Attorney Profile
Who could forget that TV legal drama from the 1980’s, L.A. Law? “I really enjoyed that show,” admits Mike Kraft, “and as I had no family members, relatives or close family friends who worked in the legal community, it was that TV program that first instilled in me the idea to become a business lawyer.”
Mike attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, attaining a double major in economics and political science. While enrolled there, he played on the university’s varsity baseball team under legendary coach Augie Garrido, and he was a member of the 1989 Big Ten Championship team his junior year, repeating as Big Ten champs his senior year. While terms like “teamwork” or “team-building” may be nothing more than euphemisms to some, that’s not the case for Mike. He counts his time playing on championship teams as a true learning experience, carrying over to his profession as a lawyer. He’ll tell you that a lawyer and his client need to work together as a team both to avoid and to solve problems.
As a business lawyer at Quinn Johnston, Mike feels fortunate to pair with some of the best and brightest owners of independent businesses in central Illinois. He divides his time between work in the courtroom on litigated business, employment or probate matters, and counseling clients in the office on corporate formation, employment issues, commercial real estate transactions, banking matters and estate plans.
Mike includes the following among his representative successes:
- Defending and securing a $0 arbitration verdict for a local municipal client in a $500,000+ construction contract claim.
- Counseling a local manufacturing client through a reduction in force in excess of 100 employees without a resulting claim.
- Successfully defending employers in numerous employee discrimination and discharge claim proceedings.
Mike resides in Morton with his wife Melissa and four children.
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Practice Areas
Education
- J.D., University of Illinois School of Law, Champaign, Illinois, 1993
- Honors: magna cum laude
- B.A., Economics and Political Science, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, 1990
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Lambda Delta, George Huff Athletic Scholarship Award
Admissions/Associations
- Illinois
- Indiana
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Ratings/Recognitions
- Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV® Preeminent
- Illinois Leading Lawyers List, 2011-2022
Professional Publications
“Real Estate Malpractice,” Illinois Causes of Action: Tort Actions, IICLE, 2002; Supplement, 2005; 2008 Edition, 2008; 2011 Edition, 2011
Presentations
- Quinn Johnston Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar, Presenter, 2014-Present:
- “Sexual Harassment: A 2018 Primer”
- “The Nuts and Bolts of Federal and State Discrimination Laws and the Defense of Employers Before the IDHR and the EEOC”
- “The ADA and FMLA; Recent Developments, New Cases and Timely Tips for Employers”
- “Employee Privacy Issues in the Digital Age; Voluntary Employee Wellness Programs and the ADA, FMLA and GINA”
- “Non-Compete Agreements: Are They Worth the Paper That They are Written On?”
- Quinn Johnston Annual Business & Tax Seminar, Presenter, 2014-Present:
- “Key Issues for Buy-Sell Agreements for Closely Held Businesses”
- “Closely Held Businesses: Shareholder Disputes/New Estate and Gift Tax Valuation Regulations Proposed for Transfers of Closely Held Business Interests”
- “How Limited is Limited Liability?”
- “Understanding Common or Typical Contractual Terms”
- Instructor, Business Law, Illinois Central College, 1994 – 1995
- “Legislative Update-Statutory Changes Which Affect Businesses and Their Lawyers,” Business Law Seminar, Peoria County Bar Association, 2001
- “Suing and Defending Dissolved Corporations,” General Practice Seminar, Peoria County Bar Association, 2002
- “Mechanics’ Liens,” General Practice Seminar, Peoria County Bar Association, 2004
- “Mechanics’ Liens Update,” General Practice Seminar, Peoria County Bar Association, 2006
- “Guardianships for Disabled Adults,” Brown Bag Presentation, Peoria County Bar Association, 2001
- “Employment Law Update,” Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network Seminar, 2009
Community Activities
- Central Illinois Service Access, Board of Directors (2016-present)
- Alzheimer’s Association, Central Illinois Chapter, Secretary and Board of Directors (2003 – 2008)
- MBA, youth basketball, President (2008-2010), Board of Directors (2008 – present)
- MBA, youth basketball, In-House Coordinator (2010 – present)
- MYBA, youth baseball, Secretary (2010 – 2013), Board of Directors (2009 – 2013)
- A.M. Baseball League, Management Committee (1999 – 2009)