Chisara Ezie-Boncoeur is a dynamic lawyer who thrives in the courtroom, strategically maneuvering complex commercial litigation cases like a seasoned advocate. She represents diverse clients across a wide range of industries and market sectors, swiftly grasping business nuances that often result in winning strategies for both plaintiffs and defendants alike.
Chisara's ability to pivot quickly and break down legal issues and factual nuances benefits clients throughout their case life cycle. Her calming presence and strong listening skills help prepare clients for all phases of a dispute. She focuses on ensuring they understand the stakes at hand and the overarching approach needed to achieve the best possible outcome. Her clients value her natural way of being in the trenches for them and with them.
As the firm’s Commercial Litigation team co-chair, Chisara engages in all phases of litigation from inception through appeal, and alternative dispute resolution, and engages in leadership in this area. She conducts depositions, prepares and questions witnesses, handles discovery strategy, drafts critical legal documents, and argues her client’s positions in court. In addition to taking cases through trial, her experience includes obtaining injunctive relief and dismissals of lawsuits. She often successfully resolves disputes that have a lot at stake on the line, including multimillion-dollar claims and matters of supreme importance to her clients.
Beyond her practice, Chisara is passionate about education and corporate social responsibility. Her background includes work with the United Nations Development Programme and economic development initiatives in Ecuador and Liberia, reflecting her commitment to making a difference in areas of social development.
Education
- Columbia Law School, J.D., 2014, Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law certificate, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, editorial board of Columbia Journal of Race and Law, editor and participant in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court, Earl Warren Scholar, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
- Cornell University, A.B., anthropology, double minor in inequality studies and Spanish, 2009, cum laude
Bar Admissions
- Texas
- Indiana
- New York
- New Jersey
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Courts for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Courts for the Western District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Liam Williams serves clients, including individuals and corporations, by performing investigations in anticipation of litigation and by representing them in civil lawsuits and arbitrations. Liam is a tireless advocate and advisor for clients with high-stakes litigation and concerns, and he consistently strives to deliver results that meet clients’ needs.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
He has represented clients in arbitration and in state and federal court regarding a myriad of commercial disputes, including matters involving trade secrets, securities, ERISA, business torts and contract disputes. Liam’s experience includes representing government contractors, insurers, suppliers, manufacturers, medical systems, family businesses, individuals, consulting firms, and Fortune 500 companies in matters large and small. He has litigated matters up to trial and during appeals, including drafting dispositive motions, handling discovery disputes, engaging in mediation and drafting motions in limine.
Liam’s zealous advocacy extends into his pro bono practice, where he makes effective legal representation accessible to those in need, including prison inmates, asylum seekers and veterans.
Personal Interests
Liam is a video game and board game enthusiast, avid reader, and enjoyer of musical theater.
Bar Admissions
Indiana
New York
Related Services
Litigation
Education
- Indiana University Maurer School of Law
- J.D., Order of Barristers, Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality (editor-in-chief) (2021)
- University of Connecticut
- B.A. in English and Political Science, cum laude (2018)
Glorify focuses her practice on public finance serving as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, and disclosure counsel in municipal finance transactions. She works on transactions involving large public and private issuers and the issuance of private activity bonds, as well as governmental bonds that are payable from taxes and other public funds. Glorify’ s work extends to financing for airports, single and multi-family housing, and tax increment financing. She also serves as general counsel to public and governmental entities, advising on open door laws, public records issues, and economic development and redevelopment initiatives.
In addition to her public finance practice, Glorify provides guidance on structuring and forming various corporations, limited liability companies, and other forms of entities. She also counsels corporate entity clients on corporate regulations and compliance, director and officer responsibilities, and general business planning.
Prior to joining FBT, Glorify served families during her time at the Department of Child Services and volunteered at Kids’ Voice. Glorify continues to serve families in her role as a Kids’ Voice volunteer Guardian ad litem. She also represents individuals in estate and trust administration, guardianships, and related probate litigation.
Education
- Law School
- Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D., 2023, cum laude
- Graduate School
- Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law, LLM, 2017, with distinction
- Undergraduate School
- University of Zimbabwe, Bachelor of Laws (honors), 2016
- Zimbabwe National Moot Court, Team Leader
Bar Memberships
Professional Affiliations
- Mentor, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Success, Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Civic Activities
- Goodwill Commercial Services Centre
Shelice R. Tolbert is a partner at Tolbert & Tolbert law firm in Gary, Indiana. Shelice obtained her Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2000. Shelice received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Wittenberg University, in Springfield, OH in 1997 after graduating at the top of her class from West Side High School in 1993. Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Shelice concentrates her practice in the areas of civil litigation, personal injury, municipal law including board governance, business and contract matters, police liability excessive force cases, and estate planning. Shelice was admitted to the Indiana State Bar on November 13, 2000, as well as the United States District Court in the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. She is also admitted and qualified as an attorney and counselor before the Seventh Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals.
Shelice served on the Board of Governors of the Indiana State Bar Association as a district representative from 2011-2013, and actively participates on the Diversity and Wellness Committees as well as the Women In Law Committee. Shelice was the recipient of the 2019 ISBA Women in the Law Recognition Award. Shelice was appointed to the Indiana State Board of Law Examiners by the Indiana Supreme Court in 2014, having served as past President of the board. She has served with distinction as President of the James C. Kimbrough Minority Bar Association from 2010-2011 and served as President of the Porter County Chapter of the American Inns of Court from 2014-2015. She is an active member of the Gary Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. where she has held many leadership positions and committee roles. Shelice also served as Counsel to the 2018 President of the Lake County Bar Association after being the first African American female President in 2016.
Shelice has been recognized in the business community by Building Indiana magazine as a 2012 Mover & Shaker of Northwest Indiana. In 2015, Shelice was selected as one of the 20 Under 40 award recipients by the Northwest Indiana Times Media BusINess Magazine. Shelice has been nominated as a Northwest Indiana Influential Woman in Business in the Legal category in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. She was also selected by the Indiana Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2013, 2014, and 2015, and has been selected as a Super Lawyer since 2019. In 2011, Shelice served on the Task Force and Transition Team for former Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, providing guidance for the City’s Law Department and Corporation Counsel. In 2022, Shelice was nominated as an Outstanding Woman Lawyer in a Solo/Small Firm Practice for the Women Lawyers Division of the National Bar Association. In 2023, Shelice was an honoree in the inaugural class of the Indiana Lawyer’s Diversity in Law awards.
Shelice served as an adjunct professor at Valparaiso University School of Law, teaching Trial Practice from 2007-2017. She continues her community efforts with her involvement on the UNCF Northwest Indiana Leadership Council. Shelice also serves on the Board of Directors of the Gary Literacy Coalition, where she holds the position of vice president. She is a life member of the Gary Chapter of the NAACP and a member of the Board of Directors for Methodist Hospital. Shelice continues to assist with scholarship application reviews with the Legacy Foundation, and she has served on the Board of Directors for the Lake Area United Way. Shelice continues to offer her volunteer services to the legal community through her involvement in the grants and scholarships committee of the Indiana Bar Foundation.
Shelice has been married to Michael E. Tolbert since 2006 and is a member of Embassies of Christ Kingdom Ministries Church. Shelice and her husband received the Co-Merit of Distinction Award from the Katie Hall Education Foundation in 2017. Shelice continues to speak at schools in Gary and around Northwest Indiana, mentoring and encouraging the youth in our communities.
David Hamilton has been a practicing attorney for over 38 years with the law firm of Rowe & Hamilton. He graduated from the Indiana University School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. He is also a graduate of the Indiana University School of Law Indianapolis, where he received various academic and scholarship awards, including being named the Outstanding Second Year Law Student and being awarded a Barrister Scholarship.
He has been a partner of Rowe & Hamilton since its inception in 1984 and is engaged in civil litigation practice with a focus on representing individuals and families who have been injured by the negligent conduct of others. His vast experience includes wrongful death claims, trucking and automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, and dog bite claims.
Mr. Hamilton was the first African-American appointed to serve as Commissioner in the Marion County Superior Court, Probate Division, where he served for three years. He also served as Judge Pro Tem in the Marion County Superior Court Criminal Division and as a Hearing Officer for the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Committee. In addition, he worked as a court attorney for the Marion County Superior Court Probate Division.
He is a lifetime member of the Marion County Bar Association and is listed in Martindale-Hubbell as a distinguished attorney with a high peer rating achievement. He received a twenty-five-year distinguished practice award from the Indiana State Bar Association.
Mr. Hamilton is very active in giving back to his community. He is a former Precinct Chairman for Pike Township and served as a member of the Federal Judicial Nominating Committee that interviewed candidates for judicial appointments. In 2012, he received recognition for his excellence and outstanding legal service to the Indianapolis community by the Circle City Chapter of The Links, Inc.
He has served as an AAU Coach to several elite travel teams, winning two national championships and numerous state and other tournament titles. He is married to Linda Hamilton, and they have three children: David, Dana, and Jarrett. His son David is a graduate of Harvard Law School, his daughter Dana is a graduate of Spelman College, and his son Jarrett is a graduate of the University of Indianapolis.