Jim Keeling maintains a business law practice with emphasis on organizational and transactional matters including mergers and acquisitions and real estate. He also advises numerous individual and business clients in the areas of estate and financial planning and real estate development. In conjunction with both his business law and estate planning practices, Mr. Keeling also advises closely held businesses and family businesses on ownership relations and succession planning issues. Mr. Keeling is the Partner-in-Charge of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP’s Rockford office.

He is a member of the American Bar Association (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section); Illinois State Bar Association (Trust and Estate Section and Federal Taxation Section); the Winnebago County Bar Association (Estate Section); and the interdisciplinary Family Firm Institute, in which he is a candidate for certification as a Family Firm Advisor. He is also a member of Attorneys for Family Held Enterprises.

Mr. Keeling has been certified by the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Western Division, as a court annexed mediator.

He has been recognized by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in the category of Small, Closely & Privately Held Business Law. In the 2010 Leading Lawyers Magazine Business Edition, Mr. Keeling was included as one of the Top 100 Leading Downstate Business Lawyers in Illinois. In addition, Mr. Keeling holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability.

Mr. Keeling has also been named to the Super Lawyers list in the area of Business, General, by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine.  Mr. Keeling often speaks on topics relevant to his law practice. His presentations include:

• “Foreign Direct Investments in Rockford, Illinois: Legal and Tax Considerations,” Rockford Area Economic Development Council, Rockford, Illinois, June 2008.
• “LLCs vs S Corporations: Entity Selection Explained, IICLE course, Springfield, Illinois, March 2008.
• “Selling a Business and Other Succession Plans,” Hinshaw’s 2005 Breakfast Seminar Series, Rockford, Illinois, April 2005.
• Client workshops addressing “Issues Related to Family-Owned Businesses,” March 2005; and “”Selling a Business,” March 2006.

An active leader of Rockford area civic and charitable programs, Mr. Keeling is Chair of the Perryville Path Project (an effort to build a community bicycle and recreational paths), and is also founding Chairman of the Junior Golf Association of Greater Rockford, the area's First Tee affiliate. He serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Rockford Park District Foundation.

Mr. Keeling is a member of the Board of Trustees of Rockford College, where he and his wife co-chair the school’s year-long social entrepreneurial initiative, “Half the Sky,” which is based on the book of the same name, and host a blog for Half the Sky, which appears in the Rockford Register Star. In addition, he is a founder and co-chair of Rockford’s Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza, a city landmark.

Mr. Keeling's community service has also been recognized by the following listed awards:

• Rockford Register Star’s “Excalibur Award” (2011)
• Rockford Chamber of Commerce “20 People You Should Know” honoree (2011)
• Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau "Tourism Hall of Fame" (2011)
• Rockford Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” (2011)
• Central Asia Institute (Greg Mortenson) Humanitarian Award (2010)
• Excalibur Finalist (2010, 2003, 1995, and 1993)
• • Rockford Cosmopolitan Club “Charles G. Uram Lifetime Service Award” (2008)
• Rockford Golf Hall of Fame (2007)
• Boy Scouts of America “Distinguished Citizen Award/Champion of Youth” (2005)
• Association of Fund Raising Professionals “Outstanding Fundraiser Volunteer Award” (2004)
• Patriots Gateway Center “Patriot of the Year” for The First Tee Initiative (2004)
• Midwest Trails Conference “Innovative Paths Award” (2003)
• Rockford Sesquicentennial (1852 – 2002) “Futurist Award” (2002)
• Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame (2002)
• Illinois Park and Recreation Association and Illinois Association of Park Districts, “Community Service Award) (2001 and 1994)
• Winnebago Bar Foundation “Seely Forbes Service Award” (1999)
• Walton Foundation “Sam Walton Business Leader Award” (1998)
• Rails to Trails Conservancy “Illinois Trails Development Leadership Award” (1998)
• United Way “Volunteerism Award” for Service to Prairie State Legal Services (1998)
• Rockford Rotary Club "Service Above Self Award" (1997)
• Midway Village Museum Center “Leadership and Dedicated Service” (1994)
• Rockford Road Runners “Community Service Award” (1993)