Judy G. Hester is a 1986 Cum Laude graduate of Loyola University in Chicago, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree and a Master’s degree in Social Work. Prior to matriculation at Loyola, Judy earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. She is admitted to practice law in the States of Illinois and Indiana, as well as the U.S. District Courts in the Southern District of Indiana, the Northern District of Illinois, and the Court of Federal Claims.
Judy has served as a commercial litigator for the prestigious Chicago law firm of Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather & Geraldson, and later went on to manage nationwide litigation efforts for Sears Mortgage Corporation. After several years as in-house counsel, she continued to counsel Sears Mortgage and its successors following moves to the United Kingdom and later to Indiana. Judy’s experiences, however, cover much more than high-profile commercial litigation. She has directed a foster care program, and also served as an adoption case worker. She has worked in the Federal Probation and Parole Office, in that time successfully dealing with mob criminals and serial killers.
Judy's litigation expertise is drawn not only from these broad experiences, but also from her more recent litigation and dispute resolution work in Indiana. In 2003, Judy’s desire to make her vision of a compassionate and values-driven law practice into a reality led her to become a founding member of our firm, and her guiding principles of legal acumen combined with compassion and understanding also serve as touchstones for the firm. Her long-standing commitment to serving others defines our firm and will continue to benefit the firm and its clients. Judy resides in Carmel with her husband and two children, and is a parishioner at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Westfield. jhester@brazillhester.com
Richard C. Hersberger was admitted to practice law in the State of Indiana in October of 2004 after graduating that year from the Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis. Preceding law school, Rich graduated in 1997 from Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Indiana and in 2001 earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and History from Indiana University in Bloomington. Rich joined the firm as a law clerk after a period of pro bono service with the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic in Indianapolis. He is now an associate attorney in our office with a broad practice area, focusing on civil litigation and family law. Rich has also worked on several appellate cases in his tenure with us. Rich lives in his childhood home of Fortville with his wife and three children. He is a parishioner at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Fortville. rhersberger@brazillhester.com
Brenda K. Davidson skillfully serves our attorneys and clients as a paralegal, providing invaluable assistance to all attorneys at the firm, ranging from drafting court documents to her unmatched rapport with clients. Brenda earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Advising from Purdue University in West Lafayette, and brings to the firm considerable experience working in the investment and banking industries. Moreover, her compassion and understanding of clients’ needs in trying times make her a unique asset, appreciated by the firm’s attorneys and clients alike. Brenda resides with her daughter and her son attends Purdue University.bdavidson@brazillhester.com
Pamela A. Carlisle provides support to our firm as an administrative assistant. A 1968 graduate of George Washington High School in Indianapolis, she also has experience working for Prudential Insurance Company. Prior to joining the firm, Pam worked with Tim Brazill as an administrative assistant from 1995 to 2006. Her experiences with Tim were as challenging and rewarding as they were wide-ranging, including conventional legal secretary duties, assistance ordering equipment and planning functions for Tim’s youth football teams, and most importantly, a great friendship. Pam’s friendly voice is often a client’s first introduction to our firm, and she provides loyal and caring support to all of our staff. Pam resides in Speedway with her husband of thirty-seven years and enjoys reading and spending time with her three children, four grandchildren, and two Rottweilers. She attends the Avon Community Church of God. pcarlisle@brazillhester.com
Timothy P. Brazill, deceased, a founding member of our firm, brought an unmistakable faith, energy, and love for life to all those with whom he associated, not to mention his renowned legal expertise. Tim was a 1982 graduate of the Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis, and preceding law school he attended Wabash College with the prestigious Lilly Scholarship, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, and also serving as president of the student body and Rush Chairman and active member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.
During his legal career, Tim cultivated a superior and well-respected legal expertise in corporate finance, strategic and complex business formation and transactions, and advanced estate and tax planning. Tim’s high energy level was devoted not only to his work, but to his family’s church and school, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Carmel. He coached football at Bellmont High School in his childhood home of Decatur, Indiana and became synonymous with the football program at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, earning national recognition for the program and mentoring hundreds of young men in the process. He resided in Carmel with his wife and two sons until he left this world to meet his Savior on February 19, 2006. His inspirational life and powerful example of faith through service to others has left an indelible mark on all of us as well as our firm and helps define our mission.
OF COUNSEL
C. Jefferson “Jeff” Cragen, who serves of counsel to our firm, earned B.A. degrees in Political Science and Psychology at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana in 1992 before earning his Juris Doctor at Valparaiso Law School in 1995. Jeff received honors for his writings on professional ethics at Valparaiso and taught a course in professional ethics at the school. He also studied law in Cambridge, England, with Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. An ardent advocate of minority rights in the law, Jeff has dedicated much of his professional focus to the needs of the elderly and the disabled in our community. He has been invited to speak across Indiana about estate planning and Medicaid planning, and he stresses the goals of maintaining control and protection of assets within families with strategies such as Family Limited Partnerships.
As an attorney who primarily practices estate planning, Jeff has considerable experience with various types of trusts, including specialized trusts such as credit shelter trusts, Qualified Terminable Interest Property trusts, and irrevocable life insurance trusts. Jeff previously practiced with Medley, Cragen, & Sellmer in Carmel, Indiana before moving his practice to downtown Indianapolis in 2004, and he has served of-counsel with Brazill Hester, P.C. since 2006. Jeff is a life-long Indiana resident.
jcragen@brazillhester.com
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