Linscott R. Hanson 1937-2013
Linscott R. Hanson, 75, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Michigan City, IN. He was born Oct. 4, 1937 in Evanston, IL, was a former resident of Glenview, Mundelein and Barrington, living in Green Oaks for the past 16 years.
Lin was a graduate of the University of Michigan, both undergraduate and law school (l96l). He was a senior partner with the firm DiMonte & Lizak, LLC in Park Ridge and practiced in the areas of corporate law and estate planning for over 50 years. Lin was one of the drafters of both the Business Corporation Act and Limited Liability Act. He was a 20 year member and past chairman of the Secretary of State’s Business Laws Advisory Committee. He chaired the Committee on Shareholders Alternative Remedies and the Illinois State Bar Association Section on Business Advice and Financial Planning.
Lin had published books on corporation law and limited liability companies, and was a frequent lecturer and author on family owned businesses, estate planning and related topics. He co-authored the IL Corporation System, the IL Limited Liability System, the IL Forms System and penned the law, Pet Trusts in IL. He was a member of the Glenview New Church, and was a proud brother and member of Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity “DKE” and past president and board member of the International Rampant Lion Foundation.
Surviving are his wife Mary Cate Hanson and their son Linscott II, “Scott” Hanson.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Mon. July 29, 2013 at the Glenview New Church, 74 Park Drive, Glenview, IL 60025. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday at the Burnett-Dane Funeral Home, 120 W. Park Ave. (Rt. 176, one block west of Milwaukee Ave.) Libertyville and for one hour prior to services at the church.
Memorials to the Rampant Lion Foundation would be appreciated. Info: 847-362-3009 or sign the guest book at www.burnettdane.com.
Member Comments (3)
lin hanson was a wonderful human being and a brilliant lawyer. he will be missed greatly by all who knew him in any capacity.
Lin was a terrific attorney. A man who helped form the Illinois laws that thousands of businesses rely upon today. His work is relied upon by thousands every day and they don’t even realize it. He led by example and wisdom and was always looking for ways to better the business laws and environment of this State.
But as great a lawyer as Lin was, he was an even better human being. Years ago when I was new to Illinois law and trying to muddle my way around, I would ask questions on the ISBA list serve and Lin would answer them. Then I was bold enough to pick up the phone to ask him some questions in person. Lin was always gracious in taking the calls and spent his valuable time helping me work through thorny issues. He reached out and nominated me to become a member of the Institute of Illinois Business Law, when frankly I did not deserve the honor. He willingly shared his personal life and reached out to help me.
But my story is not unique. In the years I have been a member of the Institute, Lin nominated others for membership. He continued to pour his life into helping people become better attorneys. He continued to contribute to the list serve. He continued to work on the Illinois business laws and was helping to draft better laws for future generations when he could have been on a Florida beach drinking a beverage.
Whenever I went to a meeting and saw Lin, it brought a smile to my heart and I was glad he was there. He was truly a man who served others in a selfless way and he will be sorely missed but greatly celebrated. May God bring peace to his family and friends.
I echo the sentiments expressed by Markus May and want to add a few personal thoughts.
I met Lin in the late 1980's as a new member of the ISBA Business Advice and Financial Planning Section Council. I recall Lin, as Council chairman, scheduled a winter meeting on a Friday afternoon in Nordic Hills, not the most difficult, but also not the easiest place to get to from Belleville. I asked him why he selected the site and he said that he wanted to the council members to be able to take advantage of the winter recreation opportunities. That was the Lin Hanson that I've come to know and respect over the last 25 plus years. He was always thinking of others, even when it came to scheduling a business meeting.
For most of us who had the good fortune of serving on a committee or council with Lin, we soon learned what his partners and clients knew for years; that he was one of the most talented and collegial business lawyers we will likely encounter in our professional lives. His intellect was exceptional and his ability to articulate a point of view often led others to abandon their positions and accept his.
In the early 1990's the Illinois Appellate Court issued its decision in Hagshenas v Gaylord that caught Illinois business lawyers by surprise. This was the first decision of an Illinois appellate court to hold that an equal shareholder could owe a fiduciary duty to his fellow shareholder. The opinion was hotly debated at a meeting of the Business Advice Section Council. Many wanted to urge the ISBA Board of Governors to file an amicus brief in support of a petition for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. After listening to his colleagues debate the issue, Lin weighed in, expressing his belief that the case did not present a good fact pattern for the high court to consider. Lin was right.
More than a decade elapsed and other cases expanded the Hagshenas doctrine, even to minority shareholders. But those of us who have had the fortune to serve with Lin on the Illinois Secretary of State's Business Laws Advisory Committee and later the Institute for Illinois Business Laws know that Lin was the driving force bringing about a legislative fix in 2004 with the addition of Section 7.90 to the BCA. Like me, others members of the Business Laws Advisory Committee and later the IIBL owe our membership to Lin for nominating us.
Our paths also included co-presenting twice for IICLE programs on business organizations and business planning. Lin was the epitome of the lawyer’s lawyer. How often would we find a highly respected business lawyer from the Chicago area travel to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville to lecture at an evening CLE program? Well that is the Lin we know. He had a calling; not to the ministry of others, but to share his immense knowledge with his fellow attorneys.
My last conversation with Lin was in mid June. I sent him an email asking that he respond with his cell phone number so that I could chat with him while driving from Belleville to the North Shore. During that drive we talked shop for over fifteen minutes and his thoughtful insight came through one more time. I will miss those conversations.
Entities doing business in Illinois and their attorneys and accountants have more clarity in understanding Illinois business laws because of Lin Hanson. His legacy will be felt by shareholders, partners, LLC members, officers and directors who have yet to be born.
Rest in peace, dear friend.
George E. Marifian