Rich Schell is a lawyer, small farm owner, and author. He grew up in Polo, Illinois in a farming family. His first attempts to raise cash quickly involved weeding thistles and selling pumpkins. Later forays into cash acquisition have involved activities as diverse as mausoleum sales and freelance writing.
He has an extensive background in publishing, including writing, editing, and author representation. He writes and speaks frequently on legal issues involving intellectual property, agricultural entrepreneurship, and immigration. His publications include: U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Q&A (co-author), The Illinios Legal Guide to Direct Farm Marketing, and A Study Guide for Criminal Law and Procedure. He has also written numerous articles on topics including publishing contracts, business entities, and regulatory issues for small farmers. He holds a B.A. in History and english from Illinois Wesleyan University and a J.D. from Southern Illinois University. He has studied International Law at the University of Notre Dame, London Law Campus. A member of the Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Creative Inverstors Association, he is also currently Secretary of the Chicago Farmers and sits on the board of IDEA (Initiative for the Development of Entrepreneurs in Agriculture). He is Of Cousel with the Law Offices of Kurt A. Wagner, a small international law firm with offices in Illinois and Austria. He and his wife Debbie and son Nathan live in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Richard E. Schell is an attorney, author, consultant, and speaker. He grew up in Polo, Illinois, in a farming family. He serves as Of Counsel with the Office of Wagner & Schell, L.L.P., an international law firm with offices in Illinois and Austria.
Mr. Schell has an extensive background in legal publishing and in legal issues associated with publishing. He has written and edited books and electronic products on legal topics for lawyers and nonlawyers. Mr. Schell’s practice includes representing publishers and authors. He also writes and speaks frequently on legal issues involving intellectual property, agriculture, sustainability, and immigration. He is the author of several books, articles, and pamphlets including: Quick Cash: A Guide to Raising Money, A Guide to Illinois Laws Governing Direct Farm Marketing, as well as the co-author of several books, including: Become a U.S. Citizen, Sphinx Publishing, (Sourcebooks 2007); Inmigración y Ciudadanía en los EE.UU., Sphinx Publishing (Sourcebooks 2004); and U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Q&A, Sphinx Publishing (Sourcebooks 2003).
Articles authored by Mr. Schell have appeared in many publications, including: Hobby Farms Magazine, Illinois Specialty Growers, American Bee Journal, Growing for Market, The Non GMO Organic Report, Hoard’s Dairyman, PMA and Span. He has also been a Contributing Editor for The Chicago Farmer Magazine.
Mr. Schell is a frequent speaker on issues related to domestic and international issues involving publishing, sustainability, food, and agriculture. He has presented on a range of legal and regulatory topics ranging from those important for publishing to those vital to food and agriculture, such agricultural tourism, organic food, risk management, and legal considerations for food and ag entrepreneurs. Compliance and legal issues for green and sustainable businesses is also an area he has presented on. These presentations have been delivered to diverse audiences, including The Small Farm Trade Show and the Organic Trade Association, as well as to a visiting delegation of Chinese Government leaders. Typical groups to which Mr. Schell presents would include the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, Illinois Specialty Growers, and All Things Organic, as well as local groups such as the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Organic Production Conference.
Mr. Schell has taught Law for Illinois Agricultural Entrepreneurs at Joliet Junior College and has been a guest lecturer on legal issues involving immigration, food, and agribusiness at John Marshall’s LLM program. He has served as a guest lecturer at Oakton Community College (OCC) in its classes on green business and will be teaching a class at OCC on legal issues surrounding sustainability.
Mr. Schell is the immediate Past President of The Chicago Farmers, a not-for-profit organization that has as its mission to provide education about farming, land ownership, and agribusiness. His extensive background in agricultural topics has also allowed him to provide consultation to clients related to domestic and international food and agricultural opportunities and issues in Illinois and globally.
Mr. Schell holds a B.A. in History and English from Illinois Wesleyan University and a JD from Southern Illinois University. He has studied International Law at the University of Notre Dame, London Law Campus. He also sits on the board of IDEA (Initiative for the Development of Entrepreneurs in Agriculture).
Mr. Schell lives in Des Plaines, Illinois with his wife and children.
