Brian J. Lake

Bar Admissions: Indiana, Michigan, Florida

Education: University of Notre Dame (B.S.), cum laude; University of Michigan (J.D.), cum laude

Brian J. Lake is of counsel (retired) in the Corporate Department in the South Bend, Indiana, office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP. He has more than 30 years of experience in counseling and advising businesses to help them deal with today’s wide spectrum of legal issues and business transactions. He works closely with business owners to help achieve creative legal solutions that enable a business to take advantage of opportunities in the marketplace and be successful from one generation to the next.

Mr. Lake works closely with a wide range of closely held businesses. He has provided advice concerning business succession planning, purchases and sales of businesses (including ESOP transactions), successful negotiations to achieve long term business relationships, as well as other legal and business related planning for such companies.

Mr. Lake has worked with a number of companies in the media industry including cable TV, television and radio stations, newspapers and outdoor advertising companies. He has handled a wide number of business transactions with media industry clients including numerous transactions involving the purchase or sale of media businesses.

Mr. Lake has provided legal representation to a large number of physician groups. Such representation has included a wide range of business/health care related transactions and contracts including the purchase and sale of numerous physician practices.  Mr. Lake advises clients on executive compensation matters, deferred compensation plans, retirement plans and related matters. He also has made numerous presentations at legal seminars on these topics.

Mr. Lake has been listed in the Closely Held Business category in the Indiana Super Lawyers Magazine since 2004. Mr. Lake has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America (Employee Benefits) since 1987.

Mr. Lake graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame and cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School. Mr. Lake is admitted to practice in the states of Indiana, Florida and Michigan. He is a member of the Indiana, Florida, Michigan and St. Joseph County Bar Associations.

Mr. Lake has been active in the local community, having served as president of the board and chairman of the Nominating Committee of Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation (Public TV) and as chairman of the Family and Children’s Foundation Board, as well as Chairman of the Nominating Committee of the South Bend Symphony Board. He has also served on the boards of Family & Children’s Center, St. Joseph’s High School, South Bend Entertainment, Inc., and the Studebaker Museum and has been active in other civic and fund-raising activities and events for various charitable and civic organizations.

Since retiring from practicing law as of January 1, 2015, Mr. Lake has been providing business consulting advice primarily to family owned businesses.  Mr. Lake also serves on Boards of for- profit and not-for-profit companies.