Joseph W. Hammes, Of-Counsel, concentrates his practice in the areas of eminent domain, outdoor advertising, and bankruptcy.  For more than thirty years he has defended private property rights and zealously represented property owners throughout the state of Indiana, seeking full and complete “just compensation” in eminent domain cases.  Throughout his career, he has protected all types of property and businesses while gaining substantial experience successfully litigating and amicably resolving hundreds of condemnation cases.  His modest involvement, during the 2006 Indiana legislative session, is a source of great satisfaction to him.  Mr. Hammes is also proud to have been chosen to represent some of the most successful and most civic-minded outdoor advertising companies in the industry over the past twenty-five years.

Before Mr. Hammes entered private practice in Indianapolis, his winning track record across Indiana resulted in his promotion to Chief Trial Deputy in the Eminent Domain Section of the Indiana Attorney General’s Office.  Currently, he frequently lectures on condemnation matters and has authored numerous papers on eminent domain topics for the Indiana Bar Association as well as for other private and public organizations. 

Mr. Hammes has been chosen by his peers as a Super Lawyer ever year the honor has been given by Law & Politics, published in Indianapolis Monthly magazine and Indiana Super Lawyers.  In 2006, he was the only lawyer in Indiana designated a “Super Lawyer” in the field of real estate litigation.

Among his many professional activities, Mr. Hammes is a member of the Indianapolis, Indiana State, and American Bar Associations.  He has been a Trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Indiana, since 1979; and he is a “Distinguished Fellow” of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation.