Heyl Royster

Kevin Luther

Office Managing Partner & Shareholder
Rockford, IL

Joined Firm in 1984

Kevin has spent his entire legal career with Heyl Royster and was pivotal in establishing the firm's fourth office in Rockford, Illinois.

  • Rockford Office Managing Partner
  • Experienced before the Illinois Human Rights and Illinois Workers' Compensation Commissions
  • Co-author of the Thomas Reuters published Illinois Workers' Compensation Law
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Kevin Luther

Attorney in Rockford, IL

Concentrating his practice in employment and labor law and Workers' Compensation, Kevin has represented numerous employers before the Illinois Human Rights Commission and has arbitrated hundreds of claims in Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission venues. He has experience in collective bargaining agreement negotiation and preparation, union grievances and arbitrations, NLRB proceedings, and OSHA investigations. Kevin supervises the Workers' Compensation and Employment & Labor Practice Groups in the firm's Rockford and Chicago offices. 

Kevin is co-author of the Thomas Reuters published "Illinois Workers' Compensation Law, 2022-2023," which provides a comprehensive, up-to-date assessment of Workers' Compensation law in Illinois. Additionally, he has authored several Illinois employment law articles and is a frequent speaker to industry and legal professional groups.

Kevin has spent his entire legal career at Heyl Royster, beginning in 1984, and has worked out of the firm's Peoria, Rockford, and Chicago offices. Currently serving as the Rockford Office Managing Partner, Kevin is a Winnebago County Bar Association member in its Workers' Compensation and Trial sections. In addition, he is active in the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. He is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Defense Counsel.

Credentials

Education

J.D., Washington University School of Law

B.A., Blackburn University, Mathematics and Economics, summa cum laude

Licensure(s) and Admission(s)

State Courts of Illinois

State Courts of Wisconsin

United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

Illinois State Bar Association

State Bar of Wisconsin

Winnebago County Bar Association

Community Involvement

Keith Country Day School, Board of Trustees (2014-2017)

Results

  • Arlene Bernardoni v. Huntsman Chemical Corp. – Applied the Frye principle to Illinois workers' compensation in the defense of an occupational disease/exposure claim. 
  • Richard Urbanski v. Deichmueller Construction Co. – Defined jurisdictional issue in workers' compensation review.

Presentations/Publications

Presentations

“Human Resources Workshop,” Rockford Area Society for Human Resource Management (2017-2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Loss of Occupation: What you need to know and how to stop the trend in Illinois WC,” Heyl Royster's 34th Annual Claims Handling Seminar (2023)

“Case Law Update,” Winnebago County Bar Association (2022)

“Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (PSEBA),” Illinois Municipal League (2022)

“Illinois Public Employee Disability Act (PEDA),” Illinois Municipal League (2022)

“2020 Case Law Update,” Winnebago County Bar Association (2020)

“Post COVID-19 Medical Issues: Telemedicine, IME's, FCE's; How Do We Cope With The New Normal?,” Heyl Royster WC Webinar Series (2020)

“Causation in Workers’ Compensation Claims,” SEAK National Workers’ Compensation & Occupational Medicine Conference (2018)

“Accident Caused by Risks Resulting from Everyday Activities: Moving Toward a New Standard? A Panel Discussion,” Heyl Royster's 33rd Annual Claims Handling Seminar (2018)

“Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update,” Winnebago County Bar Association (2018)

“Anti-Violence Training,” Keith Country Day School (2018)

“Workers’ Compensation Issues and Handling for Management,” Supervisor Training (2018)

“Workers’ Compensation Issues and Handling for Management,” City of Rockford (2017)

“X’s and O’s: Practice Pointer Forum,” Heyl Royster's 32nd Annual Claims Handling Seminar (2017)

“The Final Rule: 2016 Update to the FLSA,” Heyl Royster Governmental Seminar (2016)

“Drug and Alcohol Policies and Issues,” OrthoIllinois Occupational Health (2016)

“Stress in the Workplace,” Heyl Royster Employers' Day Seminar (2016)

“Drug and Alcohol Policies and Issues,” Heyl Royster Employers' Day Seminar (2016)

“WC Claims Handling Liability: What They Do When They Do Not Have a Case,” Heyl Royster's 31st Annual Claims Handling Seminar (2016)

“Workers’ Compensation Issues and Handling for Management,” Society for Human Resource Management (2015)

“OSHA Housecalls,” Rock River Human Resource Professional Association (2015)

“Case Law Update,” Winnebago County Bar Association (2015)

“News from your Receptionist: “OSHA is Holding on Line 1” – How to Handle the Call Focusing on New OSHA Guidelines,” Heyl Royster's 30th Annual Claims Handling Seminar (2015)

“Recent Appellate Court Decisions,” Illinois Chamber of Commerce 7th Annual Workers’ Compensation and Safety Conference (2014)

“HIPAA: Legal Background and Current State of the Law,” City of Rockford Fire 911 Division (2014)

“Utilization Review and Section 8 Medical Bill Issues,” Heyl Royster 29th Annual Claims Handling Seminar (2014)

“Ethics of Social Media,” Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission Judicial Training, Chicago (2012)

“A Program on the Extent to Which Employers May Monitor/Restrict Employees,” St. Mary’s Occupational Health & Wellness (2012)

“Workers’ Compensation, HIPAA and Employment Retaliatory Discharge Issues,” St. Mary’s Occupational Health & Wellness (2011)

“Workers’ Comp Reform - What Does it Mean to You?" Williams Manny (2011)

“Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update,” Winnebago County Bar Association (2011)

Publications

"Illinois Workers' Compensation Law," 2020-2021 (Vol. 27, Illinois Practice Series), beginning in 2009 and updated and published annually by Thomson Reuters since 2013.

"Survey of Illinois Law: Employment Law," Southern Illinois University Law Journal (2010)

"Economic Disability and Earning Capacity: A Historical Analysis for Wage Differential Claims," Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly Monograph (2006)

"The Normal Daily Activity Exception to Workers' Compensation Claims," Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly Monograph (2004)

"The Age Discrimination in Employment Act: A Seventh Circuit Perspective," Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly Monograph (1998)

"The Impact of Federal Legislation on the Employer/Employee Relationship in Illinois," Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly Monograph (1996)

"An Overview of Repetitive Trauma Claims," Illinois Bar Journal (1992)

Awards/Recognition

  • Leading Lawyer by Law Bulletin Media
  • Rated AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers®, 2020-2021
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