Daniel K. Russell
Background
Daniel was born in Princeton, Illinois, on April 27, 1944. Having grown up in Princeton, Daniel graduated from Princeton Township High School in 1962. While attending Western Illinois University from 1962-1966, Dan majored in history, minored in philosophy and political science, and was a member of Pi Gamma Mu, a national social science honor society. During his undergraduate years, Daniel participated in intercollegiate debates as a member of the Western Illinois University Debate Team.
Following graduation from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1969, Daniel was a VISTA volunteer from September 1969 until March 1971 attached to the Champaign County Legal Services Agency. In March 1971, Daniel began practicing law in Princeton with the firm then known as Johnson, Martin & Russell, one of the predecessors to the present firm where Daniel continues to practice.
Over the past 40 years, Daniel has concentrated his practice in personal injury and property damage defense litigation in numerous North Central Illinois counties, including Bureau County where Princeton is located. Dan's insurance defense litigation practice is concentrated mainly in the counties of Bureau, LaSalle (40 miles), Lee (35 miles), Putnam (15 miles), Marshall (30 miles), Stark (40 miles), Henry (50 miles) and Ogle (55 miles). Also, Dan practices in the area of plaintiff's personal injury litigation, general tort and contract litigation, and Appellate practice. Additionally, Dan engages in UM and UIM arbitrations both as a litigant and as an arbitrator, and serves as a mediator in personal injury cases.
For decades, Daniel has had an AV rating in Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
Education
- Princeton Township High School - 1962
- Western Illinois University, BA - 1966
- University of Illinois College of Law, JD - 1969
Court Admissions
- Daniel has been admitted by the Supreme Court of Illinois at all time since November 11, 1969, to practice law in the courts of the State of Illinois.
Professional Activities & Associations
- Member, Bureau County and Illinois State Bar Association
- Bureau County Bar Association, President 1990-1992
- Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
Community Involvement
- Matson Public Library Board of Trustees, 1976-1993
- Board of Directors of Bureau County Day Care Center, Inc., 1974-1999
Robert F. Russell
Background
Bob continues a long tradition of legal representation in the City of Princeton as he follows his father and his grandfather in the practice of law. Bob's practice is primarily concentrated in real estate, local governmental law, business organizations, commercial zoning and permitting, administration of estates, estate planning, including wills and trusts, and estate planning for special needs and elder law considerations. In January of 2011, Bob was honored to be chosen an Illinois Leading Lawyer in the practice areas of residential real estate, commercial real estate, local government law and estate planning.
Bob is a member of several nationwide organizations, including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He is a frequent statewide speaker on government related issues, estate planning and special needs topics, and real estate issues at both conventions and educational seminars. He has written numerous articles relating to real estate law and local government law.
Currently, Bob is a director and has served as Chairman of the Board of Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., serves as a director and is currently the President of the Illinois Township Attorneys' Association, and has served as a member of the Illinois State Bar Association's Real Estate Section Council and Education Law Section Council.
Education
- Princeton Township High School, 1966
- Stanford University B.A. 1970
- University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., 1973
Court Admissions
- State Courts of Illinois
- Central District of the United States District Court for Illinois
Professional Activities & Associations
- Director, Attorney's Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., 1995-(Board Secretary, 2002-2005, Vice Chairman 2005-2009, Chairman 2010-2013)
- Member, Bureau County Bar Association, 1974- (President, 2002-2004; Chair, Bureau County Real Estate Committee 1993–2002; Treasurer 1977-1980)
- Member, Illinois State Bar Association, 1974-(Committee Member, Real Estate Section Council, 1988–1992, 2008-2012; Committee Member, Education Law Section Council, 1993 – 95)
- Member, Illinois Township Attorneys Association, 1987-(Director 2006-, President 2013-)
- Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 1994-
- Member, Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association
- Fellow of the Illinois Bar Foundation
Community Involvement
- Chair of Board of Directors, Bureau County Metropolitan, Exposition, Auditorium, and Office Building Board, 1984-
- Chair of Board of Directors, Alfred H. Shoemake Community Foundation, Princeton
- Director, Princeton Park District Foundation, 1999-
- Director, Bureau County Historical Society, 2013-
- Director, Perry Memorial Hospital, 1996- (Chair 1999-2003)
- Director, Amcore Bank NA, North Central, Princeton, Illinois 1994-2000 (Chair, 1999-2000)
- Director, First State Bank of Princeton, Princeton, Illinois 1985-1994
- Director, First State Bancorp, Princeton 1985-1994
- Member of Board of Education, Princeton High School, 1977-1986
- Director, Illinois Valley Community College Foundation, 1976-1995 (Vice-Chair, 1993-1995)
- Director, Bureau County Chapter of American Red Cross, 1975-1994 (Secretary, 1975-1984)
- Director, Perry Memorial Hospital Foundation, 1998-2000
- Director, Princeton Park District Foundation
Recent Publications
- Competitive Bidding for Townships and Township Road Districts, Illinois Township Attorneys’ Newsletter, September 2011
- County Roads: Who Owns Them? Illinois Township Attorneys’ Newsletter, April 2011, also Illinois State Bar Association Real Estate Section Newsletter, July 2011, also Illinois State Bar Association Agricultural Law Section Newsletter, August 2011
- “New” Duties for Townships Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Township Perspective, May 2010
- Township Cemeteries: Obtaining Additional Burial Space, Township Perspective, April 2010
Recent Public Speaking Engagements
- The Five W's of Township Construction, presented to Illinois Township Attorneys Association 12th Annual Educational Seminar, May 2014
- Gunning for a Perfect Board Meeting = Illinois New Concealed Carry Firearms Law, presented to Northwestern Illinois Parks and Recreation Association, November 2013
- New Legislation Affecting Townships, presented to Bureau County Township Officials’ Association, October 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
- Estate Planning Toolkit, presented to Princeton Alzheimer’s Support Group, August 2011
- Township Roads: Who Owns Them? How do You Get Rid of Them? Presented to Township Officials Annual Educational Conference, November 2009. Also presented to Northwest Illinois Highway Commissioners Association 2010 spring seminar, May 2010
- Township Cemeteries: Creating & Operating in a Time of Change, presented to Illinois Township Attorneys Association Eighth Annual Educational Seminar, May 2010
- Wind Farm Issues, Real Estate Law for the Experienced Practitioner, Illinois State Bar Association Law Ed Seminar, November 2009
- Competitive Bidding for Townships and Township Road Districts, presented to Illinois Township Attorneys Association Seventh Annual Educational Seminar, May 2009
Michael L. English
Background
Michael was born in Huron, South Dakota on August 15, 1953. His family moved to Vincennes, Indiana in 1969 and he graduated from Rivet H.S. in 1971. Michael attended Vincennes University from 1971-1973 and Indiana University from 1973-1975, obtaining degrees in both Political Science and Economics. He was made a member of Phi Beta Kappa during his undergraduate years. Michael attended the University of Minnesota Law School from 1975-1978. Upon graduation, he accepted a position with the firm of Tuchscherer & Bradley, S.C. in Wausau, Wisconsin were he practiced until June of 1980, at which time he moved his practice to Princeton, Illinois, joining the predecessor firm of Johnson, Martin & Russell, P.C.
Michael has concentrated his practice on transactional work and estate planning for his clients. His areas of practice include transactional real estate, with special emphasis on tax deferred exchanges, estate planning and probate administration, federal and state income taxation and formation and representation of corporations and other business organizations.
Education
- Rivet H.S., Vincennes, Indiana – 1971
- Vincennes University – Associate Degree – 1973
- Indiana University – B.A. – 1975
- University of Minnesota Law School – J. D. – 1978
Court Admissions
- Michael is admitted to practice in the state of Wisconsin since 1978, along with Federal District Courts for the Central District of Illinois and Western District of Wisconsin and since November, 1980, to practice before all courts in the state of Illinois.
Professional Activities & Associations
- Member, Bureau County, Wisconsin and Illinois State Bar Associations
- Illinois State Bar Association Corporation and Securities Law Section Council 1985-1989
- Illinois State Bar Association Federal Taxation Council 1992-2003 (Chairman 2001/2002)
- ISBA Trusts & Estates Section Council 1995-2003
- ISBA Real Estate Section Council 2002- (Chairman 2011-2012)
- Fellow, Illinois Bar Foundation
Community Involvement
- Director, Princeton Industrial Commission 1980-Present
- Director, Princeton H.S. Foundation 1992-1999
- Director, St. Louis Catholic School Foundation 1993-Present
- Chairman, St. Louis Catholic School Commission on Education 1985-1991
- Director, Bureau County United Way 1981-1990
- Chairman, Princeton Fire and Police Commission 1992-Present
William S. Beneke
Background
Bill was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and grew up in Vinton, Iowa. Following graduation from law school, Bill was engaged in private practice in Muscatine, Iowa, and then accepted the position of Executive Director of the Story County (Iowa) Legal Aid Society.
In 1982, Bill relocated to Princeton and joined his father-in-law, George Skinner, in practice, becoming the sixth generation practitioner in the local Princeton law firm. In 1988, the Skinner & Beneke firm merged with Johnson, Martin and Russell, the predecessor firm of Russell, English, Scoma & Beneke.
Bill is married and has four children. His wife, Sallee, is the former director of the Bureau County Day Care Center (now the Zearing Child Enrichment Center) and is on the faculty of St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.
Bill provides legal services for numerous farm drainage districts and fire protection districts located in seven Illinois counties. His areas of concentration include all areas of real estate law, estate planning, trusts, probate, elder law, taxation, social security disability, local government, agricultural drainage, and water rights.
Education
- Washington High School, Vinton, IA
- Cornell College, B.A. in History
- University of Oklahoma, Juris Doctorate
- Public Speaking: Bill is a frequent guest lecturer at events and conferences of the Illinois Association of Drainage Districts.
Court Admissions
- Admitted to Iowa State Bar in 1979. Admitted to practice in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa, 1980. Admitted to Illinois State Bar in 1982. Admitted to practice in U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1982.
Professional Activities & Associations
- Member, Bureau County Bar Association, 1982-present (Vice-President, 2010-present)(President, 2014-present)
- Prairie State Legal Services Pro Bono Publico Award for Volunteer of the Year, 1985-86
- Past Director, Ottawa Advisory Counsel, Prairie State Legal Services
Community Involvement
- Past Director, Freedom House Shelter
- Princeton Public Library Board (Trustee, 1993-2013) (Vice-President, 1996-1999) (President, 1999-2004)
- Past Moderator, Hampshire Colony United Church of Christ
- Member, Open Prairie United Church of Christ
- Coordinator, The Princeton Coffeehouse, local acoustic music series (2004-present)
- Trustee, Adelaide E. Prouty Trust (Greenfield Retirement Home) (2013-present)
Andrew M. Russell
Background
Andrew is an associate attorney for Russell, English, Scoma & Beneke, P.C. He was born and raised in Princeton, Illinois, and joins the firm as the fourth generation of lawyers in the Russell family who have practiced law in Princeton. He follows his great-grandfather, Judge R.L. Russell, his grandfather, Fred G. Russell, his great-uncle, William M. Russell, and joins his father, Robert Russell and cousin, Daniel Russell in the firm.
Andrew attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, and graduated Cum Laude in 2005 with a degree in History. He obtained his Juris Doctorate in 2008 from Chicago-Kent College of Law and was admitted to practice law in Illinois in October of 2008. Andrew's primary areas of practice include: estate planning, real estate, probate, trust law, business and corporate law, landlord-tenant law, expungement/sealing, and contract and property litigation.
Education
- Princeton Township High School – 2001
- St. Ambrose University, B.A. – 2005
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D. – 2008
Court Admissions
- Admitted to Illinois State Bar in 2008.
Professional Activities & Associations
- Member, Illinois State Bar Association as well as the Bureau County Bar Association.
- Member, Bureau County Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Board of Directors for Gateway Services, Inc. 2010- (Vice President 2011-present)
- Member, Princeton Chapter of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce 2011-
- Trustee of the Princeton Public Library, 2013-present
- Princeton Farmers' Market board member
- Public Guardian/Administrator for Bureau County, Illinois