TERRY SHARP, MANAGING PARTNER
THE SHARP LAW FIRM, P.C.

Education:
 
B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1970;
J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, 1973.
 
Admitted to the Bars of:
 
Supreme Court of Illinois, 1973;
United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 1973;
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1986;
United States Supreme Court, 1991;
United States District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1995;
United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2007.
 
Practice Areas:
 
Agricultural Law;
Bankruptcy and Its Alternatives;
Corporate Law;
Creditors’ Rights;
Real Estate;
Banking and Related Law;
Commercial Litigation.
 
Prior Affiliations:
 
First Lieutenant, Armor, United States Army, 1965-68;
Bankruptcy Trustee, 1972-73.
 
Reported Cases as Counsel:
 
Hicks v. Midwest Transit, Inc., 500 F.3d 647 (7th Cir. 2007);
Hicks v. Midwest Transit, Inc., 479 F.3d 468 (7th Cir. 2007);
In re Diekemper, 2007 WL 3216626 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 2007);
Hicks v. Midwest Transit, Inc., 2007 WL 328734 (S.D. Ill. 2007);
Hall v. Triad Fin. Services, Inc., 2007 WL 2948405 (S.D. Ill. 2007);
Hicks v. Midwest Transit, Inc., 2006 WL 1663727 (S.D. Ill. 2006);
Hicks v. Midwest Transit, Inc., 2006 WL 644814 (S.D. Ill. 2006);
Horton v. First State Bank of Eldorado, 2006 WL 328172 (S.D. Ill. 2006);
General Elec. Cap. Bus. Asset Funding Corp. v. Hicks, 2005 WL 2170089 (S.D. Ill. 2005);
In re Buehne Farms, Inc., 321 B.R. 239 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 2005);
Hoagland ex rel. Midwest Transit, Inc. v. Sandberg, Phoenix & von Gontard, P.C., 385 F.3d 737 (7th Cir. 2004);
In re Hodson, 2004 WL 1325800 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 2004);
In re Horizon Natural Resources Co., 2004 WL 2095736 (Bankr. E.D. Ky. 2004);
In re Ward, 298 B.R. 869 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 2003);
Witters v. Hicks, 338 Ill.App.3d 751, 790 N.E.2d 5 (5th Dist. 2003);
In re Southern Ill. Railcar Co., 301 B.R. 305 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 2002);
Witters v. Hicks, 335 Ill.App.3d 435, 780 N.E.2d 713 (5th Dist. 2002);
In re Ross, 270 B.R. 710 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 2001);
Kramer v. Mt. Carmel Shelter Care Facility, Inc., 322 Ill.App.3d 389, 750 N.E.2d 75 (5th Dist. 2001);
In re Davicter Enterprises, Inc., 248 B.R. 794 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 2000);
Dunham v. Kisak, 192 F.3d 1104 (7th Cir. 1999);
In re McLaren, 227 B.R. 810 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1998);
Vosbein v. E.T. Simonds Const. Co., 295 Ill.App.3d 427, 693 N.E.2d 500 (5th Dist. 1998);
In re Knapp, 179 B.R. 106 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1995);
In re Prior, 176 B.R. 485 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1995);
In re Alpha Center, Inc., 165 B.R. 881 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1994);
In re Pyramid Energy, Ltd., 165 B.R. 249 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1994);
Knight's Prairie Hunting Club, Inc. v. Holmes, 263 Ill.App.3d 455, 636 N.E. 2d 29 (5th Dist. 1994);
Matter of Morris, 30 F.3d 1578 (7th Cir. 1994);
Matter of Fullop, 6 F.3d 422 (7th Cir. 1993);
Matter of Chenoweth, 3 F.3d 1111 (7th Cir. 1993);
In re McElwee, 161 B.R. 41 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1993);
Matter of Wiredyne, Inc., 3 F.3d 1125 (7th Cir. 1993);
In re Funneman, 155 B.R. 197 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1993);
In re Morris, 171 B.R. 999 (S.D. Ill. 1993);
In re Morris, 1993 WL 755367 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1993);
Deason v. Gutzler, 251 Ill.App.3d 630, 622 N.E.2d 1276 (5th Dist. 1993);
Matter of Sanders, 969 F.2d 591 (7th Cir. 1992);
Farm Credit Bank of St. Louis v. Dorr, 250 Ill.App.3d 1, 620 N.E.2d 549 (5th Dist. 1993);
In re Tomer, 147 B.R. 461 (S.D. Ill. 1992);
In re Morris, 147 B.R. 929 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1992);
In re Chenoweth, 143 B.R. 527 (S.D. Ill. 1992), aff'd, 3 F.3d 1111 (7th Cir. 1993);
DuQuoin Nat’l Bank v. Vergennes Equip., Inc., 234 Ill.App.3d 998, 599 N.E.2d 1367 (5th Dist. 1992);
In re Strotheide, 142 B.R. 850 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1992);
In re Atchison, 925 F.2d 209 (7th Cir. 1991), cert. den. sub nom. Jones v. Atchison, 502 U.S. 860 (1991);
Farm Credit Bank of St. Louis v. Brown, 217 Ill.App.3d 730, 577 N.E.2d 906 (5th Dist. 1991);
In re Uly-Pak, Inc., 128 B.R. 763 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1991);
In re Tomer, 128 B.R. 746 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1991);
Boyd Real Estate, Inc. v. Shissler Seed Co., Inc., 213 Ill.App.3d 648, 571 N.E.2d 1171 (3d Dist. 1991);
In re Fullop, 133 B.R. 627 (S.D. Ill. 1991);
In re Chenoweth, 132 B.R. 161 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1991), aff'd, 143 B.R. 527 (S.D. Ill. 1992), aff'd, 3 F.3d 1111 (7th Cir. 1993);
In re Sanders, 1991 WL 378167 C.S.D. Ill. 1991);
Leavell v. Karnes, 143 B.R. 212 (S.D. Ill. 1990);
In re Fullop, 125 B.R. 536 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1990);
In re Tomer, 117 B.R. 391 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1990);
In re Morris, 115 B.R. 626 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1990);
In re Hodges, 115 B.R. 152 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1990);
In re Bowlby, 113 B.R. 983 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1990);
In re Starr, 113 B.R. 481 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1990);
Hickox v. Bell, 195 Ill.App.3d 976, 552 N.E.2d 1133 (5th Dist. 1990);
In re Coonse, 108 B.R. 661 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1989);
In re Boggess, 105 B.R. 470 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1989);
In re Uly-Pak, Inc., 101 B.R. 551 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1989);
In re Vaughan, 100 B.R. 423 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1989);
In re Atchison, 101 B.R. 566 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1989);
In re Wiggs, 87 B.R. 57 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1988);
Veath v. Specialty Grains, Inc., 190 Ill.App.3d 787, 546 N.E.2d 1005 (5th Dist. 1989);
In re McDowell, 87 B.R. 554 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1988);
Home Fed. S.&L. Ass'n. of Centralia v. Cook, 170 Ill.App.3d 720, 525 N.E.2d 151 (5th Dist. 1988);
In re Cox, 93 B.R. 625 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1988);
In re Skelton Farms, 77 B.R. 204 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. 1987);
Anna Nat’l Bank vs. Prater, 154 Ill.App.3d 6, 506 N.E.2d 769 (5th Dist. 1987);
In re Jones, 71 B.R. 682 (S.D. Ill. 1987);
Reynolds v. Lacey, 81 Ill.App.3d 1, 400 N.E.2d 923 (5th Dist. 1979);
American Buyers Club of Mt. Vernon, Ill., Inc. v. Honecker, 46 Ill.App.3d 252, 361 N.E.2d 1370 (5th Dist. 1977);
American Buyers Club of Mt. Vernon, Ill., Inc. v. Woolridge, 46 Ill.App.3d 263, 361 N.E.2d 1378 (5th Dist. 1977);
American Buyers Club of Mt. Vernon, Ill., Inc. v. Shaffer, 46 Ill.App.3d 266, 361 N.E.2d 1380 (5th Dist. 1977);
Burkett v. Finger Lake Dev. Corp., 32 Ill.App.3d 396, 336 N.E.2d 628 (5th Dist. 1975).
 
Author:
 
Chapter 12, in Peterson & Mueller, eds., Consumer Bankruptcy Practice  (Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 2006);
Defining Value, 78 J. Commercial Lending & Credit Risk Mgmt. 35 (Jan. 1996) (with E. James Burton & Harold O. Wilson) VIEW;
Termite Traps for Homebuyers, 95 Ill. B.J. 2 (Aug. 2007) (with Lance C. Martin);
Bankruptcy & Real Estate (Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 2004) VIEW;
The Chapter 12 Trustee, in Agricultural Bankruptcy Practice . . . A Field of Transition (Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 1987) VIEW;
Chapter 12 Bankruptcy: Ten Reasons to Lessen Ag Lenders’ Fears, J. Commercial Bank Lending 44 (Aug. 1987) VIEW;
Bankruptcy for Bankers: Financial Statements Made Non-Dischargeable, IBA Commercial/ Ag Lending Letter (Illinois Bankers Association Feb./Mar. 1991) VIEW;
Do You Need Bankruptcy Advice?, Northeast Oil World, May 1987 VIEW;
Opposing Economic Experts: Setting the Examination Objectives, 72 Trial Advocate
Quarterly 53 (Florida Defense Lawyers Ass’n (Apr. 1988) (with E.J. Burton, Ph.D., & R. Wm. Roland, Esq.) VIEW;
Make My Day: Ten Reasons Why a Banker Should Not Necessarily Fear a Chapter 12 Bankruptcy Proceeding, IBA LawWatch (Illinois Bankers Ass’n Spring 1987)  VIEW;
Make My Day: Ten Reasons Why a Banker Should Not Necessarily Fear a Chapter 12 Bankruptcy Proceeding, Norton Bankruptcy Law Advisor (June 1987) VIEW;
Two Dozen Ways to Cut Bankruptcy Losses:  The Loan Philosophy, IBA Law Watch (Illinois Bankers Ass’n 4th Qtr. 1991) VIEW;  
A Guide to Building & Maintaining a Satisfied Clientele, in Illinois Basic Practice Guide (Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 1st ed. 1977, 2d ed. 1980) (with Charles O. Brizius and Laurence F. Johnson) VIEW;
Agricultural Bankruptcy: Current Developments, in Agricultural Bankruptcy Practice After Chapter 12 (Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 1988) (with Hon. Wm. V. Altenberger, Hon. John Squires & Mark T. Dunn, Esq.);
Editor, Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Institute Cases & Citations (Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Institute 1991.
 
Quoted and/or Cited:
 
Cheryl Tevis, Chapter 12 Offers New Option to Family Farmers, Successful Farming (Jan. 9, 1987);
Helen W. Gunnarsson, High-Tech Filing Comes To Bankruptcy Court, 90 Ill. B.J. 282 (June 2002);
Theodore Postel, Post-Judgment Interest: Remand Of Judgment, Chi. Daily L. Bull. 1 (Oct. 3, 2001);
Steven P. Garmisa, Trucking Firm’s Trailer Leases Quashed Because of Director’s Conflict, Chi. Daily L. Bull. 1 (Nov. 23, 2007);
Supreme Court Broadens Attorney Fees in Bankruptcy, Sharp Thinking No. 5 (Mar. 2008); VIEW
Life Insurance in Bankruptcy and Judgment Enforcement Matters, Sharp Thinking No. 7 (Apr. 2008) VIEW
 
Lectures, Seminars and Other Educational Activities:
 
Instructor, Law and Banking, Rend Lake College, 1974; 
Lecturer, Practical Estate Planning, Illiamo Estate Planning Council Western Illinois Conference, Quincy, IL, 1978;
Lecturer, Documentation of Commercial Loans, Southern Illinois Bankers Association, 1980;
Lecturer, Legal Aspects Facing the Farm Families, Cooperative Extension Service, Mt. Vernon, IL, 1982;
Lecturer, Landlord Liens: How to Protect Yourself, Grain & Feed Association of Illinois, St. Charles, IL, 1982;
Lecturer, Estate Planning, Cooperative Extension Service, Benton, IL, 1983;
Lecturer, Collecting Accounts Receivable: Legal Aspects, Illinois Seed Dealers Association 52nd Annual Meeting, Decatur, IL, 1985;
Lecturer, How to Handle Farm Financial Litigation, 25th Annual Farm Credit Workshop, Mt. Vernon, IL, 1985;
Co-Host and Lecturer, Seminar on Successful Strategies for Handling Bankruptcy, Mt. Vernon, IL, 1985;
Lecturer, Farmers’ Rights, Shawnee College Small Business Development Center, 1986;
Lecturer, Ways To Prevent Problems When Making Loans And Some Pitfalls Regarding Problem Loans, Egyptian Valley Chapter of the Bank Administration Institute, 1986;
Lecturer, Options for the Farmer in Times of Crisis, Southeastern Illinois College Rural
Center for Business & Industry and Southeastern Illinois College Small Business Development Center, 1986;
Lecturer, Chapter 7, Chapter 11 and Private Work-out Arrangements, University of Illinois Department of Agricultural Economics Conference on Agricultural Law, Mt. Vernon, IL, 1986;
Lecturer, The Farmers’ Legal Rights, Kaskaskia College Small Business Development Center, 1986;
Lecturer, Stay Alive: Know Your Market and Collect Your Debts, Brayton Chemical Co., 1986;
Lecturer, Comparison of Bankruptcy Chapters for Farmers, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education agricultural bankruptcy course, 1986;
Lecturer, Bankruptcy Overview: How a Chapter 7 Works, Independent Accountants Association of Illinois Meeting, 1986;
Host and Lecturer, Seminar on Analysis of Chapter 12, Mt. Vernon, IL, 1986;
Lecturer, Chapter 12: The Family Farmer Reorganization Act, multiple Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education seminars, 1986-87;
Lecturer, Chapter 12, Coles County Chapter of the American Institute of Banking, Mattoon, IL, 1987;
Lecturer, Banterra Bank Employees Seminar on Chapter 12 Bankruptcy, 1987;
Lecturer, Legislative and Decisional Law Update, 42nd Annual Meeting of the Illinois Oil & Gas Association, 1987;
Lecturer, Chapter 12, Southern Illinois University Department of Agricultural Economics 27th Annual Farm Credit Workshop, 1987;
Lecturer, Chapter 12 Bankruptcy, Five-County Bankers Federation conference, Wabash Valley College, 1987;
Lecturer, Chapter 12 Bankruptcy, American Institute of Banking 8th Annual Bank Directors Seminar, Lake Land College, 1987;
Lecturer, Farmer Lien Laws and Bankruptcy Provisions: The Effect on the Country Elevator Business, Grain & Feed Association of Illinois Management Seminar, 1987;
Planning Chairman and Materials Editor, Secured Transaction Procedures in Illinois, Basic and Advanced Course, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1988;
Lecturer, Agricultural Bankruptcy Practice After Chapter 12, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1988;
Lecturer, Chapter 12, Illinois Bankers Association Conferences on Developments in the Law for Bank Counsel, 1988;
Lecturer, Creditors Rights: What Is The Problem?, Dow Chemical USA Annual Ag Dealer Meeting, St. Louis, MO, 1988;
Lecturer, Legal Aspects of Lending, Southern Illinois University 28th Annual Farm Credit Workshop, 1988;
Lecturer, Ag Lending Issues, Illinois Bankers Association Year In Review Conferences, 1987-88;
Lecturer, Ethical Questions and Criminal Liability Arising in the Bankruptcy Context, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education Agricultural Bankruptcy Practice Seminar, 1989;
Lecturer, How Secure Is Your Security?, Illinois State Bar Association Commercial Banking and Bankruptcy Seminar, 1989;
Lecturer, Advanced Loan Documentation, Illinois Bankers Association Seminar, 1989;
Lecturer, Ag Financing and Oil and Gas Issues, Illinois Bankers Association Commercial Loan Documentation Seminar, 1990;
Guest Lecturer, Financing the Ownership of Agricultural Land, Southern Illinois University School of Law agricultural law course, 1990;
Lecturer, The Responsible Property Transfer Act & Hazardous Waste: What You Need To
Know, Realtors Land Institute Illinois Chapter Seminar, 1990;
Lecturer, How To Get An Easement During Insolvency And Bankruptcy, International Right of Way Association, 1990;
Lecturer, Legal Issues and Estate Planning, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Pre-Retirement Workshop, 1990;
Lecturer, Legal Developments In The Banking Industry, Five-County Bankers Association, 1991;
Lecturer, Bankruptcy Issues, Four-County Bankers Association, Harrisburg, IL, 1991;
Lecturer, Two Dozen Ways to Cut Bankruptcy Losses, Illinois Bankers' Association Annual Convention, Chicago, 1991;
Lecturer, Introduction to the Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Institute and Update on Current Bankruptcy Cases, United States District Court and Jefferson County Bar Association Federal Practice Seminar, 1991;
Lecturer, Annual Seminars on Current Bankruptcy Issues, Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Institute, 1991-92;
Lecturer, Current Issues in Workouts and Bankruptcies, Illinois Bankers' Association Seminar, 1992;
Lecturer, Bank Officers & Directors’ Duties, Banterra Bank Officers & Directors Seminar, 1992;
Lecturer, 3rd Annual Seminar on Bankruptcy Law & Rules, Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Institute, 1993;
Lecturer, Current Developments In Bankruptcy, Illinois State Bar Association 4th Annual Minority and Women Attorneys Conference, 1993;
Lecturer, Fraud in Bankruptcy Cases, Mt. Vernon Rotary Club, 1994;
Discussant, Preliminary Considerations, Advising the Client, Brokerage Considerations, and the Listing Agreement, Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. Seminar, Southern Illinois University Law School, 1994;
Discussant, Introduction to Bankruptcy, How to Recover Secured Debts in Chapter 7, and Reaffirmation of Secured Debts in Chapter 7, Illinois Bankers’ Association Consumer Lending School, Bloomington, IL, 1994;
Lecturer, Preliminary Considerations and the Standard Real Estate Contract, Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. Seminar, Southern Illinois University Law School, 1995;
Lecturer, Bankruptcy and Handling Credit Problems, University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service Consumer & Family Economics Education Seminar, 1996;
Lecturer, Real Estate Tax Assessment Procedure and Exemptions, Mt. Vernon Kiwanis, 1996;
Lecturer, Bankruptcy: Current Issues, Illinois State Bar Association 7th Annual Minority and Women Attorneys Conference, 1996;
Lecturer, Bankruptcy: Past, Present and Future, Rotary Club, Marion, IL, 1998;
Lecturer, Bankruptcy in the 1990s, University of Illinois Extension Expanding Risk Management Horizons Seminar, 1999;
Lecturer and Discussant, Annual Seminars on Bankruptcy Law & Rules, Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Institute, 1994-00;
Lecturer, Electronic Filing in Court: Procedures and Experience in Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association Commercial, Banking and Bankruptcy Law Section Seminar, Bloomington, IL, 2002;
Lecturer, Collecting Accounts Receivable: Legal Aspects, Illinois Grain Dealers Association, 2003;
Lecturer, Shareholder Derivative Suits in Illinois, Illinois Secretary of State’s Committee on Business Law, Northwestern University Law School, 2003;
Lecturer, Effects of Mine Company Bankruptcy,  SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Conference of the National Coalition of Black
Lung & Respiratory Disease Clinics, 2004;
Lecturer, Real Estate and Bankruptcy, 1st Annual Real Estate Institute, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2004;
Lecturer, Life Insurance and Bankruptcy in Illinois, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors of Southern Illinois Financial Services Seminar, John A Logan College 2005;
Host and Lecturer, Seminar on Dealing with the Southern Illinois Debtors Under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention & Consumer Protection Act and other Lending Issues, 2005.
 
Member:
 
Jefferson County Bar Association (President, 1975);
Bankruptcy Association of Southern Illinois;
Illinois State Bar Association (Commercial, Banking & Bankruptcy Law Section Council, 1994);
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association;
Leading Lawyers Network.
 
Honors and Other Credentials:
 
“Best Lawyer in Jefferson County”, Mt. Vernon Register-News, 2007;
Advisory Board, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network;
Martindale-Hubbell rating: A/V;
Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers;
Member, Local Rules Committee, United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, 1989-93;
Member, West Publishing Co. CD-ROM Advisory Board, 1995;
Certified Public Accountant, Illinois, 1969-date;
Certified Fraud Examiner, 1993-date. 

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