618.343.3540 (tel.)
618.343.3546 (fax)
ehanses@rsnlt.com

Practice Areas: Commercial Transactions, Education Law, Finance, Municipal Law, Real Estate Development, Student Discipline, Property Tax & Revenue Preservation

Gene Hanses counsels and represents public and private sector clients with respect to real estate transactions, commercial and contractual relationships and disputes and real property tax assessment law. Gene practices from the Firm's Collinsville office and serves clients with legal concerns arising in both Illinois and Missouri.

Prior to joining the firm, Gene served for more than ten years with the Law Department for the City of St. Louis. As an Associate City Counselor, he provided representation and consultation to a municipal corporation, its elected officials and cabinet-level officers. Gene served as lead counsel for a variety of transactional and other commercial projects, with a substantial emphasis on matters pertaining to real property acquisition, disposition, valuation, tax assessment and related legislative and civil actions. He previously maintained a private legal practice and worked as a licensed Missouri real estate sales agent.

Education

• J.D., Washington University, 1990
• B.A., Northwestern University, 1987

Admitted to Practice

• Supreme Court of Illinois
• Supreme Court of Missouri

Organizations

• Illinois Council of School Attorneys
• National Council of School Attorneys

Recent Presentations

• Compliance with the Amended Illinois Freedom of Information Act, Regional Office of Education No. 40; Jerseyville, IL (January 2010)
• Compliance with the Amended Illinois Freedom of Information Act, Regional Office of Education No. 20 and WOVSED; Norris City, IL (December 2009)
• Board Governance Update: Recent Amendments to FOIA and OMA, Wabash and Ohio Valley Special Education Superintendent Training; Whittington, IL (July 2009)
• Advertising on School Property and Websites, Wabash and Ohio Valley Special Education Superintendent Training; Whittington, IL (July 2009)
• Internet Liability Issues for Schools, Area IV Learning Technology Center Administrators' Academy, Rantoul, IL (April 2009)
• Legal Developments – Identifying and Investigating Pedophile Grooming, Regional Office of Education No. 40, Regional District Superintendent Training, Jerseyville, IL (January 2009)
• School Construction Projects – On Time & Under Budget: Bidding and Contracting, 2008 IASB/IASA/ IASBO Joint Annual Conference, Chicago, IL (November 2008)
• Student Records, Wood River-Hartford Elementary School District No. 15 In-Service, Wood River, IL (October 2008)
• Identifying and Investigating Pedophile Grooming, Thompsonville Community Unit School District No. 174 In-Service, Thompsonville, IL (August 2008)
• Legal Updates: Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act; Wabash and Ohio Valley Special Education District Conference; Whittington, IL (July 2008)
• Board Governance Issues Facing the Community College Student Trustee; Illinois Community College Trustees Association; Springfield, IL (June 2008)
• Current Legal Issues: Risk Management Plans, IASB Wabash Valley Division Business Meeting, Noble, IL (March 2008)
• Risk Management Programs, Mississippi Valley Association of School Business Officials, Collinsville, IL (January 2008)
• "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" and Student Speech Issues, 2007 IASB/IASA/IASBO Joint Annual Conference, Chicago, IL (November 2007)
• Municipal Representation & Administrative Proceedings, IICLE 2nd Annual Municipal Practice & Litigation Institute, Champaign, IL (October 2007)
• Risk Management Programs and Open Meeting Act Overview, Wabash & Ohio Valley Special Education District In-Service, Whittington, IL (July 2007)
• 2007 Internet Liability Seminar, Learning Technology Center No. 6, Grayville, IL (April 2007)
• Purchasing, Bidding and Contract Management, Illinois Association of School Business Officials Purchasing Seminar, Springfield, IL (July 2006)
• Legal Do's and Don'ts, Township Clerks Association, Continuing Education Seminar, Fairview Heights, IL (June 2006)
• Deciphering the Illinois Open Meetings Act, Illinois Association of School Boards, Shawnee Division Conference, Herrin, IL (March 2006)
• The Ethics Act and School Boards: Where Does it Start and Where Does it End?, Illinois Association of School Boards, Illini Division Conference, St. Joseph, IL (February 2006)
• Pushing the Tort Expenditures Envelope: Risky Business, Mississippi Valley Association of School Business Officials School Legal Seminar, Collinsville, IL (February 2006)
• Legal Issues for Central Office Staff, Illinois Association of School Business Officials Educational Support Professionals' Conference, Fairview Heights, IL (September 2005)
Risk Management: Successfully Defending Challenges to Tort Immunity Levies, Marissa Community Unit School District No. 40 In-Service, Marissa, IL (August 2005)
• The Basics: Clerks' Duties, Township Clerks Association, Continuing Education Seminar, Mt. Vernon, IL (June 2005)
• The Assessment Official's Perspective, Property Tax Seminar, Lorman Education Services, St. Louis, MO (February 2005)
• School Finances and Risk Management Plans, Mississippi Valley Association of School Business Officials School Law Seminar, Collinsville, IL (January 2005)