Rachelle Ponist

The managing partner at the Indianapolis, Indiana, law firm Harshman Ponist Smith & Rayl, LLC, Rachelle Ponist is a compassionate attorney and serves her clients effectively in numerous family law matters such as divorce, adoption, custody and visitation and child support, as well as other legal matters pertaining to guardianships, estate planning, appeals, and guardian ad litem work. 

With over a decade of experience, Ms. Ponist is meticulous in her research and peerless in her advocacy for her clients. She is compassionate and deeply cares for her clients, but also zealously represents them. This combination allows her to bring out creative solutions while maintaining tried-and-true methods of practice that give her clients the best of both.

Ms. Ponist completed her undergraduate studies magna cum laude in 2010 at the Indiana Wesleyan University, graduating with her bachelor’s degree in public relations and political science pre-law. During this time, she was on the dean’s list for all four years, a member of the International Honor Society in Social Sciences and vice president and founder of the university’s Public Relations Student Society of America Chapter. A prominent student athlete, she was awarded the Champion of Character Award from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Marking her first foray into law, Ms. Ponist enrolled at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and received her Juris Doctor in 2013, as well as her license to practice in Indiana. With a thirst for knowledge and experience, she maintained consistency in proving highly academic as a recipient of the Residence Excellence Award Scholarship, as well as being a part of the Dean’s Tutorial Society and the Indianapolis Bar Association (IBA) as a student attorney.

Ms. Ponist stays active within her legal community with memberships in the Indiana Bar Association, Indianapolis Bar Association, and is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.