MICHAEL J. KEATON

Mr. Keaton obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and his law degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago, where he was appointed to the school's Law Review and served as one of its editors. After clerking for the Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court based in Chicago, Mr. Keaton continued to concentrate his practice in corporate bankruptcy and creditors' rights with a large commercial law firm in Chicago. During this period, he represented some of the largest banks, food manufacturers and foodservice firms in the country in complex bankruptcy and work- out situations. Since that time, he has devoted all of his time to protecting and enforcing the rights of unpaid suppliers and sellers in all segments of the fresh and frozen food industry before all levels of the federal courts, bankruptcy courts and in administrative hearings before the USDA.

Kevin Kelley

Mr. Kelley earned his B.A. degree in Public Administration from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Mr. Kelley went on to earn J.D. law degree from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in Lansing, Michigan. He worked with the Washtenaw County Public Defender's Office in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Since that time, Mr. Kelley now focuses his practice exclusively on representing produce creditor's rights under the PACA before all levels of the Federal Courts, all U.S. Bankruptcy Courts and in USDA administrative proceedings.

kelley@pacatrust.com

John Crees

Mr. Crees holds a B.A. degree from the University of Iowa and a J.D. law degree from the College of Law at University of Iowa, where he graduated with distinction. While in law school, Mr. Crees served on the editorial board of the Iowa Law Review as the Note and Comment Editor. In private practice, Mr. Crees has extensive experience in corporate and personal bankruptcy as well as complex litigation in all levels of the federal court system. Mr. Crees now devotes all of his efforts to enforcing produce creditors’ rights under the PACA in all the Federal district courts, bankruptcy courts and before USDA administrative law judges in USDA regulatory proceedings.

LYNN M. ROBY

Mrs. Roby earned her B.S. degree in Information Management at the College of St. Mary’s in Omaha, Nebraska. She went on to complete the paralegal certification course to further develop her knowledge in law firm operations. Mrs. Roby had more than 5 years of experience as a paralegal before focusing her efforts on full-time law firm management. Mrs Roby is now responsible for the day to day operations of the firm and assisting the firm’s attorneys in all aspects of case preparation.

lynn@pacatrust.com

SCOTT D. VERHEY (OF COUNSEL)

Mr. Verhey serves as an Of Counsel resource to the firm and brings a wealth of experience as a tactical trial lawyer in the areas of commercial litigation, creditors’ rights and produce collections. He handles PACA trust enforcement, USDA reparation proceedings and related matters.