Elizabeth A. Klesmith, Associate

Libby joined the firm’s South Bend office after graduating Notre Dame Law School in 2014. Her practice areas include civil litigation representing clients in product liability, medical malpractice, contract disputes, contract claims, employment defense, personal injury, and real estate matters. She also assists clients with the application process of federal and state trademark registration in Indiana and Michigan.

Representative transactions include

• Contract disputes
• Personal injury litigation
• Property damage litigation
• Employment defense litigation
• Commercial real estate purchases and sales
• Residential real estate purchases and sales
• Tax sales
• Applications for preliminary injunctions and TROs
• Quiet title actions
• Insurance coverage disputes
• Creditors’ rights and collections
• Easement disputes
• Applications for Federal and State trademark registration

Professional Licensure

• Indiana State Bar Association, District 3 Representative, Young Lawyers Section Council

• St. Joseph County Bar Association, President-Elect

• State Bar of Michigan, Member

• Cass County Bar Association, Member

Community Emphasis

• Michiana Forty Under 40, Member of the Class of 2020

• Robert A. Grant Inn of Court

• South Bend Civic Theatre, Board Member and Volunteer

• Young Professionals Network South Bend (YPN), Member

• Leadership South Bend/Mishawaka, EMERGE Program, Fall 2015

• Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley, Member

• Notre Dame Law School, Mentor

• Past board or volunteer service for Vesper Chorale, The Acting Ensemble, the Midwest Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and various other local organizations.

Blogs and publications

• Klesmith, Elizabeth A. (2014) “Nigeria and Mali: The Case for Repatriation and Protection of Cultural Heritage in Post-Colonial Africa,” Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law: Vol. 4: Iss. 1, Article 1. Available at: https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndjicl/vol4/iss1/1/
• Real ID Act
• Does Your Business Have a Litigation Hold Policy
• Title Insurance – What It Is and Why You Need It

Personal snapshot

Libby, originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, has embraced South Bend as her home since her time at Notre Dame Law School. As is her style, Libby has thrown herself body and soul into her community. She has been cast in many productions at the South Bend Civic Theatre – where her beautiful voice and acting skills are gifts she willingly shares – and now serves on the Board and several committees. Libby is also an active member of the South Bend Young Professional Network and the St. Joseph County Bar Association, where she takes advantage of every service and leadership opportunity she can get to give back to the community that has given her so much.

Libby has a passion for learning about history and other cultures and enjoys traveling the world with friends. She also enjoys taking adult ballet classes at Southold Dance Theater, and has recently taken up running … which she (mostly) no longer hates.