Craig Fugate

Craig Fugate is the Managing Partner and co-founder of the firm. He concentrates his practice in business, franchise, and real estate law. He works closely with franchisees and entrepreneurs on transactional matters, including entity formation, financing transactions, business acquisitions and sales, contract drafting and review, and real estate lease and purchase matters.

Craig earned his B.A. in 2002 from DePauw University, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Economics. He then received his J.D. in 2007, cum laude, from the Robert H. McKinney School of Law at Indiana University, where he served as Executive Production Editor of the Indiana International & Comparative Law Review. He also earned his MBA in 2007 from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, Indianapolis, majoring in Finance, and later obtained an M.S. from Butler University.

Admitted to the bar in 2008, Craig is licensed to practice in Indiana and Wisconsin. Since that time, he has advised both small and medium-sized businesses and Fortune 500 companies. He formed Fugate Legal in 2012, which later became Fugate Gangstad in 2019.

Craig provides general counsel services to several small businesses, helping owners address operational and legal concerns as they grow. He assists new and existing franchisees with franchise purchases and renewals, counsels clients on real estate transactions, and structures business entities to protect assets and support long-term success.

Craig Fugate is a member of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising and Business Law Division. He combines legal knowledge with financial insight from his MBA to deliver practical advice that aligns with each client’s business objectives.

Law Office Affiliations

• Managing Partner, Fugate Gangstad Lowe LLC
• Member, Indiana State Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Wisconsin
• Member, American Bar Association

Licensed State

• Indiana
• Wisconsin

Education

• Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Kelley School of Business, Indiana University
  Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Butler University
  Master of Science (MS)
• DePauw University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges