The Freeborn & Peters Government and Regulatory Law Practice Group maintains one of the largest and most extensive legislative and government relations practices in Illinois. We routinely represent an extensive array of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, in critical legislative and regulatory issues pending in both the State Capitol and before local governments.
Led by experienced government and regulatory attorneys, this Practice Group specializes exclusively in representing business as legal counsel and registered lobbyists before the Illinois General Assembly, as well as state agencies and local government.
Our Government and Regulatory Law attorneys are routinely retained to work as registered lobbyists to pass, defeat, or modify pending legislation. From both the public and private sectors, Freeborn & Peters has handled some of the most publicly significant and demanding issues facing business.
In our work with the Illinois General Assembly and other government bodies, we are consistently recognized for distinctions including:
The Regulatory Practice Group Chair was recently selected for the elite 2009 edition of the Best Lawyers in America for Government Relations Law. Recognized by our peers in a statewide survey, the Government and Regulatory Law Practice at Freeborn & Peters consists of three of the "Leading Lawyers" in Illinois, a distinction accorded to fewer than 5% of the state’s most respected and experienced practicing attorneys.
We have co-authored an abundance of laws and existing state statutes in a broad spectrum of regulated fields, including healthcare, state finance, consumer protection, criminal and civil remedies, state procurement and commerce oversight.
Freeborn & Peters is the only Illinois firm selected by State Law Resources, a premier national regulatory law network, for our experience in administrative, regulatory and government relations law at the state and federal level.
Representative Results:
Our track record of achieving exceptional results is the best measure of our capabilities. Recent successes include:
Public Financing of Municipal Sports Stadium
Served as counsel for legislation (House Bill 1284; Public Act 91-935) securing state bond authorization for $487 million to renovate Chicago’s professional football stadium (Soldier Field) and for related improvements to Chicago’s lakefront. Similar efforts to secure passage of such legislation had stalled for more than three decades.
Pharmacy Practice Act Revisions
Authored and arranged for passage of legislation (Senate Bill 603; Public Act 90-253) making significant changes to the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act of 1987.
Children’s Healthcare Policy
Helped establish various infant vaccine requirements by the State of Illinois Immunization Advisory Council, Department of Public Health and Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
Internet Auction Regulation
Authored and secured passage of legislation (House Bill 5803; Public Act 92-798) establishing new state regulatory framework for the Internet auction industry.
Telecommunication Law Rewrite
Co-authored provisions of the Illinois Public Utilities Act (House Bill 2900; Public Act 92-0022) regarding telecommunications competition that was rewritten in 2001. The firm represents the nation’s second largest incumbent telecommunications carrier with respect to legislative and regulatory matters.
Event Ticket Commerce Regulation
Authored and secured passage of legislation (House Bill 873; Public Act 94-0020) amending the Illinois Criminal Code to authorize the resale of event tickets on internet sites.
Correctional Re-entry Funding
Legislation (House Bill 3440; Public Act 92-008) providing $38 million in funding appropriation for not-for-profit – related offender initiatives and treatment.
Business Economic Assistance
Obtained approval by the General Assembly leadership for the expenditure of several
million in economic development subsidies for distressed manufacturing businesses.
Tobacco Litigation Counsel for State of Illinois
Selected by the Illinois Attorney General to lead litigation counsel on behalf of the State of Illinois in suing the tobacco industry for healthcare costs. The record award secured by Freeborn & Peters totaled more than $9.1 billion for payment to the General Revenue Fund.
Illinois Inauguration Counsel
Selected as exclusive general counsel to the 1999 and 2003 State of Illinois Inauguration of Constitutional Offices.
Illinois Procurement Code Counsel
Successfully defended a public agency in a significant contract award and served as special counsel to train state agencies’ in-house counsel in the interpretation and application of the recently revised Illinois Procurement Code.
Special State Counsel
Routinely requested by state and local government bodies to serve as their special counsel in significant legal proceedings.
Quick-take Eminent Domain
Represented developer for quick-take eminent domain legislation (SB 1968; Public Act 94-660).
Budget Implementation Legislation
Drafted legislation for the Governor’s Office, which created new economic development programs, funding sources for new programs and otherwise allocating the State’s resources.
Higher Education
Drafted Senate Resolution 692 (adopted April 7, 2006) calling for a study by the Board of Higher Education of student textbook issues.
Alternative Fuel Grant Program
Co-authored establishment of a $20 million grant program for the construction of ethanol and bio-diesel plants in Illinois (House Bill 46; Public Act 93-0015) so long as the plant owner and its agents enter into a project labor agreement with a labor organization. The firm was retained to assist the Illinois Attorney General and successfully defend the grant program in federal court. See Northern Illinois Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. v. Lavin, 431 F.3d 1004 (7th Cir. 2005).
Areas of Focus
