Experience 

Lori Lightfoot is a trial attorney, investigator and risk manager.  She has extensive experience in every facet of complex civil and criminal litigation in areas ranging from federal and state criminal violations, including mail and wire fraud, tax prosecutions, perjury, and obstruction of justice.  Lori has also litigated disputes concerning employment discrimination matters, particularly class actions and those involving senior executives; foreclosure actions; franchisee/franchisor disputes; products liability; and a variety of business torts, among other matters.  Lori regularly advises clients on avoidance of and preparation for potential litigation.

Lori also has extensive experience in representing clients in legal ethics and malpractice issues.

Lori also has direct experience in designing and implementing media and marketing strategies for clients.

Other experience includes advising on all facets of the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) rules and regulations as well as related state and local programs.  Lori has served as an expert witness on these matters.  She has advised clients on a variety of other matters such as internal compliance, risk management, corporate governance, procurement processes, disciplinary systems, ethics. 

Both as a civil litigator and as Assistant US Attorney in the Criminal Division of the US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois (1996–2002), Lori has tried over 20 federal and state jury and bench trials. She has also argued cases in state and federal appellate courts, and she has successfully conducted numerous internal investigations. In addition, Lori has considerable experience in instituting risk-management and compliance practices for municipal government departments, such as police, procurement services, emergency management, homeland security and 9-1-1 emergency call systems.

From 2002 to 2005, Lori worked with the City of Chicago as Interim First Deputy Procurement Officer, Department of Procurement Services (DPS); General Counsel and Chief of Staff, Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC); and Chief Administrator, Office of Professional Standards (OPS) of the Chicago Police Department. At OPS, Lori managed a 100-person office of civilian investigators charged with investigating police-involved shootings, allegations of excessive force and other misconduct alleged against Chicago police officers. She also coordinated joint investigations with state and federal criminal authorities and facilitated the implementation of new compliance and risk-management systems that included redesign of the disciplinary processes for sworn and civilian members, creation of a management intervention program for problem employees, and targeted tracking of litigation costs associated with complaints against department members.

During her service as Interim First Deputy Procurement Officer of the city’s Department of Procurement Services, Lori conducted an across-the-department reorganization and reform of DPS business practices. She was responsible for redesigning Chicago’s minority and women business enterprise program; streamlining the annual $2 billion procurement process; developing training curricula for internal and external use; and creating and implementing vendor and buyer accountability measures.

As Chief of Staff and General Counsel for Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, Lori oversaw the City’s 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency call systems, emergency response operations, homeland security initiatives and related technologies. She also developed management accountability metrics for each OEMC operational unit. Highlights of her OEMC experience include managing the recovery of the city’s 9-1-1 system following a catastrophic crash and serving as point person for recovery efforts during and following natural disasters, such as large scale fires and weather-related emergencies.

Lori has been associated with Mayer Brown since 2005 and, previously, between 1990 and 1996. Earlier, she served as Law Clerk to The Honorable Charles Levin, Michigan Supreme Court (1989–1990).

Notable Engagements 

• McReynolds v. Merrill Lynch. Serves as one of lead counsel in defending an international financial services provider in a class action lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Illinois, in which the putative class alleges race discrimination in hiring, promotion and retention.
• Offutt v. Doctor’s Associates Inc.  Lightfoot served as one of the lead counsel in representing franchisee controlled advertising fund in contractual dispute against the Subway quick service restaurant franchisor in federal court proceeding that resulted in a bench trial and then eventual settlement.
• Art’s Rental, et al. v. Bear Creek Construction, et al.,  Lightfoot serves as the litigation lead for a large international bank in a $80 million foreclosure action pending in Ohio state court which involves over 100 parties.
• State v. Planey, et al.,  Lightfoot won the acquittal of a police officer in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Criminal Division, who was charged with aggravated battery and other charges stemming from an off-duty incident with civilians.  Lightfoot continues to defend officers in related civil and disciplinary proceedings.
• United States v. Veysey. Served as one of the lead AUSAs in the investigation, charging, trial, conviction and sentencing of a complex insurance and mail fraud prosecution of a serial arsonist and murderer. Following conviction, the defendant received a 110-year sentence that was upheld on appeal.
• United States v. Baxter International. Participated in the defense of a large international medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology company against federal prosecution for alleged violations of the anti-boycott statute.
• United States v. Jones, et al. Served as one of the lead AUSAs in the investigation, charging, trial, conviction and sentencing of a Chicago City alderman and associate for bribery and extortion.
• Hastert v. Board of Elections. Participated in the successful litigation of the 1990 Illinois Congressional redistricting plan before a three judge panel on behalf of the Illinois Republican Congressional delegation. This litigation led to establishment of the first majority Latino Congressional district in Illinois.
• U.S. v. Donaldson, et al. Served as lead AUSA in the prosecution of multiple defendants in a Medicare fraud case involving the submission of fraudulent billings for purported mental health treatments of elderly nursing home patients.

Education 

University of Chicago Law School, JD, 1989 • The University of Michigan, BA, with honors, 1984 • Additional coursework at American University, Washington, DC, 1983

Admitted

• Illinois, 1989