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Leadership
- Stephen R. Patton
- Corporation Counsel
Stephen R. Patton was appointed the City of Chicago’s Corporation Counsel in May 2011. In that position he is Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s senior legal advisor and supervises the City’s 450-person Law Department, comprised of approximately 270 lawyers who handle every aspect of municipal law and who represent the City in litigation and transactional matters.
Prior to his appointment as Chicago’s Corporation Counsel, Mr. Patton was a senior litigation partner with the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis, where he served in a number of leadership positions, including chair of the firm’s Litigation Management and Client Development Committees. During the 33 years he was at Kirkland, Mr. Patton was the lead lawyer in a number of large-dollar and high profile jury and bench trials and appeals in federal and state courts throughout the country. Mr. Patton also served as an advisor to senior management in connection with a number of “bet the company” exposures and as a lead negotiator in several multi-billion dollar settlements.
Mr. Patton is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and serves on the College’s Selection Committee for Illinois. He has been voted by his peers as one of Illinois’ “Top 100 Super Lawyers” and for inclusion in The Best Lawyers of America (2006-2010). He was named one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business Litigation/General Commercial in Chambers USA (2004-2010) and one of five “highly recommended” Chicago-based litigators in Global Counsel’s Dispute Resolution Handbook. He has been named by Corporate Board Member magazine as one of America’s Best Corporate Lawyers, and featured in The Legal 500 U.S. for his work in complex litigation.
Mr. Patton has also been active throughout his career in a number of civic causes and legal aide organizations, including serving as President of the Chicago Bar Foundation and Chairman of the Board of Advisors to the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation. Mr. Patton was a recipient of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Service Award.
Mr. Patton received his law degree from Georgetown University and his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.
