Joseph C. Svetanoff
Joseph C. Svetanoff focuses his practice in the areas of municipal/local government—including utilities, land use, planning/zoning, general corporate services, real estate and commercial transactions, estate planning (including wills, trusts, and estates) and probate, employment law, as well as criminal law matters—including felony, misdemeanor, infraction, and ordinance violation.
As an accomplished municipal law attorney, Joseph has a wide-range of experience providing knowledgeable assistance and representation to individuals and businesses in municipal matters involving planning, zoning, utilities, municipal financing, and corporate business transactions. He has represented, and continues to represent, town councils, board of zoning appeals, plan commissions, clerk-treasurers, township trustees, utility boards, and school districts.
Joseph provides guidance to employers on EEOC matters, FMLA issues, wage and hour questions, as well as contractual, procedural, and practical issues which surround the hiring, terminating, and disciplining of employees.
He has served as a public defender for nine years, and during that time, has negotiated more than 450 successful plea agreements on behalf of his clients. Early in his career he served as the Vice President of the Merrillville Chamber of Commerce and has been involved in local business since the inception of his professional career. It is this unique qualification that allows him to use his business experience when providing counseling and guidance for clients.
Joseph earned his J.D. in 2002 from Valparaiso University School of Law, and his B.S. in Marketing from Butler University. He is a member of the Lake County Bar Association and Indiana Public Defender Council. From 2014 to 2020, he served as a Commissioner and Secretary to the Indiana Gaming Commission and was appointed and re-appointed by two different Governors.
- Lake County Bar Association
- Indiana Municipal Lawyer’s Association
- Indiana Public Defender Council
- Town of Merrillville – Civil Town (2018–present)
- Town Council, Redevelopment Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Plan Commission
- Town of Griffith – Civil Town (2018–present)
- Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commission
- Griffith Public Schools (2017–present)
- St. John Clerk-Treasurer (2016–present)
- Long Beach Clerk-Treasurer (2016–present)
- Hobart Township (2010–present)
- City of Lake Station (2016–present)
- Retained as Special Counsel
- City of Lake Station (w/ predecessor Law Firm: 2016–2017)
- Board of Zoning Appeals and Plan Commission
- Gary Sanitary District (w/ predecessor Law Firm: 2013–2017)
- City of East Chicago (w/ predecessor Law Firm: 2013–2017)
- East Chicago Housing Authority (w/ predecessor Law Firm: 2013–2017)
- Town of Schererville – Civil Town (w/ predecessor Law Firm: 2005–2013)
- Town Council, Board of Zoning Appeals, Plan Commission, and Ordinance Violations Prosecutor
- Town of Cedar Lake – Civil Town (w/ predecessor Law Firm: 2005–2013)
- Town Council, Board of Zoning Appeals, Plan Commission, and Ordinance Violations Prosecutor
- Town of St. John – Civil Town (w/ predecessor Law Firm: 2005–2013)
- Town Council, Board of Zoning Appeals, Plan Commission, and Ordinance Violations Prosecutor
- Hanover Township (w/ predecessor Law Firm: 2005–2013)
