Any local business person who has watched the legal profession evolve over the decades in Michiana has certainly come to appreciate the attorneys who understand that good business law isn’t just about getting the paperwork right. It’s about listening to the people sitting across the table from you and really understanding what they’re trying to accomplish.
Cynthia Gillard gets that. She’s been practicing business law in Elkhart for 43 years. If you’ve been part of the Michiana business community for any length of time, you’ve likely heard her name mentioned in conversations about mergers, succession planning, or employment matters. There’s a reason for that.
Starting with the Right Foundation
Like so many accomplished people in our area, Cynthia’s story starts with family influence. Her mother worked in the legal field, helping abused and neglected children—the kind of work that doesn’t make headlines but makes a real difference in people’s lives. “My mom worked hard helping the most vulnerable,” Cynthia explains. “She saw how the law could be a force for protection and positive change. When she encouraged me to pursue law, it wasn’t just about career advice; it was about using your skills to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
That foundation shaped how Cynthia approached her career from the beginning. After graduating from Notre Dame Law School in 1982, she passed the Indiana bar that same year (and then the Michigan bar in 1983). The legal profession looked quite different then–especially for women. “When I started practicing 43 years ago, walking into a boardroom or courtroom as a woman made me grateful for what my mother instilled in me: honesty, self-confidence, and strength,” she recalls. “Those weren’t just nice qualities to have—they were survival tools in a male-dominated profession.”
Cynthia’s clients and colleagues over the years can attest to those qualities sticking. In the decades since she started practicing, she has channeled those strengths into building relationships with clients and the community.
The Warrick & Boyn Approach
Warrick & Boyn has served businesses in Elkhart, South Bend, and the surrounding Michiana area for over a century. Such longevity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because you understand your community and adapt to serve it well. Cynthia embodies that philosophy every day.
“We’re a small firm where everyone knows each other and shares similar values,” she says. “In a world of mega-firms and distant service, our relationships with clients matter. We care about more than just the bare facts. We are truly interested in their businesses, families, and goals. It’s just how things should work.”
If you’ve ever dealt with a large, impersonal firm, you’ll know what she means. You call with a question and are transferred three times before reaching someone who has to pull your file to remember who you are. That’s not how things work at Warrick & Boyn, and it’s certainly not how Cynthia operates.
Her approach to client relationships is refreshingly straightforward: “Listen to them, talk to them, be honest with them, respond to them promptly, and give them sound legal advice.” Simple enough, but the commitment goes deeper.
“Every business owner has a story. Understanding the goals and wishes at the heart of that story is essential,” she notes. “At times, the best legal advice is telling a client what they don’t want to hear. In my experience, honest, responsive counsel saves money, relationships, and reputations.”
Anyone who has tried to move a business deal forward while waiting for legal review will understand the value of a prompt and responsive attorney. “In business, timing matters,” Cynthia observes. “When someone calls with a legal question, it’s because they need an answer, not because they want to wait three days for a callback.”
Broad Expertise, Local Focus
Cynthia has handled her share of significant legal projects over the years. It’s work that has helped shape the local business landscape. She’s represented local companies in acquisitions, worked on significant business transactions, and guided family businesses through succession planning. These aren’t just legal successes; they’re transactions that affect employment and economic development throughout our region.
Her practice covers the full range of business needs: formation and development, contracts, estate and succession planning, employment matters, and the litigation that sometimes follows. She handles a fair amount of estate planning work, helping clients ensure their personal and business assets are protected and properly transferred to the next generation. What’s more, she is licensed in both Indiana and Michigan, giving her clients convenient representation across state lines—something that’s genuinely useful in this Michiana business community.
“Every trial lawyer remembers their first big federal court win,” she says, thinking back to earlier in her career. “I also had what I call my ‘Perry Mason moment,'” she reflects, referring to one of those rare courtroom instances where something comes to light during the trial that completely changes everything. She smiles. “Of course, those dramatic revelations are built on months of preparation and really understanding your client’s business inside and out.”
Community Involvement That Actually Matters
What is particularly impressive about Cynthia’s career is that her community involvement goes well beyond the typical attorney’s charitable board service. She spent 12 years on the Indiana State Board of Law Examiners—that’s the group responsible for writing and grading bar exam questions and conducting hearings with applicants on character and fitness issues.
She also served three terms on the Three Rivers Board of Education, where her own children attended school. “Serving on the school board was more than just a civic duty—it was a personal investment,” she explains. “When you’re making decisions about education budgets and policies, you’re a part of shaping the future workforce that our local businesses will depend on.”
That kind of broad, long-term thinking also appears in her other community roles. She’s served multiple terms with the Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, including as Chairman of the Board, and currently sits on the board of First State Bank. Back in 1982, she helped form the Bristol Fire Department and still serves on that board today—a commitment spanning more than four decades. She also previously served as President of the Elkhart YWCA and the Y’s Future Foundation.
Beyond the Office
People are often surprised to learn that Cynthia has published a novel, titled When Vaudeville Came to Joplin, based on a century-old scrapbook of vaudeville performers from her family. “That 100-year-old scrapbook spoke to me because it was about real people pursuing their dreams, just like the business owners I represent today. Writing historical fiction is about connecting the facts to the human stories. It’s what I love to do when I write and what I strive to do with every transaction, contract, or business decision a client brings to me for guidance.”
Cynthia also enjoys boating, quilting, and theater. They are pursuits that might seem unrelated to business law at first. But actually, they reflect the same qualities that make her effective with clients: patience, attention to detail, and appreciation for process. More than just weekend hobbies, they are expressions of the same methodical approach that serves her legal practice well.
The Satisfaction of Getting the Job Done
What brings Cynthia the most professional satisfaction? Her answer is characteristically direct: “Finishing a project.”
It sounds simple, but there’s real depth there. “It’s satisfying to take a client from the first consultation to a successful closing,” she explains. “Whether it’s a complex business acquisition or helping a family business plan for the next generation, seeing a project through to completion—knowing you’ve helped solve real problems for real people—is what this work is all about.”
After 43 years of practice in this community, that’s just the kind of perspective you want in an attorney. Not someone chasing the next big deal or looking to elevate their own profile, but someone who finds satisfaction in getting the work done right and helping clients achieve their goals.
In an increasingly impersonal professional environment, Cynthia’s traditional approach is particularly valuable. She offers clients local experience combined with genuine investment in client success and community prosperity. For businesses throughout the Michiana region, that combination represents exactly what you want when legal issues arise—someone who understands not just the law, but the community where that law operates and the people it affects.
At Warrick & Boyn, we are committed to serving and supporting the Michiana community. We’re proud to say that Cynthia Gillard’s work demonstrates this, and we are confident you’ll feel the same. If you’d like to start a conversation about how Cynthia‘s dedication and capability can help advise and support your business goals, reach out to us today.