Circle City Conversations

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes welcomes longtime friend Cara Chittenden for a conversation at French Lick Resort during the Bench Bar Conference. Now an estate planning attorney in Carmel, Indiana, Cara reflects on a legal career that has taken her from a federal clerkship to insurance defense, family law, and ultimately estate planning, guardianships, and elder law.

In this episode…

Cara shares her experience clerking for Judge William T. Lawrence, where she conducted legal research and helped refine judicial opinions in a collaborative and intellectually rewarding environment. She discusses her early work in insurance defense and family law, explaining why the emotional conflict involved in family disputes ultimately led her to seek a practice where she could help families navigate difficult decisions without adding to their disagreements.

The conversation explores Cara's work in estate planning and elder law, including why personalized legal guidance matters when preparing documents that may affect families for generations. She explains the limitations of relying exclusively on do-it-yourself online services, highlighting how Indiana's legal requirements and the details of an individual's circumstances can make working with an attorney valuable. Cara also discusses the importance of helping clients understand their documents, communicate their intentions clearly, and create plans that continue to serve them as life changes.

Cara reflects on what makes estate planning especially rewarding: building lasting relationships with clients and sometimes working with multiple generations of the same family. She also addresses a common misconception about legal documents, that simply putting something in writing guarantees everyone will understand it. Her approach emphasizes thoughtful conversations, clear communication, and planning ahead rather than assuming a document will answer every question on its own.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Cara Chittenden shares a thoughtful perspective on estate planning, professional growth, and the importance of relationships in both law and life. From helping families prepare for the future to building meaningful connections with colleagues and clients, Cara's story highlights the value of clear communication, personalized guidance, and finding a legal practice that aligns with your values.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes sits down with Anthony Benitez of the Marc Lopez Law Firm to discuss his unexpected path into criminal defense, his connection to the Hispanic community, and the experiences that shaped him as an advocate. Raised in Dallas, Texas, Anthony ultimately chose Wabash College in Indiana, where an unexpected change in academic direction helped set him on the path toward a career in law.

In this episode…

Anthony reflects on his time at Wabash, his initial plans to pursue pre-med, and the realization that medicine was not the right fit for him. After discovering a stronger interest in psychology, history, political science, and Spanish, Anthony began exploring a career in law. He shares how a brief experience in immigration law in Houston eventually brought him back to Indiana and how a recommendation through a Facebook group led him to an interview with Marc Lopez.

Since joining the Marc Lopez Law Firm, Benitez helped foster a firm culture built around hard work, camaraderie, and enjoying the work. He discusses why criminal defense and trial work became such a natural fit, particularly the opportunity to tell a client's story through cross-examination and closing arguments.

Benitez also talks about the importance of serving the Hispanic community and how being bilingual allows him to communicate with clients directly and build relationships across cultural and language barriers. He explains why creating a sense of trust and comfort can be especially important when clients are facing serious criminal charges and difficult moments in their lives.

Outside of law, Anthony shares his passion for sports, including his lifelong support of the Dallas Cowboys and his enthusiasm for soccer. He also talks about following his children's athletic pursuits as they compete at collegiate and professional levels around the country, highlighting the importance of family alongside his demanding career.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Anthony Benitez offers a personal look at the journey that brought him from Dallas to Indiana. His story reflects a commitment to advocacy, community, family, and the belief that authentic relationships can make a meaningful difference in the practice of law.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes sits down with attorney Matt Kroes for a wide-ranging conversation that blends personal stories, courtroom experiences, and lessons from a career in criminal defense. The two reflect on the early days of the show at the Marc Lopez Law Firm, the evolution of legal media and YouTube, and the challenges of balancing a demanding legal career with life outside the courtroom.

In this episode…

Matt shares his journey from growing up in Chicago's Wrigleyville and Vernon Hills to attending Purdue University and eventually pursuing his law degree at the University of Dayton. He reflects on his athletic upbringing, his family's move to Indiana, his strong Purdue loyalty, and the unexpected series of events, including meeting his future wife while studying for the bar, that shaped his personal and professional life.

The conversation turns to Matt's legal career, he discusses his desire to fight for people facing powerful institutions, his years of trial experience, and his remarkable streak of consecutive not guilty verdicts. Matt also walks through memorable courtroom moments, including a case involving pepper spray at a custody exchange, explaining how he manages client expectations and approaches cross-examination as one of the most engaging parts of trial work.

Matt describes his approach to closing arguments, comparing the experience to performing a comedic monologue and explaining how he enters a unique state of focus when presenting a case to a jury. He also emphasizes that successful litigation is about much more than legal strategy. Building genuine relationships with prosecutors, court staff, opposing attorneys, and fellow lawyers can play an important role in navigating cases and building a lasting career.

The discussion also covers the changing nature of professional networking after COVID-19. Matt encourages young lawyers to get out from behind their screens, attend events, reach out to other attorneys, and become active members of their legal communities. He explains why criminal defense in particular is a relationship-driven practice, where reputation, trust, and genuine connections can lead to opportunities and referrals.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Matt Kroes offers an entertaining and candid look at criminal defense, trial strategy, relationships, and the unpredictable experiences that come with practicing law. His advice for young lawyers is straightforward: work hard, stay persistent, build real relationships, and get involved in the legal community.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes sits down with attorney Dustin Fregiato of Ladendorf Fregiato & Bigler to discuss his journey from a small town in eastern Ohio to becoming a trial lawyer and firm owner in Indiana. Growing up with a father who served as a trial court judge gave Dustin an early look at litigation and helped spark his interest in the courtroom, eventually leading him from Ohio State University to IU McKinney and a career focused on complex legal matters.

In this episode…

Dustin explains what drew him to litigation and why he enjoys the strategic side of trial work. From his early experience in the prosecutor's office to his practice in personal injury, medical malpractice, and vaccine law, Dustin discusses the process of building a case, identifying the strongest arguments, and preparing for the unpredictable nature of a trial. He shares lessons from mentors and judges who taught him the importance of trusting his preparation and standing behind his legal judgment.

Much of the conversation focuses on what happens before a lawyer ever steps into a courtroom. Dustin describes his approach to case preparation, including reviewing evidence, developing the story of a case, discussing theories with others, and adapting strategy to different judges and jury pools. He also explains why his meticulously organized trial box remains an essential part of his preparation, even as technology and artificial intelligence become increasingly useful tools for document review, drafting, and managing large amounts of evidence.

Dustin also reflects on the realities of practicing law that law school cannot fully prepare attorneys for. After becoming an owner of Ladendorf Fregiato & Bigler, he gained a new perspective on time management, business responsibilities, and the importance of keeping client interests at the center of difficult decisions. He offers advice to younger attorneys about developing their legal skills first while recognizing that business knowledge eventually becomes an important part of running a law firm.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Dustin Fregiato shares an inside look at the preparation, curiosity, and confidence that shape his approach to trial law. From meticulously organizing a trial box to embracing new technology, Dustin's philosophy is grounded in preparation, authenticity, and a genuine enjoyment of both his work and the life he has built outside the courtroom.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes continues the Cinco de Mayo Podcast Tour with the second stop at Ladendorf Fregiato & Bigler, sitting down with attorney Matt Bigler. Growing up in Washington, Indiana, Matt never initially imagined a career in law. His early goal was to become a high school history teacher and coach, but an unexpected change in direction eventually led him from Indiana State and Purdue to IU Law School and ultimately into the courtroom.

In this episode…

Matt shares the winding path that brought him into the legal profession, including his early experiences in education, graduate school, and the pivotal encouragement from a friend that led him to an internship with the prosecutor's office. After beginning his legal career in Warrick County, Matt moved to Indianapolis and quickly found himself handling DUI cases and serious alcohol-related crashes. That experience became the foundation for his approach to investigating complex personal injury cases.

The conversation explores how skills developed as a DUI prosecutor, including analyzing blood alcohol evidence, cell phone data, crash reconstruction, and causation, translate directly into personal injury litigation. Matt also discusses getting early trial experience, trying jury cases within months of joining Marion County, and why hands-on courtroom experience remains so important for attorneys who want to become effective litigators.

The conversation also dives into some of Matt's most memorable cases, including a complicated dram shop lawsuit involving a bar, a staged scene, criminal proceedings, and the challenge of gathering the evidence necessary to prove liability. Matt explains why he gravitates toward complex liability cases, wrongful death, medical malpractice, crash reconstruction, and cases involving law enforcement.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Matt Bigler offers an honest look at an unpredictable legal career, the value of trial experience, and the importance of staying authentic along the way. From his early ambitions of teaching and coaching to becoming a trial lawyer and firm owner, Matt's story is a reminder that careers do not always follow the path you expect and sometimes the unexpected turns lead you exactly where you belong.

R.T. Green's journey through the Indiana legal community is rooted in small-town values, mentorship, public service, and a lifelong commitment to helping others. From growing up in Madison, Indiana, to practicing law and serving as a judge in Bartholomew County, Green has spent his career learning from the people and communities around him.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes sits down with R.T. Green to discuss his path through Indiana's legal profession, the mentors who shaped his career, his experience on the bench, and the values that have guided him both inside and outside the courtroom.

In this episode… Growing up in southern Indiana, R.T. Green was surrounded by examples of community service and perseverance. He reflects on his father's role in helping establish the Vernon Volunteer Fire Department, his family's farming and small-business roots, and the lessons he learned from growing up in a community where helping your neighbors was simply part of life.

Green discusses his experiences playing basketball throughout Indiana and attending Indiana State University before beginning his legal career. He shares stories about the mentors who influenced him, including Leon Cline, and explains how their professionalism, work ethic, and dedication to justice helped shape his own approach to practicing law.

His career eventually took him from practicing attorney to judge in Bartholomew County, where he became the youngest circuit court judge and was later considered for the Indiana Supreme Court. Green explains how experiencing the legal system from different perspectives as an attorney, judge, and clerk, gave him a broader understanding of advocacy, courtroom dynamics, and the human emotions behind difficult cases.

The conversation also explores how the practice of law has evolved. Green discusses the growing role of technology, jury research, and artificial intelligence in modern litigation, comparing today's sophisticated data-driven tools with earlier approaches to understanding jurors and preparing cases.

Beyond the courtroom, Green shares his passion for fishing, hunting, conservation, and preserving Indiana's outdoor traditions. He also reflects on working alongside his son, Collin, and the pride that comes from passing knowledge and experience to the next generation.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes and R.T. Green discuss Indiana's legal community, small-town values, mentorship, judicial service, family, and the importance of giving back. Green's story demonstrates how a career in law can be shaped not only by courtroom victories, but by the people, communities, and traditions that teach us how to serve others with humility and integrity.

In this special episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes heads to French Lick, Indiana, for the Bench Bar Conference, where attorneys from across Indiana gather for education, networking, and camaraderie. This episode combines two conversations from the conference with Rebecca Geyer, an estate planning and elder law attorney, and Dave Duncan, in-house counsel for Scannell Properties.

In this episode… The Bench Bar Conference has grown from a relatively small gathering into a major event for Indiana's legal community, creating opportunities for attorneys to step away from the courtroom and build relationships with colleagues across different areas of practice. Rebecca and Dave reflect on how the conference has evolved and why its lasting appeal goes beyond the continuing legal education.

Rebecca Geyer discusses her work in estate planning and elder law while sharing what makes the Bench Bar Conference such a valuable opportunity to connect with other attorneys. Dave Duncan offers a perspective from his role as Assistant GC, discussing his work in real estate development and the legal issues that arise in transactions, including utilities and other considerations that can have significant implications for projects.

Rebecca and Dave also offer advice for younger attorneys who may feel uncomfortable walking into a room full of established legal professionals. They emphasize the importance of introducing yourself, participating in conversations, and taking advantage of opportunities to become involved in the broader legal community.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes speaks with Rebecca Geyer and Dave Duncan about their careers, the evolution of the Bench Bar Conference, and the importance of building relationships within the legal profession. Despite the summer heat in French Lick, the conference demonstrates why education, friendship, and community remain such important parts of a fulfilling legal career.

In this special episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes heads to French Lick, Indiana, for the Indy Bar Bench Bar Conference, where attorneys from across the Indiana legal community gather to learn, connect, and enjoy time together outside the courtroom. This episode combines two conversations from the conference with Indianapolis family law attorney Sarah Baker and product liability associate Bianca Eddy.

Sarah Baker is a family law attorney and co-founder of Baker Lindsey Sadler. With years of experience in family law and attending the Bench Bar Conference, Sarah offers an honest look at the realities of practicing family law, building a legal practice, and maintaining meaningful relationships within the profession.

In this episode… What does it really take to build a successful legal career? Beyond legal knowledge and courtroom skills, both Sarah Baker and Bianca Eddy emphasize the importance of relationships, community involvement, and simply being willing to put yourself out there.

Sarah discusses common misconceptions about family law, explaining why real courtroom experiences are far more emotionally complicated than what television portrays. She shares the importance of setting realistic expectations with clients, understanding the personal circumstances behind each case, and recognizing that practicing law requires both legal knowledge and empathy.

The conversation also explores the role of the Bench Bar Conference as a place where professional relationships turn into lasting friendships. Sarah offers advice to young attorneys on networking, encouraging them to introduce themselves to judges and colleagues, attend community events, and embrace the discomfort that often comes with putting yourself out there.

Alex also sits down with Bianca, a product liability associate who moved to Indianapolis after practicing law in Boston. Bianca discusses her passion for courtroom litigation and how her background in theater has helped her develop confidence, presence, and quick thinking at trial. She shares why she enjoys the welcoming atmosphere of the Bench Bar Conference and encourages young lawyers to take the simple step of walking up and starting a conversation.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes speaks with Sarah and Bianca about litigation, networking, professional relationships, and finding community within the legal profession. Their experiences highlight an important lesson for lawyers at every stage of their careers: success isn't built solely in the courtroom, it is also built through the people you meet, the relationships you maintain, and your willingness to become part of the community around you.

Every legal career has a starting point. For host Alex Limontes, attorney Dawson Jones, attorney Chase Wilson, and law clerk Enrico Stazzone, that journey began at Hurst Limontes.

In this special episode of Circle City Conversations, the team reflects on the law clerk experience that has helped shape generations of attorneys at Hurst Limontes. Alex shares his own path from law clerk to attorney before ultimately purchasing the firm from Bill Hurst, while Dawson and Chase discuss their transition from clerks to practicing attorneys. Enrico offers the perspective of someone currently learning the profession from the ground up.

For more than 50 years, Hurst Limontes has built a culture rooted in mentorship, hands-on learning, and client-first advocacy. The conversation explores how those values have been passed from one generation of lawyers to the next.

In this episode… What separates a great law clerk from a great attorney? While law school provides the legal foundation, real growth often comes through mentorship, practical experience, and a willingness to learn from every opportunity.

Alex Limontes, Dawson Jones, Chase Wilson, and Enrico Stazzone discuss what it was like starting their careers at Hurst Limontes, from conducting legal research and drafting motions to investigating accident scenes and preparing cases for litigation. They explain how practical experience taught lessons that simply can't be learned in the classroom and why asking questions, embracing responsibility, and remaining humble are essential for long-term success.

The conversation also honors the mentorship of Bill Hurst and the firm's longstanding philosophy that serving clients always comes before profits. Each guest reflects on how that culture shaped not only their legal skills but also their approach to leadership, professionalism, and client advocacy. Together, they demonstrate how investing in young attorneys creates a lasting legacy that continues to strengthen the legal profession.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes, Enrico Stazzone, Dawson Jones, and Chase Wilson discuss mentorship, professional growth, and the journey from law clerk to attorney. Their stories illustrate how curiosity, perseverance, and a commitment to serving others can lay the foundation for a successful and meaningful legal career.

As part of the Circle City Conversations' Cinco de Mayo Tour, Alex Limontes visits Team Green Law to sit down with attorney Collin Green. From a career that began in architecture, engineering, and construction management to helping launch the Team Green personal injury law firm, Collin shares how unexpected career changes, family influence, and a passion for helping others led him to the practice of law.

In this episode… Career paths rarely follow a straight line. Sometimes the skills developed in one profession become the foundation for success in another. How do you know when it's time to make a major career change, and what does it take to build a law firm that reflects your own vision and values?

Collin Green reflects on his journey from studying architecture at Ball State University and working on large engineering and construction projects to attending law school during the aftermath of the 2008 recession. He discusses balancing family life while earning his law degree, the lessons learned practicing alongside his father, and the decision to launch Team Green Law in 2022 with a focus on client advocacy, community involvement, and long-term growth.

The conversation also explores the importance of networking, mentorship, and developing courtroom experience for young attorneys. Collin shares why building authentic relationships, participating in the local legal community, and gaining experience outside familiar environments can shape a successful legal career. Beyond the office, he discusses his passion for coaching youth sports, preserving family farmland in Kentucky, and passing down his love for hunting, fishing, and the outdoors to the next generation.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes interviews Collin Green about career reinvention, entrepreneurship, growing a modern law firm, and the importance of community, family, and legacy. Collin's story demonstrates how adaptability, hard work, and staying true to your values can create lasting success both inside and outside the courtroom.