James T. Young

James T. Young

Indiana Bankruptcy, Business, and Commercial Litigation Attorney

For over thirty-four years, firm partner Jim Young has served as a counsel to debtors, creditors and bankruptcy trustees in both the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.  His legal practice is primarily devoted to serving as counsel for bankruptcy trustees both within and outside of Indiana, as well as representing individuals and business clients in commercial litigation, real estate, general business,  and foreclosure matters.

In addition to these areas, much of Mr. Young’s practice consists of representing creditors in workouts and bankruptcy proceedings, commercial landlords, replevins, and representing creditors’ committees.  This also involves reviewing plans and filing for motion for relief from stay and abandonment and preparation of proof of claims.  He also represented an FTC liquidating and disbursing agent, and represents clients in commercial litigation matters.  Separately, he is licensed to represent clients before the Internal Revenue Service, and has a Centralized Authorization File (CAF) number for such practice.

Mr. Young’s diverse experience has also included the formation of business entities, assisting and advising clients with copyright and trademark issues, drafting agreements, documenting commercial transactions, litigating contractual and real estate disputes for both individual and business clients, and assisting clients with their real estate transactions and lien issues.

How I Help

When business or consumer disputes arise that cannot be quickly resolved, it is our role as attorneys and counselors to provide considered advice and options to our clients. I know that fundamentally business owners and executives do not view legal issues differently than other problems. A path for resolution to both legal and non-legal matters needs to be developed.

I help business and consumer clients develop the best legal path based upon their circumstances and objectives; which sometimes will entail substantive efforts to reach a prompt resolution, and in other cases may require a more aggressive approach. In most situations, however, I know that what clients typically want is an attorney who can help them obtain a resolution within an acceptable framework of outcomes; and that if such a resolution cannot be achieved, an attorney who will work tirelessly to achieve a full win at trial. Further, my staff members who assist me with these matters have comparable decades of experience as well.

Mr. Young began practicing in Fort Wayne, Indiana for almost fifteen years before joining Rubin & Levin.  In Fort Wayne, he maintained a general civil litigation practice.  Mr. Young is also a big band musician, where he plays the clarinet and saxophone families of musical instruments. In small string and chamber ensembles he plays the cello.  As part of his legal practice, he additionally has represented musicians and artists in their copyright, trademark, and contract matters.  Mr. Young also served as Law Clerk to the Honorable John W. Montgomery, Circuit Court Judge, St. Joseph County, Indiana.

  • Faculty: Consumer Bankruptcy Roundtable for both the Indianapolis Bar Association and the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, Indianapolis, Indiana (2021)
  • Faculty: Updates in Credit Law. National Association of Credit Managers, Indianapolis, Indiana (July 20, 2017)
  • Faculty: Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Roundtable. Indianapolis Bar Association, Indianapolis, Indiana (April 27, 2017)
  • Faculty: Hon. Eugene R. Wedoff 7th Circuit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference. American Bankruptcy Institute, Chicago, Illinois (October 10, 2016)
  • Faculty: Preference Claims. National Association of Credit Managers, Great Lakes Region, Fort Wayne, Indiana (September 15, 2016)
  • Faculty: Advanced Individual Bankruptcy Chapters 7 & 13. Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, French Lick, Indiana (July 15-16, 2016)
  • Faculty: Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Roundtable. Indianapolis Bar association, Indianapolis, Indiana (April 28, 2016)
  • Faculty: Bankruptcy Litigation 101. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (April 25, 2016)
  • Faculty: Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Roundtable. Indianapolis Bar Association, Indianapolis, Indiana (April 30, 2015)
  • Faculty: Bankruptcy: New Rules and Latest Issues Affecting Your Practice. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (April 21, 2015)
  • Faculty: 2013 Chapter 7 Case Law Update. Indianapolis Bar Association, Indianapolis, Indiana (February 13, 2014)
  • Faculty: Top 9 Complications in Bankruptcy. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (October 9, 2013)
  • Faculty: Bankruptcy Litigation 101. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (April 30, 2013)
  • Faculty: Bankruptcy for Civil Litigators. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (January 10, 2013)
  • Faculty: Advanced Collection Strategies. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (March 9, 2012)
  • Faculty: Top 9 Complications in Bankruptcy. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana, (December 12, 2011)
  • Faculty: Nuts and Bolts of Bankruptcy Law. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (August 29, 2011)
  • Faculty: Legal Issues in Real Estate Foreclosure. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (June 14, 2011)
  • Faculty: Bankruptcy Litigation 101. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (April 29, 2011)
  • Faculty: Consumer Bankruptcy From Start to Finish. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (December 7, 2010)
  • Faculty: Complex Bankruptcy Issues. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (September 17, 2010)
  • Faculty: Real Estate Law: Advanced Issues and Answers. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (October 1, 2009)
  • Faculty: Bankruptcy Here and Now. National association of Credit Managers, Grand Rapids, Michigan (May 20, 2009)
  • Faculty: Attorney’s Guide to Commercial Evictions. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (May 13, 2009)
  • Faculty: Real Property Foreclosure: A Step-by-Step Workshop. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (March 11, 2009) (invited)
  • Faculty: Nuts and Bolts of Bankruptcy Law. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (December 15, 2008) (invited)
  • Faculty: Real Estate Law: Advanced Issues and Answers. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (November 3, 2008)
  • Faculty: In-Depth Title Insurance Principles. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana June 5, 2008)
  • Faculty: Foreclosure Procedures. Sterling Education Services, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana (April 22, 2008)
  • Faculty: Real Property Foreclosure: A Step-by-Step Workshop. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (March 18, 2008)
  • Faculty: Real Estate Law: Advanced Issues and Answers. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (November 7,2007)
  • Faculty: Legal Issues in Real Estate Foreclosure. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (August 27, 2007)
  • Faculty: Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Law. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (April 5, 2007)
  • Faculty: Bankruptcy Reform Update in Indiana – One Year Later. National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (December 7, 2006)
  • Faculty: Real Estate Law: Advanced Issues and Answers, National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (November 2,2006)
  • Faculty: The Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Law in Indiana: How to Give Clients the Debt Relief They Need, National Business Institute (April 2006)
  • Faculty: Navigating the Paperless Court in Indiana, National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (November 29, 2005)
  • Faculty: Aligning Your Practice With the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (September 20, 2005)
  • Speaker: Business Bankruptcy Changes to the Bankruptcy Code, Indiana Institute of Credit, Indianapolis, Indiana, May 11 (2005)
  • Faculty: Trademark and Intellectual Property Administration for the Corporate IP Paralegal/Administrator, Institute for Paralegal Education, Indianapolis, Indiana (January 18, 2005)
  • Speaker: Defending Avoidance Actions, Indiana Institute of Credit, Indianapolis, Indiana (January 12, 2005)
  • Faculty: Annual Bankruptcy Institute, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, Indianapolis, Indiana (December 21, 2004)
  • Presentation: Career Paths for an M.B.A.-J.D., Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington, Indiana (October 11, 2004)
  • Faculty: An Advanced Look at Indiana Real Estate Law, National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (August 16, 2004)
  • Faculty: Evictions and Landlord/Tenant Law in Indiana, National Business Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana (March 18, 2004)
  • Presentation: Career Paths for an M.B.A.-J.D., Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington, Indiana (October 30, 2003)
  • Co-author, “My Client Filed Bankruptcy; Now What Do I Do?” Allen County Bar Association (July 22, 1999)
  • Author, “Selected Issues Concerning Appraisers and Auctioneers in Bankruptcy Cases, The Bulk Sales Act and Valuation,” Allen County Bar Association (January 12, 1995)
  • Guest Lecturer: Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing – presented lectures on trademark law and bankruptcy for graduate courses
  • Selected to the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America®.  Recognized in the Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law section.  [Since 2019]
  • 2020 honored as an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, representing recognition as the highest rating in both legal ability and ethical standards
  • 2019-2020 recognized as a Best Lawyer by the Best Lawyers in America
  • 2012-2021 Named a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyer, which recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in the State of Indiana
  • Judge, Sherman Minton Moot Court Competition, Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington, Indiana (2003-2005)
  • Judge, Moot Court Competition, Indiana University of Law – Indianapolis, Indiana (2003-2005)
  • In re Barnes, 258 B.R. 709 (N.D. Ind. 2001)
  • In re Rimsat, Ltd., 212 F.3d 1039 (7th Cir. 2000)
  • Abby Villas Development Corp. v. Site Contractors, Inc., 716 N.E.2d 91 (Ind. App. 1999)
  • Miller v. Conte, 72 F.Supp.2d 952 (N.D. Ind. 1999)
  • In re Nova Tool, 228 B.R. 678 (Bankr. N.D. Ind. 1998)
  • Matter of Import & Mini Car Parts, Ltd., Inc., 1996 U.S. App. Lexis 25992 (7th Cir. 1996)
  • Matter of Rimsat, Ltd., 98 F.3d 956 (7th Cir. 1996)
  • Matter of Schultz, 1995 U.S. App. Lexis 6085 (7th Cir. 1995)
  • Matter of Schultz, 1994 U.S. App. Lexis 7205 (7th Cir. 1995)
  • In re Zank, 1994 WL 236196 (Bankr. N.D. Ind. 1994)
  • In re U.S. Care Corporation, 1991 Bankr. Lexis 1187 (Bankr. N.D. Ind. 1991)

There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something.

Henry Ford
  • J.D., Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (1987)
  • M.B.A., Indiana University, Bloomington (1987)
  • B.S., Indiana University, Bloomington (1983)
  • United States Supreme Court
  • Indiana State Bar
  • Tennessee State Bar
  • Michigan State Bar
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
  • Indianapolis Bar Association
  • Indiana State Bar Association
  • Seventh Circuit Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Secretary, Board of Directors, Indy Baroque (formerly Ensemble Ouabache Foundation, Inc.) (2003-2004)
  • Musician member, Robin Run Big Band
  • Board member, Castleton Estates Neighborhood Association (2004)
  • Sons of the American Legion, Post 34, Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Federal Bar Association (Indiana Chapter)
  • Allen County (Indiana) Bar Association (1987 – 2002)
  • American Federation of Musicians (1988)
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
  • Elected Elder of the Fairview Presbyterian Church (2022)