Overview
Our government practice group represents clients in public law, in lobbying at the federal, state, and local levels, and in public finance. Many of this group's lawyers have extensive experience in government service. In each of these areas, we combine legal skills with judgment and experience developed over the years in government and the law to provide value to our clients as they identify and advance their interests in the public arena.
Public Law
Working closely with elected officials, their staff, and political and media consultants, we regularly assist government bodies to carry out their governmental purposes. We have represented these clients in many transactions associated with the construction, development and operation of major public works projects. For example, we represented Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority in all aspects of its $1 billion expansion of the McCormick Place Convention Center and its redevelopment of Navy Pier. We have also represented many private sector clients seeking governmental approvals for their projects or seeking to contract with government to build or operate public facilities. For more information about our Government Contracts Practice, click here. Legislative Counsel
When legislative remedies are called for, our lawyers develop strategies, draft proposed statutory and report language, analyze legislative and regulatory provisions, develop position papers on complex legal and public policy issues, and prepare testimony for witnesses appearing before legislative bodies. We work closely with members of the legislature, their key staff and appropriate executive branch appointees. We have experience in forming coalitions to enhance support for our clients' positions among businesses, trade associations, interest groups and others who share similar legislative goals. As an example, we played a significant role in the development and passage of the highly publicized Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our regulatory lawyers appear frequently before agencies in both formal and informal proceedings, such as rulemakings and enforcement actions. We have extensive experience in transportation, labor, tax, international trade, natural resources, and regulated industries. Public Finance
We maintain an active public finance practice, serving as bond counsel, issuer's counsel, underwriters' counsel, bank counsel, and trustee's counsel. Over the last three years we have served as counsel in tax-exempt financings averaging a billion dollars each year. We consider our public finance practice as encompassing not only the traditional bond counsel services, but addressing the full range of legal problems involved in complex public projects and financing programs. |
