Scott E. Pointner
630.510.4902 | spointner@rathjelaw.com | V-Card | Linkedin | Download Bio
Practice Areas
- Business & Corporate; Finance/Lending
- Commercial Litigation
- Homeowners and Condominium Association
- Land Use/Zoning and Development
- Real Estate: Commercial Leasing; Purchases and Sales
Education
- Southwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1996) Top 20%
- Indiana University (B.S., 1990)
Admissions
- 1996 State of Illinois
- 1966 Illinois Supreme Court
- 1997 U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- 2001 U.S. Supreme Court
- 2002 Trial Bar for the Northern District of Illinois
- 2016 State of Wisconsin
- 2016 Wisconsin Supreme Court
Scott E. Pointner is a Member at Rathje Woodward LLC, DuPage County’s oldest law firm, and has earned an AV-rating (the highest possible distinction) in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. After three years of litigation experience in Cook, DuPage, and ten other counties, he joined the firm in 1999 and became a partner in 2002. Scott has concentrated his practice in three broad categories: commercial real estate (transactions, leasing, and land use), general corporate and finance, and commercial litigation, with homeowners and condominium association law having become more than half of his practice since 2010. Although he continues to focus his attention in the “transactional” area, Scott’s careful attention to detail is shaped in large part by his extensive litigation experience, which helps insulate his documents and transactions from traps too many purely-transactional attorneys often miss. With Scott having litigated cases in fourteen different counties throughout Northern Illinois and having been a member of the Federal Trial Bar since 2002, his mix of small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits (including homeowners and condo associations) benefit from his integrated approach to find the best resolutions for his clients.
In 2015, he was awarded the Leading Lawyer designation for Real Estate Law: Associations & Condominiums, and continues to retain this distinction. In 2019, he was named to the Illinois Super Lawyer list, a distinction reserved to only 5% of the state’s lawyers.
- Co-Counsel: For Appellees, People ex rel. Robert J. Klaeren II et al. v. Village of Lisle et al., 316 Ill.App.3d 770, 737 N.E.2d 1099 (2nd Dist., 2000) (Result: affirmed); 202 Ill.2d 164, 781 N.E.2d 223 (2002) (Result: affirmed).
- Counsel: For Appellees, Paul J. Salce v. Young Sil Saracco a/k/a Youngsil Cho, John Lackos and Euro World Wines, Inc., 409 Ill. App. 3d 977, 949 N.E.2d 284 (2d Dist. 2011). (Result: affirmed).
- Counsel: For Appellant, Didier Builders, Inc. et al v. American National Bank & Trust Co. of Chicago, et al, Appellate Court Case No: 2-00-0786. (Result: reversed) Rule 23 Order.
- Counsel: For Appellant, Christy L. Lee v. Village of Lisle, et al, Appellate Court Case No: 02-99-1169. (Result: reversed). Rule 23 Order.
- Co-Counsel: For Appellees, Markwick v. Homeward Glen Homeowners Association, Appellate Court Case No: 2-12-0624. (Result: affirmed) Rule 23 Order.
- AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell: Highest possible rating by the most-trusted entity for rating attorneys in the United States.
- Chicago’s Top Rated Lawyers (www.law.com): Real Estate (2012); Zoning, Planning, and Land Use (2012); Business and Commercial Law (2014); General Practice (2014).
- Leading Lawyers Award Designation (2015-current): Real Estate Law: Associations & Condominiums.
- Super Lawyers Award Designation (Awarded to only 5% of Illinois Lawyers) (2019-current).
- DuPage County Bar Association Board of Directors Distinguished Service Award winner (2016).
- DuPage County Bar Association Finance (Budget) Committee Member (2017-2023).
- Member: Community Associations Institute; Illinois Association of Lake Communities; Association of Condominium, Townhouse, and Homeowners Associations.
- Member: American Inns of Court, DuPage County Chapter (2009-2019); Member, Board of Directors (2014-2015); Team Leader (2011-2012, and 2012-2013); Vice-Chair, Mentoring Committee (2013-2014); Chair, Mentoring Committee, (2014-2015).
- Member: DuPage County and Illinois State Bar Associations. Active Member, Lawyers Lending a Hand Committee (2006-2019).
- Chair: DuPage County Bar Association Professional Responsibility Section (2015-2016).
- Advisory Committee Member: DuPage County Bar Association Planning Committee (2015-16, 2016-17).
- Member, Business Advisory Board: Illinois Chamber of Commerce (2011-2016).
- Counsel: Wheaton Chamber of Commerce (2009-2023).
- Member of Board of Directors: Wheaton Chamber of Commerce (2009-2023).
- Recipient: Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Outstanding Leadership Award (2009), Executive Award (2012); President’s Award of Excellence (2017); Brinkman Community Leadership Award (2020).
- Counsel/Director: Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation (2021-present)
- Board Member: DuPage Health Coalition (2018-2023).
- Secretary: Rathje Woodward LLC (2002-present).
- Wheaton Leadership Prayer Breakfast-Member of the committee that presents an annual prayer breakfast for leaders in Wheaton (2013-present), (Chair 2015-2023).
- Head Soccer Coach: Winfield in Action/Winfield Park District (2003-2011) (15 teams).
- Parishioner: St. Irene’s Catholic Church, Warrenville, Illinois (1996-present); Baptism Mentor (2003-2016); Music ministry leader for Children’s Liturgy of the Word (2006-present); Lector (2008-present); Finance Committee Member (2020-2023).
- Joliet Diocese, Member of Diaconate Class of 2027.
- 2002-Present: Guest Lecturer: Civil Litigation, Midwestern University.
- February, 2003: Featured Lecturer: (First of three presenters). Zoning and Land Use in Illinois, Lorman Education Services for Continuing Legal Education.
- January, 2008: Featured Lecturer: (First of five presenters). Plat and Subdivision Law in Illinois, 2008, Lorman Education Services for Continuing Legal Education.
- January, 2009: Featured Lecturer: (First of five presenters). Plat and Subdivision Law in Illinois, 2009, Lorman Education Services for Continuing Legal Education.
- February, 2010: Featured Lecturer: How to Negotiate A Commercial Lease, EAI Annual Meeting.
- September, 2010: Featured Lecturer: (First of three presenters). Illinois Professional Land Surveying Practice, Half Moon Seminars for Continuing Legal Education.
- November, 2010: Featured Lecturer: (Last of six presenters). Real Estate Law and Practice, DuPage County Bar Association Basic Skills Seminar.
- January, 2011: Featured Lecturer: Homeowners Association Law, Mentor CLE Continuing Legal Education webinar.
- September, 2011: Sole Lecturer: How to Negotiate A Commercial Lease In The Post-Recession Economy, Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
- November, 2011: Featured Lecturer: (Last of six presenters). Real Estate Law and Practice, DuPage County Bar Association Basic Skills Seminar.
- October, 2012: Featured Lecturer: (One of two presenters). Illinois Professional Land Surveying Practice, Half Moon Seminars for Continuing Legal Education.
- February, 2013: Featured Lecturer: After the Economic Apocalypse: Zoning Hearings After the Recession, DuPage County Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Seminar.
- February, 2014: Featured Lecturer: Commercial Leasing, Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
- January, 2015: Moderator: How To Stand Out To The Partners, DuPage County Bar Association Professional Responsibility Continuing Legal Education Lecture (Approved by the Illinois Supreme Court’s MCLE Board for 1 credit hour of Professionalism Credit).
- October, 2015: Featured Lecturer: Surviving The First Year/Expectations of a First Year Associate, DuPage County Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Seminar.
- June, 2016: Moderator: DuPage County Bar Association Fee Dispute Resolution Program, DuPage County Bar Association Professional Responsibility Continuing Legal Education Lecture (Approved by the Illinois Supreme Court’s MCLE Board for 1 credit hour of Professionalism Credit).
- April, 2019: Featured Lecturer: (First of two presenters). Association Governance After P.A. 99-0567: What Every Board Member Needs to Know About Palm II, Community Association Institute Illinois 2019 Legal Forum.
- Author: Zoning and Land Use in Illinois, Lorman Education Services, Illinois Continuing Legal Education, February, 2003.
- Author: Plat and Subdivision Law, Section 1: Understanding the Land Development Process, Lorman Education Services, Illinois Continuing Legal Education, January, 2008; revised/re- published January, 2009.
- Author: How to Negotiate a Commercial Lease, EAI Annual Meeting Handout, February, 2010.
- Author: An Introduction to Illinois Land Surveyor Practice, and Illinois Surveyor Liability, Half Moon Seminars, Continuing Legal Education manual for CLE lecture, September, 2010.
- Author: Basic Real Estate Skills for Newly-Licensed Attorneys, DuPage County Bar Association Basic Skills Seminar, Real Estate, November, 2010; November, 2011.
- Co-Author: An Introduction To Illinois’ Newly-Penned Common Interest Community Association (“CICA”) Act, The Journal of the DuPage County Bar Association, Volume 23, Issue 3, December, 2010.
- Author: Homeowners Association Law, Mentor CLE Handout, January, 2011.
- Guest Newspaper Writer: The Challenges of Navigating The Economy As A Small Business, The Wheaton Leader Newspaper, September 18, 2013 (Part 1 of 2), http://mysuburbanlife.com/2013/09/11/pointner-the-challenges-of-navigating-the-economy-as-a-small-business/af96wn5/, and February 5, 2014 (Part 2) http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2014/01/26/pointner-the-sea-of-mediocrity-in-which-small- businesses-are-sailing/arspg1j/.
- October, 2019: Featured Lecturer: Association Governance After P.A. 99-0567: What Every Board Member Needs to Know About Palm II, DCBA Remote CLE.
- April, 2021: Featured Lecturer: (One of two presenters). The Legal System and the Physician Assistant, Midwestern University.
- May, 2021: Moderator for Roundtable with four presenters: Workplace 2021: What You Need to Know, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce.
- June, 2021: Featured Lecturer: Real Estate Law Refresher-Two Heads Are Better Than One: Ten Places Real Estate Law and Condominium/CICA (HoA) Law Intersect, DCBA Remote CLE.
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