Nicholas N. Tinsman, Partner

 

Nick grew up in Central Illinois graduating from Bushnell Prairie-City High School in 1997.  He graduated from Spoon River College in Macomb in 1999.  Prior to attending law school Nick earned a degree in Business Finance from Kaplan University.  Nick attended Southern Illinois University School of Law where he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Philip M. Frazier in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.  Nick also clerked for the litigation firm Winters, Brewster, Crosby & Shafer, LLC, in Marion; and the insurance defense firm Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, in Peoria.  Nick was chosen to be on the Board of Editors for the SIU Law Journal and was selected as the 2010-2011 Outstanding Articles Editor.  Nick was a Dean’s Scholar all three years. Nick joined Barnhart Law Office in 2011 and became partner in 2014 creating what would become Barnhart, Tinsman & Associates, Ltd.  

 

As part of Nick's practice, Nick works with electric cooperatives to face their unique and complex legal issues.  Nick understands the cooperative industry and organizational structure and works to help find creative and cutting-edge solutions. Nick enjoys working with local and regional electric distribution cooperatives and has experience helping cooperatives with various matters including attending all board meetings, annual meetings, and special meetings as needed, helping with real estate matters, employment, environmental, land use and permits, and various regulatory matters. Nick also knows the areas unique to cooperatives, including formation and organization, voting rights and governance, and issues regarding taxation. Nick also helps cooperatives finalize their unique financing matters and works with cooperative lenders such as the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. (CFC) and CoBank to provide legal assistance in lending matters.

 

Nick also focuses his legal representation in the areas of estate planning for small and large estates, real estate transactions, civil litigation and advising small and large businesses. Nick has been appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General since 2012 and assists the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Natural Resources in condemnation matters and eminent domain proceedings throughout central Illinois and parts of southern Illinois.

 

Nick and his wife, Katy, have four children and they reside in Canton. 

 

Bar Admissions
State Courts of Illinois
United States District Court, Central District of Illinois
United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of Illinois
 

Education
Juris Doctor – Southern Illinois University School of Law, 2011 
Bachelor of Science – Business Finance – Kaplan University, 2008

Associates of Science -- Spoon River College, 1999

​

Community Organizations

Canton Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

United Way for Spoon River Country Board of Directors

Salvation Army Advisory Counsel

Spoon River College Foundation Board of Directors

​

Professional Associations

Illinois State Bar Association

Fulton County Bar Association

Electric Cooperative Bar Association

American Bar Association 

​

Year Joined Firm
2011