Position: Principal

E-mail: bjohnson@peorialawyers.com

Phone: (309) 691-9650

Facsimile: (309) 691-9651

Narrative:

Mr. Johnson is a business and real estate attorney. He has a unique practice, many times representing businesses in matters ranging from incorporating small businesses to multi-state sales and acquisitions. He is frequently called on in three instances: (1) starting a company from scratch; (2) handling in-state and multi-state business sales, mergers, and acquisitions; and (3) handling commercial real estate transactions.

For example, Mr. Johnson has formed and counseled small restaurants, but has also represented publicly traded companies, such as RLI Corp. and TransCanada/Northern Border Pipeline Company.

A sample of his clients includes: natural gas pipeline companies, insurance companies, politicians, attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, developers, hospitals, contractors, and governmental bodies.

Practice Areas:

• Business: Entity selection (incorporation, LLC, etc.), entrepreneurial law, employment, business share and asset sales, mergers & acquisitions, governance, taxation, and succession (estate) planning
• Real Estate: Buying, selling, development, and title insurance
• Creditors' Rights
• Estate planning
• Sanitary District Law

Licenses:

• United States Supreme Court
• United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States District Court, Central District of Illinois
• United States Tax Court
• Illinois State and Appellate Courts

Education and Honors:

• Bachelor of Science in Business Computer Systems - Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois
  • Dean's List
• Juris Doctor - Thomas M. Cooley Law School (cum laude), Lansing, Michigan
  • Top 5% of class
  • Two-Year Accelerated Schedule Graduate
  • Dean's List & Honor Roll, all terms
  • Certificate of Merit Award (highest grade), 5 classes
  • Phi Delta Phi Professional Responsibility Award

Academic Appointments, Speaking Engagements & Articles:

• Bradley University Affiliate Professor of Business Law (past)
• Illinois Central College "The People's Law School" - Estate Planning Basics
• Peoria County Bar Association 2008 Winter CLE Lecture - Real Estate Transactions - Current Issues; 2008 Fall CLE Lecture - Estate Planning for Military Members/Veterans; 2009 Winter CLE Lecture - Developing and Maintaining Law Firm Websites; 2010 Winter CLE Lecture - Real Estate Update; 2010 CLE Series - Creditors' Rights and Debt Collection for the New Attorney; 2011 CLE Series Co-chair - Real Property and Business Litigation.
  
• Thomas M. Cooley Law School Sixty Plus Elder Law Clinic Co-president (past)
• Traders Realty: "Title Commitment Overview"; "Closing Issues"; "New Agent Training - The Title Company"; "Realtor Business Entity Selection"
• Jim Maloof Realtor: "Attorney's Role in the Home Buying Process"
• METEC, Inc.: "First-time Homebuyers "
• Alzheimer's Association of Central Illinois: "Estate Planning & Guardianships"
• Country Companies: "Basic Estate Planning"
• Business Networking International: "Business Entities", "Estate Planning"
• Co-authored with Frederick A. Johnson an Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education chapter on Illinois Sanitary Districts
• Frequent presenter on general collection, business, litigation, estate planning, real estate, and title insurance topics

Professional & Community Organizations (past and present): 

• Midwestern Securities Trading Company, LLC Member and Director
• Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois Board of Directors Member
• Young Professionals Organization of Greater Peoria Past Member
• Impact Peoria Founding Director; Past Member
• Illinois State Bar Association General Member; Illinois Bar Journal Past Editorial Board Member
• Peoria County Bar Association Board of Directors Member, Multi-committee Member; General Member; Real Property Committee Vice-Chair
• Illinois Creditors' Bar Association Member
• Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association Past Member
• Business Networking International Member
• Itoo Society, Inc. Past Board of Directors, Past Men's Club President; General Member
• Phi Alpha Delta Past Member

Appellate Experience:

• Miller v. Village of Williamsfield (3rd Dist.)
• Lorance v. Lorance - 1st appeal (3rd Dist.)
• Lorance v. Lorance - 2nd appeal (3rd Dist.)
• American Pest Control v. J.R. (4th Dist.)