George C. Lepeniotis

George Lepeniotis is a member of the firm’s Business, Acquisitions and Securities Practice and the Commercial Real Estate Lending Practice. He concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate and business law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and lending, real estate, construction and contracts law. George also has significant experience in litigation and trial work. George helps corporate, municipal, institutional, banking and health care clients navigate a variety of legal matters and transactions.

In addition to his work at the firm, George is co-host of WNIT’s Economic Outlook where he travels throughout the Michiana area to bring viewers news, stories and insights on topics shaping the regions economy. George is also a member of the Board for the Bridgman Foundation for Economic Excellence and on the Advisory Board for the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining Krieg DeVault, George was a partner at a small litigation firm in South Bend. He was also a general contractor and real estate developer.

Representative Experience

• Served as counsel in the transition of numerous medical and dental facilities
• Served as counsel in numerous commercial real estate transactions involving zoning, assessment, title, environmental and government incentives issues 
• Served as counsel in the sale, transfer and merger of multiple small to mid-sized closely held corporations
• Advised corporate clients on various business and legal matters including contracts, administrative law, regulatory procedures and employment law matters
• Participated in over 20 bench and jury trials in both first and second chair with exceedingly favorable verdicts on client’s behalf
• Litigation practice experience includes discovery, motion practice, trials, alternative dispute resolution, complex corporate negotiations, appellate work, legal research and writing, and pre-trial preparation
• Represents corporate, individual, institutional, and municipal clients in both Indiana and Michigan

Professional Associations

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Indiana State Bar Association
• Member, St. Joseph County Bar Association
• Board of Directors and Member, Robert A. Grant American Inn of Court
• Member, State Bar of Michigan
• Member, Berrien County Bar Association

Seminars & Presentations

• Host, "APRA Records Requests: What must be disclosed? What can be withheld? Are there time limits for the government’s response and document production?" Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, July 27, 2022
• Host, "Supreme Court Decision in City of Austin V. Reagan National and Its Impact on Cases Challenging Municipal Sign Ordinances," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, June 8, 2022
• Host, "Estate Planning for Young Professionals and Families," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, May 4, 2022
• Host, "2022 Deal Landscape: Current Mergers & Acquisitions Market Trends," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, March 31, 2022
• Host, "An Overview of the firm's Public Finance and Municipal Practice," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, February 25, 2022
• Host, "What is an ESOP?," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, January 24, 2022
• Host, "Tribal Law in the State of Indiana," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, November 23, 2021
• Host, "LIBOR Defined: An Explanation of LIBOR and What Its Exit Means to the Financial Industry," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, November 22, 2021
• Host, "Overview of New Federal COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Employers," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, November 17, 2021
• Host, "Into the Unknown: A look Into the Uncertain Future of New Surprise Billing Laws," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, August 21, 2021
• Host, "Biden Administration Issues Executive Order on Promoting Competition," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, July 21, 2021
• Host, "COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates in the Workplace," Krieg DeVault Podcast Series, June 21, 2021
• Groves, J., Leichty, D., Lepeniotis, G. The Form Objection During Depositions. Robert A. Grant American Inn of Court Quarterly Meeting. South Bend, IN, USA, 2015.
• Lepeniotis, G. Issues in Dental & Medical Facilities Liabilities. Patterson Dental Regional Sales Meeting. South Bend, IN, USA, 2015.
• Polando, G., Lepeniotis, G., McKeever, J., Can and Should a Successful Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim Lead to Attorney Discipline? Robert A. Grant American Inn of Court Quarterly Meeting. South Bend, IN, USA, 2016.
• Lepeniotis, G., Moderator – State Court Magistrate Judges Panel. Robert A. Grant American Inn of Court Quarterly Meeting.

Publications

• Lepeniotis, G. (2019) The Sanctity of the Hoosier Paycheck, Historical Context and Practical Pointers to Evaluate Unpaid Wage Claims. Indiana Lawyer: DTCI Section Volume 30, No. 1 2019.
• Lepeniotis, G. (2015) Intentional Acts and the Limits of a Liability Carrier’s Duty to Defend. DTCI: Indiana Civil Litigation Review. Volume 12, 2015.

Certifications

• Legal Lean Sigma® White Belt

Education

• J.D., Chicago Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, 2013
• B.A. in English, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, 1995

Bar & Court Admissions

• Indiana (2013)
• Michigan (2017)
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit

Practices

• Business Services
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Real Estate Services
• Privately and Closely-Held Businesses
• Commercial and Real Estate Lending

Industries

• Real Estate
• Construction
• Financial Institutions
• Health Care