Mr. Shirley graduated from the University of Evansville (BME '83), Indiana University at Bloomington (MM '85), and received his law degree from the Indiana University at Indianapolis (JD '91), summa cum laude. After law school, Mr. Shirley clerked for the Honorable James E. Noland of the United States District Court (1991-92), and the Honorable Daniel A. Manion of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (1992-93).
Mr. Shirley has served as an adjunct professor of law at Indiana University in Indianapolis, teaching Advanced Probate Litigation, and Trusts & Estates as needed. His article, "Tortious Interference with an Expectancy", Res Gestae, Vl.41 No.4 (1997), in Res Gestae was cited as authority by the Indiana Court of Appeals in Keith v. Dooley, 802 N.E.2d 54 (Ind.App. 2004).
Mr. Shirley is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States Tax Court, the Seventh Circuit, and all federal and state courts in Indiana. He is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, Indianapolis Bar Association, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, named in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, the Indiana Super Lawyers magazine, a Patron Fellow of the Indiana State Bar Foundation, a Distinguished Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation, received the IBA’s Dr. John Mortin-Finney Excellence in Legal Education Award, and the ISBA’s Pro Bono PublicoAward. Mr. Shirley manages his own law firm, serves on the Boards of the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, the Indianapolis Legal Aid Foundation, Indianapolis Childrens’ Dyslexia Center, Chairs the Board of Extended Hand Prison Ministries, and has served on the planned giving committees for the University of Evansville and United Way of Central Indiana.
Mr. Shirley represents clients throughout the United States in will contests, trust contests, claims, guardianship disputes, and complex business litigation. His clients include many of the foremost attorneys, law professors, and law firms throughout Indiana, and he testifies as an expert witness on estate and trust matters, the fiduciary standard of an attorney and trustee, and attorney fee disputes. Mr. Shirley is a certified civil mediator.
LEGAL EMPLOYMENT
2000 - Present, Law Office of Curtis E. Shirley
Estate and Trust Litigation
Complex Business Litigation
1993 - 2000, Partner, Cremer Miller & Burroughs
1992 - 1993, Clerk to the Honorable Daniel A. Manion, Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
1991 - 1992, Clerk to the Honorable James E. Noland, Judge, United States District Court forthe Southern District of Indiana
1991, Summer Clerk, Ice Miller Donadio & Ryan
1990, Summer Clerk, International Business MachinesArmonk, New York
1989, Summer Clerk, American General Finance,Evansville, Indiana
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
1997 - Present, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
2007 - 2010, Adjunct Professor of Law, Indiana University at Indianapolis
Advance Probate Litigation
Estates and Trusts
2001 - 2005, Indianapolis Bar Association Bar Review Course Instructor for Income Tax
1989 - 1991, Instructor, Dean's Tutorial Society
1985 – 1988, Director of Bands and Orchestra, Lewisburg High School, Pennsylvania
OTHER EXPERIENCE
2013 - Present, Member, Board of Governors of the Indianapolis Childrens’ Dyslexia Center
2003 - Present, Certified in Civil Mediation
1995 - Present, Board of Directors, Indianapolis Legal Aid Society
President and Chairman of the Board (2002-2008)
1995 - Present, Chairman of the Board, Extended Hand Prison Ministries
1990 - 1991, Indiana University Law School Faculty Appointments Committee
1989 - 1991, President, Phi Delta Phi International Legal
Fraternity at Indiana University
1989 - 1991, Associate Editor, Indiana Law Review
1989 - 1991, Chief Justice, Indiana University Student Senate Court of Appeals
1988 - 1991, Officer, Indiana University Student Bar Association
1982 - 1985, Member, Sinfonia Foundation Board of Trustees, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Executive Committee
HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
1997 - Present, Rated “AV” by Martindale Hubbell, Named in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (awarded to the top five percent of U.S. law firms)
2004 - 2008, Named an “Indiana Super Lawyer” by the Indianapolis Monthly Magazine (awarded to top five percent of Indiana attorneys)
2005, Indiana State Bar Foundation, Pro Bono Publico Award
2004, Patron Fellow, Indiana State Bar Foundation
Distinguished Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Foundation
2002, Dr. John Morton-Finney Excellence in Legal Education Award , Indianapolis Bar Association
1991, Recipient, Phi Delta Phi International
Lloyd G. Balfour Scholarship
1990, Recipient, the Honorable Cale J. Holder
Distinguished Scholarship Award
Indiana University Law Alumni Scholar
Harold R. Woodard Fellowship
1982, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Leadership Award
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
“Contesting Wills and Trusts”, ICLEF (2017, 2014, 1999)
“Estate Planning Under the Guardianship Code”, ICLEF (2006)
“The Legacy of Lawrence W. Inlow”, ICLEF (2004)
"Evidentiary Matters in Estate, Trust and Tax Litigation", ICLEF (2002)
"Taxation in Contested Estates", ICLEF (2001)
"Tortious Interference with an Expectancy"
, article in Res Gestae, Vl.41 No.4 (1997), cited as authority in Keith v. Dooley , 802 N.E.2d 54 (Ind.App. 2004)
