Thomas W. Burkart

Co-Owner & Supervising Attorney

Born February 7, 1960, in Beaumont, Texas, Mr. Burkart completed his undergraduate work at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1982 (B.A. Magna Cum Laude, Distinguished Military Graduate). He earned his juris doctorate at St. Louis University School of Law in 1985 and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in the same year. In 1986, he was also admitted to the Missouri Bar and the Federal District Court of Southern Illinois.

He is a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, Attorney's Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., the National Association of Bar-Related Title Insurers, and the Illinois Bar Association. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves, Signal Corp, 1982-1995; he was honorably discharged. He was a special public defender for Madison County, 1987-1991. He has been the village attorney for Hamel, Illinois since 1986 and the township attorney for Hamel Township since 1987.

He currently lives in Edwardsville with his wife Karen, four children, and dog Gumbo.

Karen D. Burkart

Co-Owner & Second Supervising Attorney

Born in Florissant, Missouri, on May 25, 1961, Mrs. Burkart was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1985, and to the Missouri Bar and the Federal District Court of Southern Illinois in 1986. She completed her undergraduate degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1982 (B.A. Magna Cum Laude). She earned her juris doctorate degree at St. Louis University in 1985.

She is a member of the Illinois Bar Association and Attorney's Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. She was a public defender for Madison County, 1986-1988. She worked as the senior law clerk for Justice Charles Chapman of the Illinois 5th District Appellate Court, 1988-2001. She is the author of "What Color is Your Clerkship" and the co-author of "Sealed Out-of-Court Settlements: What's a Judge to Do?"

She currently lives in Edwardsville with her husband Tom, four children, and dog Gumbo.

Rona Krueger

Paralegal & Title Clerk