David J. Tipton
317.297.8480 (phone and fax)
317.501.4793 (cell)
IndyLawAdvisor.com (website)
dave@indylawadvisor.com (email)     

Admissions: Indiana 1984; Florida 1984; U.S District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana

Organizations: Indiana State Bar Association; Indianapolis Bar Association; The Florida Bar   
                            
Dave, his wife Sandy and their daughter Maddy live on the north side of Indianapolis.
Dave was born to Joe and Helen Tipton on June 18, 1957, and raised in Indy. 

Dave graduated from Pike High School in 1975 with honors, from Manatee Community College (Bradenton, Florida) in 1977 (with honors), from Indiana University in 1979 (with honors) and from Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis (with honors) in 1984.  Dave played high school and college (at Manatee) golf and basketball, and played for Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame coach Ed Siegel.

While in law school Dave clerked for the Honorable Thomas J. Falconer, Chief Magistrate, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana; and for former Indiana Attorney General John J. Dillon and Dillon, Hardamon & Cohen (n/k/a Cohen & Malad). Attorneys normally begin learning on the job, but Dave grew up with the law through his father, Joe Tipton, a lifelong Indianapolis trial lawyer and former Marion County Deputy Prosecutor and Assistant Indiana Attorney General, Dave's first and foremost mentor.

Upon graduation from law school Dave accepted a position as an associate attorney at the Florida law firm of Holland & Knight, then the largest Florida law firm and now one of the largest law firms in the country, where he worked from 1984 -1987.  At H&K Dave worked on litigation and trials involving personal injury, property damage, business disputes and commercial collections in Florida and Federal courts. Dave was fortunate to be mentored by Warren M. Goodrich (the "Chief"), an amazing and legendary trial lawyer, a founding member of the Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers and former Florida Democratic Party Chairman, to name just a few of the long and storied list of the "Chief's" professional and public service achievements.

In 1987 Dave followed one of his mentors, Bob Greene, from Holland & Knight to Shea & Gould, and worked on matters involving creditor rights, tort litigation and trial work in state, federal, bankruptcy and appellate courts of Florida.  In 1990, along with the other attorneys of the Bradenton, Florida office of Shea & Gould, Dave became a founding partner of Greene, Donnelly, Schermer, Tipton & Moseley (n/k/a Greene, Hamrick, Perry, Quinlan & Schermer).  Dave was the partner responsible for the firm’s commercial litigation and trial department.

Dave worked on banking and business disputes in state, federal, bankruptcy and appellate courts.  Dave represented banks, FDIC, RTC, lenders, creditors, real estate developers, golf courses, landlords, businesses and insurance companies in tort litigation, trials and appeals including professional malpractice, products liability, lender liability, negligence and bankruptcy adversary proceedings.

In 1996, Dave, Sandy and then-baby Maddy moved back to Indianapolis to be closer to family and Dave became Of Counsel to his Florida firm, transitioning to an Indiana practice representing businesses as an outside “in-house counsel” involved in commercial litigation, contract drafting and business/legal negotiations. Dave was fortunate to work with Bob Greene, Kathy Schermer and Bob Schermer for ten (10) years. Bob Greene, former Manatee County Bar President, is simply the smartest, most practical and down-to-earth lawyer and person Dave has been associated with through the law.

In 2000 Dave became Of Counsel to the Indianapolis law firm Sommer Barnard (n/k/a Taft Stettinius & Hollister) where he worked on commercial litigation, debtor-creditor disputes, class actions, professional malpractice, and represented businesses in environmental litigation including insurance coverage and bad faith claims-handling in state, federal and appellate courts. Again, Dave had the good fortune of working closely with excellent attorneys at Taft, including Steve Shockley, Tom Barnard, Gary Pittinger, John Papageorge, Jeff Slaughter and Tom O'Gara, to name just a few.

In 2008 Dave took a sabbatical from law practice and became a part-owner and the general manager of Bluff Creek Golf Course in Greenwood, Indiana.  Dave was responsible for managing and overseeing all aspects of the business. This experience, and Dave's continued involvement with this business, provides real perspective in advising business clients.

In 2009 Dave opened his solo law office and continues to help administrate and manage Bluff Creek Golf Course, as well as assist his wife Sandy with her Broad Ripple Farmer’s Market business, Incredible Edibles. In Florida Dave was an advisory board member to the Manatee County Boys and Girls Club, also coaching youth basketball and baseball. Dave has coached youth basketball in Indianapolis with the Washington Township house league Panther Girls Basketball Association and is now a "Choir Dad" at North Central High School as daughter Maddy participates in the performing arts programs at NCHS.

Curriculum Vitae Please click on the pdf link to the right to download Dave Tipton's CV. Please feel free to call Dave at 317-297-8480 or click the link below to email Dave for more information.

Contact Dave Tipton for more info