Cari works on the team that manages the firm’s professional responsibility initiatives. She advises on ethical issues and conflicts, is involved in reviewing and approving new business matters, and performs due diligence for all legal/lateral candidates.

Cari serves the firm in integrating new attorneys through orientations on legal and business ethics. In addition, she drafts and reviews conflict waivers, engagement letters, outside counsel guidelines and other documents to ensure ethical compliance, as well as serves as a liaison to the firm’s professional liability insurance carrier. Further, Cari counsels lawyers on bar admission, licensure and continuing legal education.

Regardless of the audience or challenge at hand, Cari is valued for her tact in handling complicated issues, trustworthiness as an ombudsman, sensitivity in stressful situations and honed skill in consensus building. She is a frequent seminar speaker for the National Business Institute (NBI) and teaches legal and ethics courses at local universities.

Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Cari worked on a wide variety of litigation matters, including Title IX litigation, employment discrimination, bullying and school litigation, complex torts, civil rights litigation, police misconduct, medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death claims and criminal issues. She has represented clients in state and federal courts in Indiana and Illinois.