Val C. Simhauser

Val C. Simhauser is admitted to practice law in the Illinois courts and in the U.S. district and bankruptcy courts in the central and southern districts of Illinois. A Springfield native, he grew up around his father’s law practice.  After earning a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and then his law degree, he joined his father’s firm, Heckenkamp & Simhauser, P.C., in Springfield, in 1980. From 1989 until late 1997, he operated a solo practice, Simhauser Law Office, in Springfield, where he focused on serving five small municipalities, together with business and commercial work, estate planning and administration, real estate matters, personal injury, and divorce and post-divorce cases.  

In late 1997, Mr. Simhauser joined the Office of the Illinois Attorney General in Springfield, where he served as an Assistant Attorney General with that office’s Revenue Litigation Bureau until mid-2013.  He handled cases for various State of Illinois agencies, including the Departments of Revenue, Transportation, Public Health, Human Services, Central Management Services, Natural Resources, Healthcare & Family Services, Commerce & Economic Opportunity, State Police, Corrections, and others, and for constitutional officers, such as the Governor, the Secretary of State, and the Treasurer.

With over 30 years of experience, Mr. Simhauser is available to handle (1) issues of business organization, operations, and commercial litigation, (2) plaintiff's personal injury litigation, (3) real estate and other transactions, (4) elder law matters, and (5) estate planning and administration.

Education:
Springfield Catholic and public schools

B.A., Iowa State University, Ames, IA (1976)
Majors in economics and political science, minor in English
M.A. in history, University of Illinois at Springfield (1977)
J.D., The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL (1980)
Executive leadership certificate, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY   (2010)

Admitted to practice law before:
All Illinois courts,  1980
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois,  1980
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois,  2004
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit,  1985
U.S. Tax Court,  1986

Certifications:
Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association
Diplomate, Illinois Trial Lawyers Assn. College of Advocacy

Professional associations / organizations:
Sangamon County Bar Association, 1980-present
Illinois State Bar Association, 1980-present
Member, ISBA Local Govt. Section Council, 1988-1989
Elected member, ISBA Assembly, 1988-1994 & 1998-2002
American Bar Association, 1980-1995
Shareholder, Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc.  (Agent, 1983-1997)