Christina Fugate chairs Ice Miller’s Franchise and Distribution team. More than just an advocate for her clients, Christina is dedicated to serving as a trusted advisor who helps clients solve problems and expand their businesses. Responsive, thoughtful and strategic, Christina is a counsellor who remains focused on her client’s end game.
An understandable, diplomatic communicator who takes the time to really listen to what each client needs to succeed, Christina advises entrepreneurs and emerging franchisors in determining whether franchising is the right model to grow and maintain their brands and whether they are ready to franchise. Christina counsels clients on compliance with state and federal regulatory issues and offers extensive skill in advising growing and experienced franchise systems. With more than a decade of experience representing franchise clients in a variety of commercial litigation matters, Christina advises on resolving disputes pertaining to contracts, non-competition covenants, protection of trademarks and trade secrets, among others.
A smart and practical advocate, Christina provides litigation counsel to a number of different clients in a variety of industries. She regularly defends Fortune 500 manufacturers, distributors and retailers against product liability, warranty and indemnification claims. She also frequently counsels clients with respect to real estate disputes and general competitive business litigation, as well as assists clients in conducting internal investigations.
An active member of the International Franchise Association, Christina completed the Association’s Certified Franchise Executive designation. She is also an active member of the ABA Forum on Franchising, has written several articles for the ABA Franchise Journal and has been a featured speaker at the Forum’s annual meeting. In the community, Christina serves as President of Butler University’s Central Indiana Alumni Chapter and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for Butler University’s Lacy School of Business. She is also a member of the IndyCREW Board of Directors, President of Heritage Place of Indianapolis, Inc., and Secretary of Project 44, Inc. Notably, Christina is the co-founder of the Women’s Network Forum.
Reported and Representative Cases
- Kras v. Conifer Ins. Co., No. 2:16-CV-224-JEM, 2018 WL 4793121 (N.D. Ind. Oct. 3, 2018)
- O'Day v. Ally Fin. Inc., No. 3:17-CV-952-JD, 2018 WL 3055330 (N.D. Ind. June 20, 2018)
- Smith v. Walsh Constr. Co. II, LLC, 95 N.E.3d 78 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018)
- Bancorpsouth, Inc., v. Fed. Ins. Co., 873 F.3d 582 (7th Cir. 2017)
- Armstrong v. Deere & Company, 2017 WL 4168485 (S.D. Ind. Sept. 20, 2017)
- Kras v. Conifer Insurance Company, 2016 WL 6893687, (N.D. Ind. Nov. 23, 2016)
- Pearman v. Jackson, 25 N.E.3d 772 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015)
- Chupp v. Wyndham Vacation Ownership, Inc., 990 N.E.2d 993 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013)
- USIC Locating Servs. v. One Call Locators, Ltd., 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29031 (S.D. Ind. Mar. 1, 2013)
- Throgmartin v. Gregg Appliances, Inc., 969 N.E.2d 633 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012)
- Sonnenberg v. A.N. Real Estate Servs., 944 N.E.2d 993 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011)
Ice TV
Firm Publications
News
Blog Posts
Published In
- "Franchise USA 2020," Lexology Getting The Deal Through (LexGTDT)
- "Returning to Work - What Liability Do Businesses Have?" Inside Indiana Business, May 15, 2020 and Chicago Daily Herald Business Ledger, May 19, 2020
- Co-Authored, Franchise Deskbook Selected State Laws, Commentary and Annotations, Third Edition, Indiana Chapter (2019)
- "Trademark Exemptions to Business Opportunity Laws: A Puff of Smoke in the Marijuana Industry," published in ABA Franchise Law Journal, 38, 2 (Fall 2018)
- "Protecting Your Franchise Agreement: Understanding Exceptions to the Parol Evidence Rule," published in ABA Franchise Law Journal, 37, 4 (Spring 2018)
- "Trump National Labor Relations Board Rolls Back Obama-Era Rules," published in Indiana Manufacturers Association Human Resources Memo, February 2018
- "Trump National Labor Relations Board Rolls Back Obama-Era Rules," published in Inside Indiana Business, Feb. 5, 2018
- "Avoiding Accidental Franchise Pitfalls," published in Inside Indiana Business, Aug. 9, 2017
- "Franchisors: Don't delay in discovering agreement violations!," published in the Daily Herald Business Ledger, March 20, 2017
- Co-Authored (with Art Kaufman, Peter Silverman), “Stop the Bleeding: Affirmative Injunctive Relief and Other Non-Traditional Remedies” (Winter 2015)
- Co-Authored Article, "Specific Performance: A Maverick Remedy Post E-Bay and Winter," ABA Franchise Law Journal, 34, 2 (Fall 2014)
- Co-Authored, 2012 Indiana Section, in Covenants Against Competition in Franchise Agreements, 3rd Ed.: Indiana, 2012 A.B.A. FORUM ON FRANCHISING (2012)
- Co-Authored, 2011 Supplement in Indiana Section, in FRANCHISE DESK BOOK SECOND EDITION (W. Michael Garner ed., 2012)
- Co-Authored, "Survey of Daubert Challenges in the Context of Franchise Liability Experts" ABA Forum on Franchising, 17, 23 (Summer 2010)
- Assisted With the Article, "Survey of Recent Developments in Indiana Product Liability Law," Indiana L. Rev. 2009
- Assisted With, "Attorney's Guide to Commercial Evictions," National Business Institute, 2009
Speaking Engagements
- Moderator, December 2021, Rise with Ice Miller & Friends Webcast (Episode Seven)
- Moderator, August 2021, Rise with Ice Miller & Friends Webcast (Episode Six)
- Moderator, May 2021, Rise with Ice Miller & Friends Webcast (Episode Five)
- Moderator, March 2021, Rise with Ice Miller & Friends Webcast (Episode Four)
- Moderator, January 2021, Rise with Ice Miller & Friends Webcast (Episode Three)
- Moderator, December 2020, Rise with Ice Miller & Friends Webcast (Episode Two)
- Presenter, December 2020, myLawCLE Webinar, COVID-19 Litigation Update: Contractual Defenses
- Moderator, October 2020, Rise with Ice Miller & Friends Webcast (Episode One)
- Panelist, June 2020, Ice Miller Webinar, Balancing Business Risks and Liabilities During a Pandemic
- Panelist, May 2020, Lex Machina, COVID-19 Impact Analyzer App Unveiling
- Panelist, April 2020, Lex Machina, Analyzing the Impact of COVID-19 on Litigation
- Panelist, April 2020 FranNet Virtual Employee to Entrepreneuer Webinar
- Panelist, April 2020 INFA Webinar Impact of COVID-19 on Franchising
- Panelist, April 2020 Indiana Manufacturer's Association Webinar Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update for Business Owners
- Panelist, April 2020 Indy Chamber Webinar COVID-19: Excusing Contract Performance
- Panelist, April 2020 YPO Webinar Update for Business Owners
- Panelist, 2019 MJ Housing Forum, "Current Legal and Risk Management Issues"
- Speaker at the 2019 TEDxYouth Event, Westfield High School
- Participant, 2018 The Verdict at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Captain Kidd: Pirate or Privateer
- Panelist, 2018 Indianapolis Women's Leadership Conference, "Negotiate Like a Lawyer Even if You Are Not One"
- Panelist, 2018 Butler University “Young Alumni Career Development Panel”
- Speaker at the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association Fall Education Conference and Annual Meeting, discussing issues concerning general negligence, premises liability and liquor liability, October 22, 2017
- "Hot Collection Issues in the Business World" webinar hosted by Ice Miller on October 19, 2016
- Panelist, 2015 ABA Forum on Franchising, New Orleans, LA, “Stop the Bleeding: Affirmative Injunctive Relief and Other Non-Traditional Remedies”
- Past lecturer, IndyBar Review, Negotiable Instruments