Atty. Peter J. Rusthoven
Peter J. Rusthoven, a partner in the Indianapolis office, has a multi-dimensional practice.
Appellate Practice & More Attorney · Serving Indianapolis, IN
Profile Summary
About Peter J. Rusthoven at a Glance
Peter J. Rusthoven is a appellate and entertainment attorney based in Indianapolis, Indiana, practicing at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. Admitted to practice in Indiana, Indiana State Bar Association. Educated at Harvard University (J.D., 1976) and Harvard University (B.A., 1973). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Gaming Law (2026), and Lawyer of the Year — Gaming Law (Indianapolis) (2019). Serves clients in Indianapolis, IN and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Peter J. Rusthoven
- Peter J. Rusthoven, a partner in the Indianapolis office, has a multi-dimensional practice
- His business experience includes transactional and corporate governance work, in areas ranging from manufacturing to publishing to healthcare
- Peter was active in drafting Indiana's corporation statute and official comments and has frequently written and spoken on corporate change-of-control issues
- In the governmental services area, he is experienced in gaming and alcoholic beverage licensing and other regulatory and legislative services matters
- Peter's litigation practice focuses on appellate and trial-level advocacy involving significant legal issues
- He had a lead role in briefing the U.S
- Supreme Court in the landmark CTS case (upholding the constitutionality of an Indiana change-of-control law), and represented America's largest insurance associations defending holding-company acts in multi-state litigation
- Other examples of his trial and appellate advocacy involve areas as diverse as banking, contract, environmental, labor, and utilities law (including the firm's 1999 Indiana Supreme Court victory in the SBC/Ameritech merger case)
- Since 2014, Peter has been recognized on the Indiana Super Lawyers list for his work in appellate, business/corporate and civil litigation defense law
- Peter has also been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America: in 2016 he was named a "Lawyer of the Year" for his work in appellate and gaming law
- He has also been recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business since 2011
- Peter is a 1973 magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior
- He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, in 1976 from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review
- He was associate counsel to the president of the United States from 1981 to 1985 and in 1986 was counsel to the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident
- In 1998, he was a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S
- Senator from Indiana
- He is a board member of the Educational CHOICE Charitable Trust and regularly appears on television and radio programs on public and political affairs
- Peter is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States
- the Supreme Court of Indiana
- the U.S
- Court of Appeals for the Federal, Third, Fifth, and Seventh Circuits
- and the U.S
- District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana
Practice Areas Explained
Peter J. Rusthoven's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Peter J. Rusthoven handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Indianapolis.
Appellate Practice in Indianapolis
Appellate attorneys for civil and criminal appeals at state and federal court.
Peter J. Rusthoven is one of 85,572 appellate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse appellate attorneys in Indiana →
Entertainment & Sports Law in Indianapolis
Entertainment lawyers for music, film, sports contracts, talent representation, and IP licensing.
Peter J. Rusthoven is one of 45,619 entertainment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse entertainment attorneys in Indiana →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Indianapolis
Practicing law in Indiana. Legal matters in Indiana are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Indianapolis are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Indiana state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Indiana brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Indiana courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Indianapolis Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Indianapolis-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Indiana attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Indianapolis or all attorneys in Indiana.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Indianapolis Choose Peter J. Rusthoven
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Peter J. Rusthoven's practice in the field of appellate and entertainment.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering appellate and entertainment, Peter J. Rusthoven can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Indianapolis
A Indianapolis-based practice means Peter J. Rusthoven attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
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Peter J. Rusthoven's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
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