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- Kurt D. Dykstra
Kurt Dykstra is a shareholder in Reinhart’s Litigation Practice, where he counsels clients facing complex disputes. Kurt draws upon an extensive, multifaceted career to provide a unique perspective and advice to clients, particularly those in the higher education, commercial, and governmental sectors. In addition to practicing at two large, well-respected law firms, he has served in higher education leadership (college president, trustee, faculty, and in-house counsel), elected office (Mayor of Holland, Michigan), the financial services industry (senior vice president of a major regional bank and board of directors of an Illinois bank), and the military (Major in the U.S. Army Reserve, Civil Affairs). His background also includes experience in the permitting and construction of electrical generation facilities as well as working with companies, both local and global, on economic incentive programs related to site selection and expansion.
Kurt’s clients benefit from this unique array of professional experience and legal acumen, appreciating how Kurt utilizes his knowledge of the public, private, nonprofit, and governmental sectors for their benefit. He seeks to see the world through the client’s eyes, striving to achieve the best possible outcome in each matter.
Kurt graduated at the top of his class from Marquette University Law School and later earned an L.L.M (with merit) at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He served as a judicial clerk for Justice Ann Walsh Bradley of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He then joined Reinhart as an associate for several years before embarking on a path of public and private service. Kurt has appeared on and been interviewed by numerous media outlets, including 60 Minutes, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. He is active in Dutch-American economic and cultural organizations as well as with the Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy in Washington, D.C. and Consulate in Chicago.
Outside of the office, Kurt enjoys music of many types, architecture and spending time outdoors together with his wife and adult children.
Education
- L.L.M., with merit, The London School of Economics & Political Science
- J.D., summa cum laude, Marquette University Law School (Editor in Chief, Marquette Law Review)
- B.A., magna cum laude, Northwestern College (IA)
Bar Admissions
Wisconsin | Michigan
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
- U.S. Tax Court
- Represented an international educational publisher in negotiations and conflicts with federal, state, and local governmental customers.
- Negotiated educational affiliation agreements with partner institutions and organizations for university student educational placements.
- Defended a university against faculty claims of wrongful termination and violations of academic freedom.
- Represented a university in lender negotiations and forbearance discussions.
- Guided a university through challenging reaccreditation process with regional accreditor.
- Resolved a hospital system’s claim against a technology services provider for alleged failure to perform under a technology outsource contract.
- Recovered a large settlement for a technology client as a part of a joint development agreement for the creation and production of highly profitable automotive technology.
- Obtained dismissal of shareholder derivative action brought against a leading provider of over-the-counter health and wellness medications.
- Convinced a state regulatory agency to voluntarily dismiss, as lacking merit, formal charges brought against a medical provider alleging violations of the state’s public health code.
- Prosecuted a bet-the-company case of non-payment and defended an office furniture dealer against claims of fraud.
- Defended a technology company against allegations of trade secret misappropriation regarding a highly profitable and popular electronic component.
- Defended a body armor company against national class-action, federal government and state government suits alleging product defect and prosecuted claims against third-party product manufacturers.
- Defended an international client against wrongful death and related claims involving the construction of a Major League baseball stadium.
- Defended a fire protection systems manufacturing company against claims brought by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Honors
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Special Award of Merit, Michigan Municipal League
- Recognition of Service, Consulate of Mexico – Detroit
- Recognition of Service, United States House of Representatives (Congressional Record)
- Recognition of Service, Michigan State Legislature (Joint Resolution)
Affiliations
- State Bar of Wisconsin
- State Bar of Michigan
- Seventh Circuit Bar Foundation Planning Committee
- Seventh Circuit Bar Association
- Milwaukee Bar Association
- Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association
- Ottawa County (Michigan) Bar Association
- Director, Netherland America Foundation
- Former Board Member, State of Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners
- Former Member of the Council of Presidents, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
- Former Committee Member of the Committee on Policy Analysis and Public Relations, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
- Former Member of the President’s Council, Associated Colleges of Illinois
- Former Chair of the Council of Presidents, Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
- Former Member of the Executive Committee, Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges and Universities
- Former Trustee, Northwestern College Board of Trustees
- Former Member of the CEO Advisory Council, Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance
News & Insights
Kurt Dykstra Speaks on Current Issues in Higher Education with Marquette Law School
Webinars & Presentations
Kurt Dykstra Presents at WAICU Presidents’ Briefing
Webinars & Presentations
- “Evaluating Pricing Models For Higher Education,” NAICUSE Capitol Hill Conference, Washington, D.C.
- "The Dear Colleague Letter: Preliminary Thoughts On and Reactions to the Trump Administration's Valentine's Day Love Letter to Colleges and Universities," WAICU Presidents' Briefing
- Vocational Exploration as a Bridge Between the Liberal Arts and Employment Outcomes,” President’s Institute, Council of Independent Colleges
- “An American President’s Observations on the Distinctions and Challenges of U.S. Higher Education,” Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Indonesia
- “How and Why Holland, Michigan, Is Gallup’s Silver Medal City,” Gallup-Healthways’ Wellbeing: The Leading Metric of Thriving Cities, Washington, D.C.
- “What Happens on a Computer Stays on a Computer,” Marquette University Law School Continuing Legal Education, Las Vegas, NV
- “Managing Electronic and Paper Evidence: A Practical Guide to Litigating in a Technological Era,” Detroit Bar Association, Detroit, MI
- “Keeping the Lid on Pandora’s (In)Box: Managing Documents (and Discovery) In an Electronic Age,” Marquette University Law School Continuing Legal Education, New York, NY
- “Understanding the Higher Education Enterprise In Its Totality,” Indiana Association of College and University Business Officers
- 60 Minutes
- ABC World News Tonight
- C-SPAN
- Chronicle of Higher Education
- FOX Business Channel
- FOX News
- National Public Radio
- POTUS Channel, Sirius/XM Radio
- The New York Times
- RTL Nederland (Netherlands TV)
- Wall Street Journal