Keith Hanson
Managing Partner
Keith counsels sophisticated executives, business owners, insurers, regional financial institutions, mid-size businesses, entrepreneurs and not-for-profit organizations both locally and internationally. His work with some of the world’s largest companies includes product design, contract analysis and advocacy, and dispute resolution across a wide range of businesses and geographic locations. Keith has protected the rights of businesses, senior executives, insurers, reinsurers, and reinsureds in negotiations, litigation, mediations, and arbitrations in almost every state in the United States, elsewhere in North America, in the United Kingdom and in other European Union countries.
As the author of hundreds of contracts, insurance policies and contract modifications, Keith’s knowledge of risk management, commercial planning and disputes, and effective dispute resolution techniques is the product of many years of working with senior executives across the United States and overseas. Keith works with both new and established businesses to form new entities, to foster business growth through acquisitions, capital raising, franchising and joint ventures, and to provide advice and legal counsel for successful business men and women facing the challenges of strategic planning and dispute resolution. He represents and advises businesses with regard to employment relations, creditors’ rights, corporate formations, and transactions.
As counsel to and a director of a number of churches and other not-for-profit entities, Keith has helped found and guide charitable and advocacy groups such as the Ironmen Foundation. Ironmen Foundation is a charity providing scholarships to the children of wounded and killed combat veterans. In his community service role he works with local leaders in business, government, and philanthropy to promote programs that benefit young people and those facing personal crises in the Midwest and elsewhere across the United States. Keith also serves in local government as a Trustee of the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District and as the district’s Vice President.
In his pro bono practice Keith has represented children involved with school issues, elderly clients dealing with government agencies, and various veterans’ groups.
Keith also serves as a professor of political science at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois.
As a public speaker and writer, Keith addresses legal concerns of businesses and the successful women and men that run them locally, nationally, and internationally. He has been a speaker at the Risk and Insurance Management Symposium (RIMS), the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), the American Conference Institute (ACI), and before various other professional and community organizations. Keith has been invited to counsel senior management groups in both the United States and in Europe. Keith has been a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), Rotary International, and a number of legal professional associations.
In addition to client advocacy, Keith has worked with national legislative leaders to address regulatory and public policy issues. He provides neutral mediation services with regard to community issues and business disputes. Outside of work he participates in theatrical productions, provides free legal services to community organizations and volunteers with various church and local community organizations.
Keith is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States and of the State Bar of Illinois.
Education
University of Wisconsin Law School
J.D. 1976University of Wisconsin—Madison
B.S. 1974
Court Admissions
State of Illinois 1977
United States Court of AppealsEighth Circuit
Supreme Court of the United States 2015