Boyd O. Roberts

Boyd O. Roberts

Attorney
boydr@jameskellylawfirm.comT.309-679-0900 F.309-679-0919

Boyd O. Roberts III is an attorney for the firm with extensive experience in family law, criminal/traffic defense, commercial and other civil litigation, estate planning and probate matters. Boyd has represented individual and corporate clients in a multitude of areas and has argued before the Third District Appellate Court in Illinois. He has successfully tried cases involving workers compensation, child custody, felony, misdemeanor, traffic, maintenance and child support issues, landlord/tenant disputes, personal injury and commercial transactions.  It is this versatility and variety that makes Boyd a valued member of the team at the James Kelly Law Firm.  Boyd currently heads the General Practice department given his broad and diverse legal background.

Boyd grew up in Wheaton, outside of Chicago, before attending and graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. From there, Boyd received his juris doctor from the DePaul University College of Law in 1997.

Boyd has been described as a bulldog when handling a case and is not afraid to get deeply embedded in the trenches when tackling a difficult or complex matter.  However, he believes a practical approach towards cases is always preferable to litigation, and Boyd constantly counsels his clients to avoid spending good money after bad when the situation dictates that type of solution.  His clients value this practical approach and consider Boyd to be someone whose advice is sound and well-measured.  Boyd prides himself on managing client expectations and prompt communication with client to keep them informed as to the status of their legal matter.  His client’s trust and confidence in Boyd are evidenced by the number of clients that have returned to seek Boyd’s counsel in a multitude of different arenas and by their referrals of family and friends to his attention.

Boyd is a member of the Peoria County Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and the Abraham Lincoln Inns of Court. He is currently admitted to practice law in the state of Illinois and before the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. He previously served as a lecturer for the Peoria County Bar Association Brown Bag Lunch seminars. Boyd attended and graduated from the Peoria Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School in 2009 and was named one of Peoria’s 40 Leaders Under 40 in 2009. He was appointed by the ISBA President as a Director to the ISBA Workers Compensation Section Council in 2012. In 2019, Boyd was named a Leading Lawyer by the Law Bulleting Publishing Committee in the State of Illinois.

Boyd previously served on the Board of Directors for the Cancer Center for Health Living, the Hult Center for Health Living, St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral and the Peoria Soccer Club and is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Peoria Chapter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He and his family actively support several local charitable organizations, including Neighborhood House, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and Easter Seals.

Boyd is married to Alison and they have five kids together.  Boyd enjoys coaching soccer and currently coaches his youngest son at Peoria FC Untied Soccer Club.  In addition, Boyd is an avid University of Illinois fan along with his beloved Chicago Cubs, Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks.  When not driving his kids around, Boyd can be found at home working in his yard, reading or attending his children’s activities.  He also enjoys spending time at his family’s lake home in southwest Michigan which has been in his family for over 100 years.

Education

  • DePaul University College of Law, J.D.
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A.

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Illinois State Bar Association, Member
  • Peoria County Bar Association, Member
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Peoria, Board Member
  • Cancer Center for Health Living, Prior Board Member
  • Hult Center for Healthy Living, Prior Board Member

Distinctions

  • BV Preeminent Peer Review Rating (Martindale-Hubbell)
  • Leading Lawyer (Law Bulletin Publishing Company)
  • Peoria’s 40 Leaders Under 40, 2009
  • Simpson v. City of Peoria – 2017 Il App (3d) 160024WC
  • Allenbaugh v. City of Peoria – 2016 Ill App (3d) 150284WC
  • Client Acquitted of felony after jury trial

About Us

JKLF is a premiere boutique litigation firm, specializing in mass and catastrophic complex claims. JKLF is a national firm with offices in Illinois, the St. Louis Metro Area, and New York. We are trial lawyers that have decades of collective experience representing our clients in complex litigation. We are courtroom advocates. Our size and selectivity allow us to provide preeminent legal services. Our clients receive zealous representation and personalized attention from our experienced attorneys on every case and at every stage throughout the litigation. JKLF fosters an environment that promotes teamwork and collaboration, and where our lawyers are confident to explore new and creative ways to assist our clients. Our clients value and trust us because we offer more than legal counsel. We understand client priorities and become partners and trusted advisors. At JKLF, we pride ourselves on our talent, teamwork, and results. From jury trials and bench trials, to arbitrations and appeals, our litigation team is consistently recognized for successfully handling complex, high-stakes matters for our clients in challenging venues across the country.

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