Robert D. Butters

Partner

Mr. Butters is a partner with our firm and has practiced law for more than 25 years. His practice focuses on the representation of companies and associations that engage in, or serve, the real estate and real estate brokerage businesses. Mr. Butters also represents clients in matters involving electronic commerce, antitrust, civil rights, and equal housing opportunity, professional and fiduciary liability, administrative law, professional licensing, and the acquisition, protection, and licensing of proprietary rights in computer software and electronic databases. From 1986 to 1992, Mr. Butters served as deputy general counsel to the National Association of REALTORS, the world’s largest professional association. He has also served as an antitrust trial attorney in the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition in Washington, D.C. Mr. Butters also assists his professional association clients in the organization and operation of affiliated foundations and charitable and tax-exempt organizations.

Professional Activities and Achievements

Mr. Butters is former chairman of the Trade and Professional Associations Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and the Government Affairs Committee of the Chicago Society of Association Executives. From 1997 through 2005, Mr. Butters served as a director of the Public Media Corporation of the Village of Glen Ellyn, Illinois. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Butters was an adjunct professor of law at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Mr. Butters is a member of the Chicago, Illinois State, District of Columbia, and American Bar Associations.  He is also a member of ABA’s Antitrust and Business Law sections.

Recent Publications

Mr. Butters is the author of “Real Estate Brokers and Antitrust Laws” published by Matthew Bender in the treatise entitled The Law of Real Estate Brokerage. Mr. Butters has delivered numerous speeches and presentations at seminars sponsored by professional associations and government agencies on legal and liability issues facing the real estate and related industries with particular emphasis on electronic commerce matters. Mr. Butters served as articles editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review.

Education

Vanderbilt University School of Law (J.D., 1977)
Trinity College (Hartford) (B.A., 1973)

Bar Admissions

State of Illinois; District of Columbia; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court