Michael B. Stillman

Michael Stillman is a veteran attorney with a varied practice representing governmental entities and significant trial experience in civil litigation matters. He is general counsel of multiple municipalities and Illinois governmental entities in which he oversees all facets of their legal work. Additionally, he is also a well-recognized practitioner of zoning and development law and related real estate matters with a focus in utilizing economic development and redevelopment tools to result in new facilities.

Previously, Mike served as a Managing Shareholder of a well-known mid-sized Chicago law
firm overseeing their governmental practice and high exposure litigation matters. In that capacity, Mike led the firm’s diversity community implementing a proactive policy to recruit a diverse workforce as well as awareness of related issues.

Mike has been involved in his communities, previously being elected as a School Board Member and eventually President of one of the largest High School Districts in Illinois. Further, he later served as an elected Township trustee and its Finance Chair. His efforts resulted in recognition from his College, Bradley University, who recognized him as their Young Graduate of the Year in 2005.

Mike has been an adjunct professor in various law topics at Lewis University and South Suburban College in Illinois. Mike is the President of Brother Rice High School (Chicago) Foundation and is the Secretary of This Is Iowa Ballpark, an organization which is responsible for overseeing the ballpark where the Major League game is played at the Field of Dreams Movie Site.

Currently, Mike serves as the Village Attorney for Lemont and Merrionette Park and special counsel to Chicago Ridge and Oak Lawn. He also serves as the school district attorney for Community High School District 218 (South Suburbs) and the Chicago Ridge Park District. He also has served as special counsel for many units of government. Highlights of his legal practice include:

• Successfully represented City of Rockford in Cash v. City of Rockford et al., where hundreds of residents sued Rockford after a 2007 flooding adjacent to Keith Creek. After lengthy litigation and eventually mediation, the matter resolved.
• Jaskoviak v Industrial Commission, Illinois Appellate Court 2003 Represented Will
  County in a worker’s compensation claim when a juror was allegedly injured while serving. In a case of first impression, both the Industrial Commission and Appellate agreed that no employee relationship existed and asserted that serving as a juror was an obligation of citizenship.
• Initiated the redevelopment of Chicago Ridge Mall by initiating and implementing a Business District.
• Handled many land reclamation redevelopments in multiple municipalities.