Attorney Profile

Born in Frankfort, Indiana, December 25, 1953; admitted to bar, 1984, Indiana and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana; 1985, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 1989, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2019, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Ball State University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1980); Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis (J.D., 1983). Experience: Solo practitioner in Anderson, Indiana since May, 2008. Managing partner (1987-2008) of AV® Preeminent ™ Rated law firm Busby, Austin, Cooper & Farr, Associate attorney (1984-1986).

Law Clerk to Chief Justice Richard M. Givan, Indiana Supreme Court (1983-1984). Chief Deputy to Indiana Supreme Court Reporter Marilou Wertzler, (1982-1983). Bailiff, Marion County Superior Court, Civil Division, Room 4, for Hon. Richard L. Milan (1981-1982).

Member: Madison County, Indiana State and American Bar Associations; American Trial Lawyers Association; Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and Life Fellow of the Indiana Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Civil Trial and Appellate Practice; Personal Injury; Insurance Defense; Commercial Litigation; Real Estate; Corporations; Banking Law; Creditors Rights in Bankruptcy; Estate Planning and Probate Administration.

Publication: Indiana Slip Report (1984-85), a weekly summary of all decisions rendered for publication by the Supreme Court of Indiana and the Court of Appeals of Indiana. During its publication, the Indiana appellate courts handed down decisions daily in the form of slip opinions (stapled typewritten pages). The published opinions established new case law precedent (stare decisis), or modified or reversed existing law. West Publishing did not publish and widely distribute those opinions in its advance sheets until approximately six (6) weeks following the hand down date. To keep the bar abreast of changes in the law, Mr. Sipes purchased copies of all civil and criminal slip opinions weekly, reviewed and digested them, and published synopses of important points of law for distribution to attorneys and judges throughout the State of Indiana. Subscribers included law firms, judges, and law libraries.

Service: Pre-Law Advisor and Instructor, Anderson University (1986-87) teaching Introduction to Legal Studies. Former Director of Bob Riddle Builders, Inc., Park Development Corp., Contact-Help, Inc. and East Central Indiana Youth for Christ.