March 31, 2016
Contact: Colene McEntee, Communications Manager, 636-949-1864, cmcentee@sccmo.org
St. Charles County, Missouri – Subject to confirmation by the St. Charles County Council at its April 11, 2016 meeting, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann has appointed Keith Hazelwood as County Counselor. Upon approval, Hazelwood will start the position on May 1, 2016.
“Keith Hazelwood’s extensive real estate and land use experience, combined with his professionalism and reputation for excellence, make him the right choice for County Counselor,” said Ehlmann. “Keith’s real estate background is especially welcome after the retirement last fall of Harold Ellis, as he had been a long-time real estate expert in the County Counselor’s office.” Ehlmann continued, “Keith has a well-deserved reputation for expertise in local government law, and was recognized in the 2014 edition of the Best Lawyers in America for his real estate, land use and zoning law expertise.”
Hazelwood’s legal career has been dedicated to real estate matters. His practice has involved advising a wide range of clients, including municipal governments, landlords and tenants, developers and both borrowers and lenders. Hazelwood has extensive experience in zoning and land use approval, site plan and subdivision law, acquisition and disposition, development, as well as financing and leasing. Hazelwood’s early career included extensive litigation experience, although his recent experience has focused on the representation of real estate clients in transactions and before government agencies.
Hazelwood is a founding member in Hazelwood & Weber LLC. Prior to Hazelwood & Weber LLC, Hazelwood was a partner at Thompson Coburn from 1987-1999, at Hazelwood, Barklage & Barklage, P.C. from 1981-1987, and at Rollings, Gerhardt & Hazelwood from 1975-1980. Hazelwood started his career in 1970 with the firm of Shaw & Howlett. A graduate of Washington University School of Law (1970) and Dartmouth College (A.B.1967), Hazelwood has been licensed to practice in the Missouri courts, both state and federal, since 1970 and before the United States Supreme Court and the United States Tax Court since 1977.
Hazelwood was the co-chair of the St. Charles County Charter Commission. In addition, Hazelwood’s civic activities have included volunteering his time with various community organizations, including the St. Louis Zoo; Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, MO; St. Louis 2004; FOCUS St. Louis; Boys and Girls Town of Missouri; St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (“RCGA”); St. Louis City/County Board of Electors and St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. In 2004, Hazelwood received the Lifetime Distinguished Service Award from the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his civic activities; in 2008, the Chamber named him its Citizen of the Years.
In accepting the County Executive’s offer, Hazelwood said, “I express my sincere appreciation to the County Executive for the opportunity to serve the County and its citizens as County Counselor. Throughout my career I have had an interest in public policy development and local government law. While it is bittersweet for me to leave Hazelwood & Weber after 17 years, serving in this position will allow me to focus all of my professional energy into serving the community by continuing to uphold the professional representation of the County’s civil law office.”
###