Over the course of his more than 25 years of legal practice Chris Braun has developed a highly complex business litigation and corporate transactional practice that emphasizes quality and efficiency in the delivery of legal services.  Since 1993, Chris has served as General Counsel for the Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association.  In this capacity, Chris regularly drafts legislation, regulations and policies on various environmental subjects, including considerable work involving funding for environmental cleanups through Indiana’s Excess Liability Trust Fund (“ELTF”).  He also has worked closely with a broad array of clients in the petroleum industry in business mergers and acquisitions, the acquisition and development of environmentally impacted properties and obtaining funding for cleanups through private insurance.  Chris has successfully represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of complex business litigation, toxic tort, regulatory compliance, class actions and other complex litigation matters.  Chris frequently speaks before professional, business and trade associations and has published more than thirty articles.

In 2009 Chris was selected by the American College of Environmental Lawyers (“ACOEL”) as the leading environmental lawyer in the State of Indiana.  His participation in ACOEL provides him with regular access to and contact with the leading environmental lawyers across the United States.   In addition, since 2001 Chris has annually been listed in “Best Lawyers in America”.  He has also been listed yearly in Indiana “Super Lawyers” since 2004.  Chris earned an AV peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

Since 2001, Chris has been on the faculty of the Indiana University School of Law- Indianapolis where he teaches an advanced trial techniques and civil mediation course. Chris is a skillful advocate in the mediation setting and has been a Registered Civil Mediator in Indiana since 1996.

Chris received his B.A from Wabash College in 1981.  He attended the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Oxford University (England) from 1980-1981.  Chris received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University Law School in 1984. 

Chris started his legal career as an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of the Houston, Texas law firm of Baker & Botts.  He subsequently joined the spin-off, startup law firm of Travis & Gooch in D.C. before returning to his hometown of Indianapolis where he joined the Baker & Daniels, first as an associate and then later was selected as a partner.   Chris joined this firm as a named partner in 1994.

Chris is passionate about and tireless in his service to the local Catholic and educational communities.  He was a founding member and served as Chairman for the development, fundraising and construction of a brand new $8 million K-8 Catholic grade school, St. Maria Goretti, in Westfield, Indiana.  He subsequently founded and served as Chairman of the group responsible for the development, fundraising and construction of a $30 million Roman Catholic High School, Saint Theodore Guerin Catholic High, the first new Catholic high school built in more than 30 years in the State of Indiana.  These undertakings required extraordinary time, effort and prayer with years of fundraising and the nurturing of ambitious educational plans and goals.  Chris continues to serve on the School’s Governing Board and serves as Chairman of the Curriculum Committee.

Chris currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Park Tudor School, a pre-K through 12 private school in Indianapolis.  At Park Tudor Chris has held a variety of volunteer positions including Treasurer and Secretary of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Finance Committee, President of the Booster Club and Member of the Co-Curriculum Committee.   Chris was honored to serve as the featured Commencement Speaker for the Park Tudor Seniors at the May 2009 graduation ceremony.  Chris was also honored in November 2008 to be selected as the recipient of the Spirit of the Monon Bell Award for Wabash College Alumni.