour compliance, appropriate personnel policies, and covenants not to compete, as well as litigating matters in federal and state trial and appellate courts.

Prior to private practice, Kevin was honored to serve as law clerk to the Honorable Randall T. Shepard, Chief Justice of Indiana, and to the Honorable Alice M. Batchelder, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He graduated from the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana, with high distinction, finishing in the top 2% of his class of 200. While in law school he served as President of the school’s Christian Legal Society chapter and as an Editor on the Indiana Law Journal, and was inducted into the Order of the Coif.

For several years Kevin served CCHA clients in the areas of labor and employment law, appellate litigation, and general trial litigation. His appellate efforts included arguing several important cases before the Indiana Court of Appeals, the Indiana Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and serving as an appellate advocate advisor for other attorneys in their appeals. Kevin now focuses his time in the firm's Mediation practice.  He is a Registered Indiana Civil Mediator and one of only a few Hoosiers to have completed the rigorous training requirements necessary to be certified by the Institute for Christian Conciliation as a Certified Christian Conciliator™.  He is a long-time member of the national Christian Legal Society and also served for several years as a board member of the Northern Hamilton County Chamber of Commerce, spearheading its inaugural "Four Town Tour" bicycling event, which was a huge success.  

Kevin and his wife Maggie live in Carmel with their children. He attends College Park Church, serving in its disabilities ministry and as a biblical counselor in its "Soul Care" ministry.  He is also the Treasurer of the Northwest Indianapolis Warriors homeschool basketball program and is the live streamer/play-by-play announcer for the varsity team.  He volunteers in various capacities with Joni & Friends, an international disabilities ministry, and serves as a trail maintenance volunteer at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  When he has a quiet moment, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, backpacking, good books and movies, and listening to a wide variety of music.