Our Team

Indianapolis and Fishers Business, Real Estate, and Litigation Attorney

Ian T. Keeler is a Partner at Clapp, Ferrucci & Keeler who represents businesses, property owners, landlords, tenants, and individuals in business, real estate, and commercial litigation matters throughout Indiana. His practice includes commercial contract disputes, shareholder and member disputes, commercial and residential lease disputes, construction contract claims, foreclosure-related matters, non-compete disputes, and trade secret litigation.

Ian combines litigation experience with practical transactional counsel. He helps clients evaluate risk, resolve disputes, protect business and property interests, and structure agreements with an eye toward avoiding future conflict.

Business and Real Estate Litigation

Ian has significant experience representing clients in business and real estate disputes at both the trial and appellate levels. His litigation practice includes matters involving commercial contracts, commercial and residential leases, shareholder and member disputes, construction contracts, foreclosures, non-compete agreements, confidentiality obligations, and trade secrets.

Whether a matter calls for negotiation, dispositive motion practice, trial preparation, appeal, or settlement, Ian works with clients to understand the legal and business consequences of each option and to pursue practical, goal-oriented outcomes.

Transactional and Advisory Counsel

In addition to his litigation practice, Ian advises individuals and businesses on real estate and business transactions. He drafts, reviews, and negotiates commercial and residential leases, real estate and asset purchase agreements, land contracts, guaranties, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, promissory notes, mortgages, security agreements, deeds, settlement agreements, and contract amendments.

Ian also advises clients on corporate governance, customer notices, regulatory compliance, and trademark matters, including prosecution of trademark applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Representative Matters

Ian’s representative matters include:

• Obtained summary judgment for a corporation in a shareholder derivative action brought by minority shareholders; the judgment was upheld on appeal and transfer was denied.
• Obtained reversal on appeal, with instructions to enter judgment in favor of the client, in a commercial landlord-tenant dispute involving the tenant’s exercise of an optional lease term.
• Obtained summary judgment for a client in a construction contract dispute, including an award of all damages, costs, expenses, and attorney’s fees.
• Defended a founding member and obtained judgment following a bench trial on all contract and fraud claims in a dispute involving the formation and membership of a limited liability company.
• Defended clients against claims for alleged breach of a non-compete agreement and misappropriation of trade secrets, obtaining dismissal in U.S. District Court and summary judgment in state court.
• Obtained settlement of all claims filed by the Indiana Attorney General against a client involving alleged statutory violations relating to foreclosure consultancies and consumer fraud.

Engineering Background and Practical Problem-Solving

Before becoming an attorney, Ian earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University and worked as an engineer for Bridgestone Firestone Diversified Products in Carmel, Indiana. During his time there, he held positions with both Firestone Industrial Products and Firestone Building Products.

Engineering Background and Practical Problem-Solving

Ian’s engineering background informs his practical, detail-oriented approach to business, construction, real estate, and technical disputes. He draws on that experience to analyze complex facts, identify workable solutions, and communicate clearly with clients facing legal and business challenges.

Education

Ian earned his Juris Doctor from the Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis in 2011. While in law school, he served as a Student Note Editor for the Indiana International and Comparative Law Review. His note, “Is a Jury Composed of People Having Ordinary Skill in the Art? Reasons Why the United States Should Change Its Approach to the Obviousness Question in Patent Litigation,” was selected for publication in Volume 21, Issue No. 2 of the law review.

Ian graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. At Clemson, he earned academic honors and was a varsity tennis letterwinner while completing a design internship with BMW in Greer, South Carolina.

Admissions

Ian is admitted to practice in:

• Indiana
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Professional Associations and Development

Ian has been a member of the Indiana State Bar Association and the American Bar Association since 2011. He also completed the ICLEF Trial Advocacy Skills College in 2017.

Community and Personal

A lifelong Fishers resident and Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate, Ian has deep ties to the local community, including past involvement coaching with Mudsock Youth Athletics and the Indianapolis Youth Hockey Association (IYHA).

Outside the office, Ian enjoys endurance sports and has completed one full Ironman, four half-Ironman races, two World Marathon Majors, and numerous other marathons. He also participates in a men’s hockey league and races cars in ChampCar, with events completed or planned at Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, and Mid-Ohio. Ian enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, traveling, visiting Major League Baseball stadiums, and life with the family’s dog, Oliver.