W. Kent Winingham

W. Kent Winingham is a Partner at Wilson Kehoe Winingham (WKW), an Indianapolis law firm specializing in plaintiff-side medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and product liability cases. A former competitive tennis player, he is passionate about client counseling, community involvement, and supporting survivors of traumatic brain injury. With a track record of litigating complex cases, Kent practiced at a prominent personal injury firm in Chicago before joining WKW in 2017. Recognized for his leadership, he was named Young Lawyer of the Year by the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association in 2020 and is the 2025 President-Elect of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation.

 

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Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

  • [5:34] W. Kent Winingham reflects on the influence of his father and mentors in becoming a trial lawyer
  • [13:46] Overview of complex cases handled at Wilson Kehoe Winingham, including medical malpractice and product liability
  • [18:11] Breaking down Indiana’s medical review panel process and malpractice caps
  • [24:23] Balancing the emotional impact of birth injury cases with personal experiences as a father
  • [29:44] Kent’s favorite part of trials and how he finds a rhythm during opening statements
  • [32:45] The value of involvement with the Indianapolis Bar Foundation and building professional relationships
  • [36:04] How the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association strengthens the plaintiff bar through education, mentorship, and legislative advocacy

In this episode…

Medical malpractice and product liability cases are some of the most complex and emotionally charged areas of personal injury law. Clients often come to attorneys during the most devastating moments of their lives, confused and overwhelmed by legalities they don’t understand. How can trial lawyers balance the legal, emotional, and strategic challenges of advocating for vulnerable clients while navigating Indiana’s legal landscape?

Trial attorney W. Kent Winingham shares practical insights on how to manage the challenges of high-stakes litigation with empathy and precision. Kent emphasizes the importance of setting expectations early, especially in Indiana, where the medical review panel process and malpractice caps complicate outcomes. He advocates for selective case intake, thoughtful communication, and deep preparation, particularly in birth injury and traumatic brain injury cases. Kent also highlights the role of professional community involvement — such as bar foundations and legal associations — in expanding legal knowledge, peer support, and access to justice.

In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes interviews W. Kent Winingham, Partner at Wilson Kehoe Winingham, about navigating complex personal injury litigation in Indiana. Kent also discusses how to connect with grieving clients, lessons from his time as a public defender, and the value of legal community engagement through the Indianapolis Bar Association and the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:

  • “Trial lawyers, we can work hard, we can work late nights, but we make time.”
  • “They’re vulnerable because they don’t understand the process… and all of the legal pitfalls they’ll face.”
  • “You probably have a really good negligence case. It doesn’t mean you have a medical malpractice case.”
  • “The Bar Foundation does so much good work; it’s just a total win-win for everyone.”
  • “There’s such a sense of community on the plaintiff side — people like sharing information and helping.”

Action Steps:

  1. Set clear expectations early with clients: Establishing transparency from the start builds trust and reduces confusion in complex legal cases.
  2. Be highly selective with case intake: Taking only strong, well-supported cases ensures effective use of time and increases the chances of favorable outcomes.
  3. Join professional legal organizations: Involvement in bar associations and trial lawyer groups expands your network and deepens your legal knowledge.
  4. Prepare clients for the emotional toll of litigation: Helping clients understand the lengthy timelines and stress involved can improve communication and case outcomes.
  5. Balance legal work with personal well-being: Managing emotional boundaries is essential when handling traumatic cases like birth injuries and wrongful death.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Hurst Limontes LLC — a personal injury law firm based in Indiana.

Founded in 1981, Hurst Limontes LLC is one of the few firms whose practice focuses exclusively on victims of negligence and their families.

With more than 116 years of combined experience among our attorneys, you can trust us to handle your cases with valuable and extensive expertise. We have the knowledge to handle any case — from automobile accidents to construction site accidents, firearm discharge accidents, slips and falls, and more.

No matter how complex the case or how significant the injury is, we aim to make the process as stress-free as possible for clients.

Our attorneys have represented thousands of injured clients and obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.

Have you or a family member been a personal injury victim in Indiana? Contact our dedicated team of personal injury lawyers at hurstlimontes.com or email alimontes@hurstlimontes.com.