About Christopher L.
Christopher L. LaPan trained first as a communicator and later as a lawyer. He earned an M.A. in Communications from Purdue University in 2005 before completing his J.D. at Michigan State University College of Law in 2009. Those two degrees shape how he approaches disputes: attentive listening, clear explanation, and a preference for resolving matters short of trial where possible.
After law school he established his practice in Indiana and is admitted to practice in the state. He is a Registered Family Law Mediator in Indiana, a credential that underlines his role in helping families reach agreements outside a courtroom. He combines mediation training with courtroom experience, drawing on both to advise clients on strategy and likely outcomes.
LaPan’s career has been marked by involvement in several professional groups that reflect his interests. He is a member of the Indiana Bar Association and the Allen County Bar Association. He also belongs to the American Bar Association, the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and organizations focused on family dispute resolution such as the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Collaborative Family Law Solutions, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. Those memberships keep him connected to developments in collaborative practice and family law procedure.
He practices at Stucky, Lauer & Young, LLP, where he handles matters related to family law and dispute resolution. His background in communications complements his mediator role. Parties seeking alternative processes and settlement often turn to mediation or collaborative procedures first. When a negotiated solution is not possible, he prepares cases for litigation and represents clients in court proceedings.
Colleagues describe him as methodical in preparing case material and pragmatic at the negotiation table. Clients working through separation, child custody issues or property division are likely to find a mix of negotiation, mediation and, when necessary, litigation skills. He frequently guides clients through the procedural steps of family law cases and explains the options available at each stage.
Outside of casework he participates in bar association activities and professional groups that promote collaborative approaches to family disputes. He draws on his communications training and legal education to manage exchanges between parties and counsel. He currently concentrates his practice on family law, mediation and collaborative practice.
