Richardson Mary B

For residents and institutions across Illinois, navigating the intricate world of law often requires the guidance of exceptionally experienced and well-connected legal professionals. When it comes to matters involving governmental entities, large-scale public initiatives, or complex commercial transactions with a public law nexus, attorneys with a deep understanding of both legal theory and practical application are invaluable. In Chicago, Mary B. Richardson-Lowry stands as a highly distinguished legal figure, currently serving as the Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago. Her extensive career, marked by leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, positions her as a pivotal resource for legal insights that affect the very fabric of life in Illinois.

Mary B. Richardson-Lowry's professional journey reflects a commitment to public service and a profound expertise in areas that touch upon municipal operations, urban development, and regulatory frameworks. Her role as Corporation Counsel means she advises city officials and departments on a vast array of legal matters, impacting policies and initiatives that directly benefit Chicago residents and, by extension, the broader Illinois community. For those seeking to understand governmental legal processes, or for entities involved in large-scale projects that interact with public law, her background and current position offer a unique perspective. This article will delve into her distinguished career, explore her prominent location, highlight the types of legal areas she influences, and underscore why her expertise is a significant asset to the people of Illinois.

It is important to understand that while Mary B. Richardson-Lowry's current role is governmental, her extensive background in private practice and her current high-level position make her a key figure in the Illinois legal landscape, shaping legal approaches and policies that impact the entire state. Her work helps ensure the integrity and compliance of municipal operations, fostering an equitable and transparent city government that efficiently delivers for residents and taxpayers across Illinois.

While Mary B. Richardson-Lowry's current primary professional location is as the Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, the provided address of 71 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, USA, aligns with her former affiliation as a partner at Mayer Brown LLC, a prominent global law firm. This central Chicago address, located within the bustling Loop district, signifies a highly professional and accessible hub within the city's legal and financial core.

For individuals and businesses across Illinois, this downtown Chicago location offers exceptional accessibility via various modes of transportation. The area is extremely well-served by Chicago's comprehensive public transit system, including numerous CTA train lines (such as the Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines) and a vast network of bus routes, all within convenient walking distance. This makes it straightforward for individuals commuting from different parts of Chicago, its suburbs, and other regions of Illinois to reach this prominent location.

For those traveling by car, while downtown Chicago can be busy, the location provides relatively easy access from major expressways, and numerous parking garages are available in the vicinity. The prestige of an office building on Wacker Drive reinforces the professional environment. This strategic and easily reachable location is crucial for high-level legal work and interactions, emphasizing its suitability for addressing complex legal matters impacting the entire state of Illinois.

Mary B. Richardson-Lowry's legal career and current role as Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago demonstrate expertise and influence across a wide range of public and commercial law areas. While she does not operate a private practice serving individual clients in the traditional sense, her work and influence directly impact the legal framework for residents and businesses in Illinois. Her key areas of focus and expertise include:

• Municipal Law and Governance: As Corporation Counsel, she provides comprehensive legal counsel and representation for the City of Chicago, its departments, boards, and the City Council. This includes advising on city policies, legal initiatives, compliance, and municipal operations.

• Public Law: Her practice has a strong focus on public law, representing clients on general commercial transactions principally related to governmental entities. This includes telecommunications, municipal finance, local regulations, and government relations.

• Commercial Transactions with Public Entities: She has expertise in regulations and rules regarding procurement, contract compliance, subcontract arrangements, contract negotiations, strategic teaming alliances, energy supply agreements, facilities management, privatization of public infrastructure, and complex transactions related to government.

• Finance and Bonds: Her experience includes representing issuers, underwriters, and borrowers in all aspects of financing and bonds, encompassing housing and urban development, airport refinancing, general obligations, and education.

• Government Relations: Providing legal and strategic advice concerning various transactions with federal, state, and local government entities.

• Urban Development and Housing Law: With past roles including Buildings Commissioner and focus on housing and urban development, she has a deep understanding of legal issues related to urban growth and infrastructure.

• Telecommunications and Utilities Law: Her background includes specific representation concerning rules, regulations, negotiation, documentation, contract development, and mediation related to telecommunications law and electricity.

• Appellate Law: With a past role as a partner at Mayer Brown, her experience includes complex litigation and appellate work that firms of that stature engage in, though her current role is more advisory and oversight-focused for the city.

Mary B. Richardson-Lowry's career is marked by several significant features and highlights that underscore her prominence and impact within the legal and public sectors in Illinois:

• Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago: This is her most significant current role, where she serves as the lead attorney for the City of Chicago, providing legal counsel and representation for all City Departments, Boards, and the Chicago City Council. This position places her at the forefront of legal matters impacting millions of Illinois residents.

• Extensive Public Sector Experience: Beyond her current role, she spent formative career years as an attorney in the Law Department for the City of Chicago, served as Assistant to Mayor Richard M. Daley, and was Commissioner for the City of Chicago's Department of Buildings. This deep institutional knowledge of city government is invaluable.

• Former Partner at a Global Law Firm (Mayer Brown LLC): Her tenure as a partner at Mayer Brown LLC, a top international law firm, demonstrates her experience in complex commercial transactions and sophisticated legal environments. This background provides a strong private sector perspective that complements her public service.

• Leadership in Philanthropy and Community: She has served as Chair of the Chicago Community Trust (from 2019 to 2021) and on the Board of Directors for Metropolitan Family Services, among others. Her leadership in these organizations highlights a commitment to civic engagement and addressing critical social issues in the Chicago area and Illinois.

• Recognized Influence: She has been recognized by Crain's as one of the "100 Most Influential Women" in 2004 and received the National Diversity Council's "Most Powerful and Influential Women in Illinois Award" in 2011, underscoring her significant impact and leadership.

• Focus on Ethics, Accountability, and Transparency: As Corporation Counsel, her role involves advancing the administration's commitments to ethics, accountability, and transparency, fostering a city government that efficiently delivers for residents and taxpayers.

As a high-level government official and a legal professional of her stature, Mary B. Richardson-Lowry does not offer "promotions" or "special offers" in the traditional commercial sense. Her role as Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago involves serving the legal interests of the municipal government and the public at large, rather than providing individual legal services for a fee.

The "offer" for Illinois locals, in this context, is the benefit of her expertise and leadership in guiding the legal affairs of one of the nation's largest cities. Her work impacts city policies, legal initiatives, and the overall governance that affects residents and businesses. While citizens cannot directly hire her for personal legal cases, her office and the legal department she oversees are responsible for upholding city ordinances, advocating for public interest, and managing legal risks that ultimately serve the taxpayers and community. Any public interactions would typically be through official channels for information, public comments on policy, or specific programs initiated by the City of Chicago Law Department.

As Mary B. Richardson-Lowry is currently the Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, direct contact for legal inquiries related to her official capacity would typically be through the City of Chicago Law Department or relevant city channels. The provided phone number (312) 782-0600 and address (71 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, USA) are associated with her past professional affiliations, such as Mayer Brown LLC.

For general inquiries related to the City of Chicago Law Department, the official contact information is generally:

• City of Chicago Law Department

• Address: 121 North LaSalle Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60602 (This is the primary city hall address for the Law Department)

• Phone: (312) 744-0220 (General number for the City of Chicago Law Department)

For specific official city communications, the City of Chicago's official website (chicago.gov) is the most reliable resource. While the provided phone number and address relate to a prominent legal professional with significant public roles, direct outreach to Mary B. Richardson-Lowry for personal legal matters would not be appropriate given her governmental position.

For locals in Illinois, particularly those in and around the Chicago metropolitan area, Mary B. Richardson-Lowry's distinguished career and current role as Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago make her a highly suitable and influential legal figure to be aware of. While she does not provide direct legal services to individual citizens in a private capacity, her work profoundly impacts the daily lives and long-term well-being of Illinois residents. Her leadership in the City's legal department means she is at the helm of legal strategies, policies, and enforcement actions that protect public interests, ensure ethical governance, and facilitate urban development.

Her extensive background, encompassing a major global law firm (Mayer Brown LLC) and significant public service roles (including Commissioner of the Department of Buildings and Assistant to the Mayor), provides her with a unique and comprehensive understanding of the legal, administrative, and political landscapes that shape Illinois. This deep expertise in public law, municipal finance, government relations, and urban development directly benefits the community by contributing to well-structured city operations, compliant public projects, and effective legal representation for the city itself.

The accessibility of her office's former prominent location in the Loop, and the central nature of City Hall where the Law Department operates, underscore the importance of governmental legal functions being within reach of the public. For Illinois locals, Mary B. Richardson-Lowry represents a beacon of legal professionalism and public service, ensuring that the legal affairs of Chicago are managed with expertise and a commitment to advancing the interests of its residents and taxpayers. Understanding her role helps locals appreciate the broader legal protections and governmental efficiencies that contribute to their quality of life in Illinois.