Our Attorneys Serving Northwest Indiana

At Braje, Nelson & Janes LLP, our team brings decades of experience across a wide range of legal matters. When you hire our firm, you gain the support of an entire team of attorneys dedicated to protecting your best interests. Meet our team.

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  • Craig V. Braje

    Craig V. Braje, born Melrose Park, Illinois, October 21, 1949; admitted to bar, 1974, Indiana and Illinois.

    Education

    Western Illinois University (B.A. 1971); Valparaiso University School of Law (J.D. 1974). Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award, 1972. Corporation Counsel, City of Michigan City, Indiana, 1976-1979. LaPorte County Deputy Prosecutor, 1979-1987. LaPorte County Chief Public Defender 1994 – Present. LaPorte County Attorney, 2012-2014.

    Member

    LaPorte County, Indiana State, Illinois State and American Bar Associations; Indiana Trial Lawyers Association; American Trial Lawyers Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Practice Areas

Civil and Criminal Litigation, Personal Injury Law, Commercial Law, Real Estate Law, Family Law, and Medical Malpractice Law.

  • William J. Nelson Jr.

    William J. Nelson, Jr., born LaPorte, Indiana, January 8, 1965; admitted to bar, 1992, Indiana.

    Education

    Taylor University (B.A., 1987); Valparaiso University School of Law (J.D., 1992). LaPorte County Deputy Public Defender, 1994-Present.

    Member

    LaPorte City, LaPorte County, Indiana State, and American Bar Associations.

Practice Areas

Corporate and Business, Civil and Criminal Litigation, Municipal and Governmental Law, Aviation Law, Administrative Law, and Real Estate Law.

  • William Janes

    William Janes, born Chicago, Illinois, December 20, 1953; admitted to bar, 1978, Indiana and Illinois.

    Education

    Ball State University (B.S. 1975); Northern Illinois University (J.D. 1978).

    Member

    LaPorte County, Indiana State, Illinois State and American Bar Associations.

Practice Areas

Matrimonial Law, Criminal Law, Family Law and Creditors Rights.

  • Kurt R. Earnst

    Kurt R. Earnst, Born Knoxville, Illinois, October 6, 1970; admitted to bar, 1996, Indiana and Illinois as well as U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and Southern Districts of Indiana.

    Education

    Purdue University (B.A., 1992); Valparaiso University School of Law (J.D., 1996). LaPorte County Deputy Public Defender, 1998-Present.

    Member

    LaPorte County, Indiana State, Illinois State and American Bar Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense (Federal and State), Family Law, Domestic Relations, Adoption, Personal Injury Law, and Traffic Law.

  • Elizabeth A. Flynn

    Elizabeth A. Flynn, born in Valparaiso, Indiana on March 22, 1970. She was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1995 and the Indiana bar in 1998.

    Education

    University of Evansville (B.A., Cum Laude, 1992); Valparaiso University School of Law (J.D., Cum Laude, 1995). Law Review 1994-1995. Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney 1995-1999. LaPorte County Deputy Public Defender 2000 to present.

    Member

    LaPorte County, Lake County, Illinois State, Indiana State and American Bar Associations.

    U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Practice Areas

Civil and Criminal Litigation, Personal Injury Law, Traffic Law, Creditor/Debtor Rights, Employment Law, and Medical Malpractice Law.

  • Christopher L. Willoughby

    Christopher L. Willoughby, Born Michigan City, Indiana, July 17, 1970; admitted to bar, 2002, Indiana and U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.

    Education

    North Central College (B.A., 1994); Valparaiso University School of Law (J.D.,2001). Phi Delta Phi.

    Member

    LaPorte County, Porter County, Indiana State and American Bar Associations. National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Practice Areas

Estate Planning, Probate Law, Business Law, Real Estate Law, Municipal Law, Zoning Law, Commercial Law, and Debtor and Creditor Rights.

  • David K. Payne

    David K. Payne, Born LaPorte, IN, November 8, 1974. Admitted to Indiana Bar, 2007.

    Education

    Purdue University North Central (B.A. 1999), Indiana University Northwest (M.B.A. 2003),Valparaiso School of Law (J.D. 2007), LaPorte County Deputy Public Defender, 2009-Present.

    Member

    LaPorte County, Indiana State and American Bar Association

Practice Areas

Civil and Criminal Litigation, Traffic law, Family Law, Juvenile Law, Personal Injury Law and Bankruptcy

  • Rachel E. Doty

    Rachel E. Doty, born Indianapolis, Indiana, November 2, 1987; admitted to bar, 2013, Indiana and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana.

    Education

    Valparaiso University (B.A., Summa Cum Laude, 2010), Recipient, Eli Lilly Endowment; Valparaiso University School of Law (J.D., 2013), Recipient, Juris Doctor Scholarship. LaPorte County Deputy Public Defender 2014-Present.

    Member

    LaPorte County Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association.

Practice Areas

Adoption Law, Family Law, Juvenile Delinquency, Child in Need of Services, Domestic Relations, Criminal Litigation, Civil Litigation and Administrative Law.

  • Paralegal Staff

    Braje, Nelson & Janes, LLP boasts an experienced paralegal staff. Assisting our attorneys prepare for hearings and trials, performing case research, and preparing legal documents, our paralegal staff provide invaluable legal support.

    Our paralegal staff includes:

    Patti L. Pishkur

    Christina M. Tilden

Schedule a call with the attorney who best meets your legal needs, 219-872-2100.

  • Craig V. Braje

    Craig V. Braje

    Admitted to Bar: 1974 (Indiana and Illinois)


    Education

    B.A., Western Illinois University, 1971

    J.D., Valparaiso University School of Law, 1974

    Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award (1972)


    Professional Experience

    Corporation Counsel, City of Michigan City, Indiana (1976–1979)

    Deputy Prosecutor, LaPorte County (1979–1987)

    Chief Public Defender, LaPorte County (1994–Present)

    County Attorney, LaPorte County (2012–2014)


    Professional Memberships

    LaPorte County Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.


Practice Areas

Civil and criminal litigation, personal injury law, commercial law, real estate law, family law, and medical malpractice law.

  • William J. Nelson Jr.

    William J. Nelson, Jr.

    Admitted to Bar: 1992 (Indiana)


    Education

    B.A., Taylor University, 1987

    J.D., Valparaiso University School of Law, 1992


    Professional Experience

    Deputy Public Defender, LaPorte County (1994–Present)


    Professional Memberships

    LaPorte County Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and serves on the American Staffing Association Law and Legislative Committee.


Practice Areas

Corporate and business law, civil litigation, municipal and governmental law, aviation law, administrative law, commercial law, and real estate law.

  • William Janes

    William Janes

    Admitted to Bar: 1978 (Indiana and Illinois)


    Education

    B.S., Ball State University, 1975

    J.D., Northern Illinois University, 1978


    Professional Memberships

    LaPorte County Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and American Bar Association.


Practice Areas

Matrimonial law, criminal law, family law, and creditors' rights.

  • Elizabeth A. Flynn

    Elizabeth A. Flynn

    Admitted to Bar: 1995 (Illinois); 1998 (Indiana)


    Education

    B.A., University of Evansville, Cum Laude, 1992

    J.D., Valparaiso University School of Law, Cum Laude, 1995

    Law Review, 1994–1995


    Professional Experience

    Assistant State's Attorney, Cook County (1995–1999)

    Deputy Public Defender, LaPorte County (2000–Present)


    Professional Memberships

    LaPorte County Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, and American Bar Association. She is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.


Practice Areas

State criminal defense, federal criminal defense, personal injury, traffic law, appellate law, civil litigation, and family law.

  • Christopher L. Willoughby

    Christopher L. Willoughby

    Admitted to Bar: 2002 (Indiana); U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana


    Education

    B.A., North Central College, 1994

    J.D., Valparaiso University School of Law, 2001

    Phi Delta Phi


    Professional Memberships

    LaPorte County Bar Association, Porter County Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.


Practice Areas

Estate planning, probate law, business law, real estate law, municipal law, zoning law, and commercial law.

  • David K. Payne

    David K. Payne

    Admitted to Bar: 2007 (Indiana)


    Education

    B.A., Purdue University North Central, 1999

    M.B.A., Indiana University Northwest, 2003

    J.D., Valparaiso University School of Law, 2007


    Professional Experience

    Deputy Public Defender, LaPorte County (2009–Present)


    Professional Memberships

    LaPorte County Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, and American Bar Association.


Practice Areas

Civil and criminal litigation, expungement of criminal convictions, traffic law, and residential and commercial evictions.

  • Rachel E. Doty

    Rachel E. Doty

    Admitted to Bar: 2013 (Indiana); U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana


    Education

    B.A., Valparaiso University, Summa Cum Laude, 2010

    Recipient, Eli Lilly Endowment

    J.D., Valparaiso University School of Law, 2013

    Recipient, Juris Doctor Scholarship


    Professional Experience

    Deputy Public Defender, LaPorte County (2014–Present)


    Professional Memberships

    LaPorte County Bar Association and Indiana State Bar Association.


Practice Areas

Adoption law, family law, juvenile delinquency, child in need of services, domestic relations, criminal litigation, civil litigation, and administrative law.

  • Paralegal Staff

    A highly skilled paralegal team supports our attorneys. From assisting with hearing and trial preparation to conducting case research and drafting legal documents, our paralegals provide essential support that strengthens every case we handle. Their dedication and expertise ensure our clients receive thorough, efficient, and well-prepared representation.


    Paralegal Team

    Patti L. Pishkur

    Christina M. Tilden

Schedule a call with the attorney who best meets your legal needs, 219-872-2100.