About James
James T. Jackson has been practicing law with Samuels, Miller, Schroeder, Jackson & Sly, LLP since 1988. During that time he has been a Member of the Illinois State Bar Association, serving as chair of several committees, including Tort Law Section Council; Insurance Law Section Council; and the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Committee. Mr. Jackson has also served as Co-Chair of the Student Affairs Section (NACUA) 1998-2000, member of Defense Research Institute/Illinois Association of Defense Counsel 1995-present, and member of Leading Lawyers Network (Illinois) 2005-present.
Mr. Jackson is involved in his local community, previously serving as an Elder at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Chairman of the congregation. He has also served as a Board member of Macon Resources and the Decatur Area Arts Council. He currently serves on the Board of Regents for Concordia College in Selma, Alabama
About Keith
Keith W. Casteel graduated from Purdue University with honors in Industrial Engineering where he was a member of Iron Key and recipient of the G.A. Ross Award as the Outstanding Graduating Senior Man. He also received the Illinois State Bar Association Lincoln Award; was a member of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Corporation Acts Advisory Committee from 2003-2005; is a member of the Institute for Illinois Business Law; is a member of the Fourth District Committee on Character and Fitness of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar; is a member of Leading Lawyer’s Network (2014 Leading Lawyers profile of Keith W. Casteel); was selected as one of the top 10 leading agricultural lawyers in Illinois by Leading Lawyers Magazine for 2014 and 2015; is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Agricultural Law Committee, serving as Committee Vice-Chair for 2020-21 and Committee Chair for 2021-22; is a member of the American Agricultural Law Association serving on committees for awards and membership; is a board member of Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Inc. (Treasurer 2018 – ___); was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce; and Past President of the Decatur Bar Association.
Keith represents business entities of all types, including profit and not-for-profit corporations and limited liability companies, in all aspects of operations including formations, contractual issues, governance, purchases and sales, and employment matters. He also represents owners, sellers, and buyers of farmland throughout Illinois and provides advice concerning managing, using, and leasing farmland for various purposes.
He also provides advice on wills, trusts and estate planning, and prepares necessary documents to implement such plans.
Keith and his wife Kathy, a registered nurse, live in Decatur, Illinois. They have three sons: Ryan, with an electrical engineering degree from Purdue University and a Masters Degree in Security Policy from George Washington University; Seth, with a fine arts degree in film and television from Chapman University; and Clayton, with a finance degree from Indiana University and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Georgetown University.
