Don Keenan
Painting a subject without their knowing it, a surprise portrait, is always fraught with danger… and in the case of Don Keenan, doubly so. A larger than life character, electrifying, the trial lawyer community with his “Reptile Theory” of practice, a TV personality, renowned children’s advocate, often to be found unshaved wearing shorts, T-shirt, and always those sunglasses. An ex-marine of Irish blood and creator of the Kids Foundation and Bono aficionado. All this and more went into this painting. It was with relief that I saw it was warmly and enthusiastically received at its unveiling in Houston. Kudos to the courage of the man brave enough to commission this painting!
Painting a subject without their knowing it, a surprise portrait, is always fraught with danger… and in the case of Don Keenan, doubly so. A larger than life character, electrifying, the trial lawyer community with his “Reptile Theory” of practice, a TV personality, renowned children’s advocate, often to be found unshaved wearing shorts, T-shirt, and always those sunglasses. An ex-marine of Irish blood and creator of the Kids Foundation and Bono aficionado. All this and more went into this painting. It was with relief that I saw it was warmly and enthusiastically received at its unveiling in Houston. Kudos to the courage of the man brave enough to commission this painting!
Don Keenan
Keenan, Don. 16" x 20". 2015. Collection of Keenan Law Firm. Atlanta, GA. Portrait on canvas. Commissioned by HMR Funding, Dean Chase.
Keenan, Don. 16" x 20". 2015. Collection of Keenan Law Firm. Atlanta, GA. Portrait on canvas. Commissioned by HMR Funding, Dean Chase.
Leonard M. Ring 1949 - 1994
A Sage, Noble, Champion of Justice
Prominent Chicago personal injury lawyer and strong, vocal advocate for victims' rights. He practiced law with a high degree of honesty, integrity and trustworthiness from 1949 until his sudden death in 1994. he engendered respect for the law, the profession and himself. He was known as a “Lawyer’s lawyer;” and in fact when the Illinois Judicial Association brought suit against the State of Illinois over judicial salaries in 1992, they called upon Ring to represent them. Ring, who practiced law for forty-five years, had a remarkable career as a trial lawyer; he was co-lead counsel in the 1980's Tylenol poisoning cases and co-chair of the Plaintiffs’ Legal Committee for the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel Fire litigation. He worked tirelessly for Chicago’s water district in its fight against polluters in Lake Michigan and for the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System to recover $300 million lost to fraud.
Leonard Ring headed almost every major plaintiffs’ bar association; he served as President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now AAJ); President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association; Chairman of the Tort Section of the American Bar Association and served on many other influential committees and association boards. At the time of his sudden death in 1994, he was slated to become President of the Chicago Bar Association. Ring also served on the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Civil Pattern Jury Instructions.
Original painting on canvas. 16" x 21" 2017. Commissioned and in the private collection of Laura Dolin, Attorney at Law, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The American Association of Justice gives the Leonard Ring Champion of Justice Award to a member of more than ten years standing who exemplifies outstanding integrity, overall character and has demonstrated Leonard Ring’s devotion to human and civil rights.