DICK ASTLE brings more than 40 years of experience with diverse clients and matters to achieve clients' objectives in a constructive, practical, and result-focused manner. Drawing on a business school education in accounting and finance, he has assisted various businesses, public utilities, non-profit and tax-exempt entities, and governmental entities with corporate governance, securities disclosure and issuance, credit facilities, contractual matters, joint ventures, and transactions. He understands that each client in each circumstance has specific needs that he works to address with practical approaches based upon experience. That experience includes: Working with electric and gas utilities on matters involving corporate governance, disclosure, securities issuance, secured and unsecured credit facilities, and various transactional matters, including sales and transfers of fossil-fueled and nuclear generating facilities, nuclear fuel leases, and transmission investment. Advising diverse business clients (an insurance holding company, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, other manufacturers, real estate companies, consumer sales, petroleum refining, analytical laboratory, for-profit education operator, and private equity business) on various matters, including SEC disclosures, contracts, joint ventures, transactions, and financing. Representative activity has included joint ventures to own and manage real estate loans and residential property management, acquisition of a tax-exempt culinary college, and the structuring and negotiation of a minority investment in an operator/manager of domestic and international timeshare communities. Assisting non-profit and tax-exempt entities with respect to board, contractual, financing, and transactional matters, including the privatization of an urban public zoo's operations, advising several hospital entities on merger-related activities and governance matters, and assisting several museums with credit facilities. Assisting governmental entities regarding board process, state law compliance, and transactional matters, including advising a state financing authority over a 10-year period, advising on a contemplated restructuring of a state lottery, and advising a state university with respect to the feasibility of a joint venture to manage and operate its hospital system. Dick has been recognized by Chambers USA over the years (2006-2024), most recently in Band 1 for Energy & Natural Resources: Transactional in Illinois, for his work with clients on energy matters, where he has been characterized as "a talented lawyer who is very collaborative" (2023). He has also been recognized in Best Lawyers for his work on energy and corporate matters. Dick has also been named a BTI Client Service All-Star in 2016, which comprises lawyers whom world-leading corporate counsel recognize as service leaders.