Franco Laterza, Attorney

B. Franco Laterza, also a partner in the law firm of Keegan, Laterza, Lofgren & Gleason, L.L.C., earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois in 1987.  After graduating from law school, Mr. Laterza practiced at one of Chicago's largest and most prominent law firms, Jenner & Block. Since then, Mr. Laterza has been practicing as a principal in his own firms.  In 2002, Mr. Laterza formed KLLG.

During his 17 years of practice, Mr. Laterza has focused on representing individuals and businesses in litigation, as well as in corporate and transactional matters.  As a trial and appellate advocate, Mr. Laterza has handled matters as both plaintiff and defendant, including the areas of construction law, commercial litigation, contract and warranty matters, insurance coverage and other breach of contract matters, commercial real estate foreclosures, and various tort and defamation actions. 

As a litigator, Mr. Laterza has practiced in both state and federal courts, including the courts of states other than Illinois, and has appeared before a variety of administrative bodies and boards.  He is licensed to practice in the state of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7^th Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.  He is a member of the trial bar for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

As corporate and transactional counsel, Mr. Laterza has counseled and assisted entrepreneurs and small businesses in initial business planning, startup, corporate formation, corporate transactions and business asset sales and purchases.  As to his commercial real estate practice and transactions, Mr. Laterza has counseled and assisted individuals, small and large businesses and Real Estate Investment Trusts in the sale and purchase of real estate, and has negotiated leases on behalf of both landlords and tenants in commercial and industrial buildings, office buildings, shopping centers and stand-alone retail locations.

Mr. Laterza is also a regular contributor to the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education and has published articles and practice materials in the Business and Commercial Litigation Handbook for the IICLE.