DETAILED BIOGRAPHY

David C. Hartwell is a partner in the law firm of Penland & Hartwell. As a head of the litigation practice group, he is an experienced trial lawyer, representing both plaintiffs and defendants before the Illinois Circuit Courts, Federal Courts, and arbitration associations. His practice is focused on representing condominium and homeowner associations, and small commercial businesses. Mr. Hartwell has significant experience representing associations on corporate governance issues and construction matters including defective workmanship and defective design cases.

Mr. Hartwell received his law degree from DePaul University (1998) where he concentrated in civil litigation. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Lake Forest College, majoring in economics and Russian studies. Prior to forming Penland & Hartwell, he was an attorney with Zurich Insurance Company in their property liability group and practiced law with a large insurance defense firm in Chicago, litigating complex and class-action cases. For seven years prior to practicing law, Mr. Hartwell was associated with The Prudential Insurance Company in their Chicago and London offices.

Mr. Hartwell has authored articles for numerous trade publications, including Condominium Lifestyles Magazine and the ACTHA newsletter, on various issues including fiduciary duties of board members, the effects of collections, foreclosures and bankruptcies, Special Meetings of the Board of Directors, and enforcing rules and regulations. He co-authored the chapter on "Condominium Documents" for Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) 2007 edition of Illinois Condominium Law.  Mr. Hartwell also regularly lectures at organized seminars on issues of Illinois condominium law.  Mr. Hartwell was recently appointed to the ACTHA legislative committee to assist and provide comments on amendments to the Illinois Condominium Property Act.

Mr. Hartwell is admitted before the Illinois State Bar, Northern District of Illinois, Federal Trial Bar, and Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Hartwell is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association (Real Estates & Condominium Association committees), the Community Association Institute, and the Association of Condominium, Townhouse & Homeowners Associations.