Andrew M. Ramage focuses his practice in the areas of commercial, employment and governmental litigation. He is a skilled litigator with significant jury and bench trial experience in both state and federal courts. He also has considerable administrative law experience.

Mr. Ramage's private sector experience includes representation of major corporations, employers, insurers, physicians, health care providers, banks and homeowners' associations. He offers them comprehensive advice and litigation services for claims involving contractual matters, business torts, labor and employment disputes, pardons and expungements and civil rights claims.

For his public sector clients, Mr. Ramage provides advice to and litigates on behalf of the State of Illinois, counties and schools involving contractual and personnel issues, civil rights disputes and FOIA & Open Meetings Act issues. Mr. Ramage currently serves as a special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois and also is a Special Assistant State's Attorney for Sangamon County for civil rights claims. He serves as outside general counsel to the Sangamon County Emergency Telephone System Department and the 911 Board.

Finally, Mr. Ramage has practiced before many state and federal administrative tribunals, boards and commissions, including the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Human Rights, U.S. Department of Labor and state licensing authorities. Prior to joining Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in May 2001, Mr. Ramage served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois in the General Law Bureau. In that capacity, Mr. Ramage represented the State of Illinois, its officers and agencies in both state and federal court as well as before state administrative bodies. Mr. Ramage regularly represented state agencies in labor and employment matters.

While at the Office of the Attorney General, Mr. Ramage tried several federal civil rights cases as well as numerous cases before the Illinois Court of Claims, Civil Service Commission, State Police Merit Board and the Human Rights Commission, and frequently represented the Illinois State Board of Education in special education lawsuits involving the IDEA.

Prior to working for the Illinois Attorney General, Mr. Ramage worked for a private firm where he litigated criminal and personal injury actions.

Mr. Ramage is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Lincoln-Douglas chapter of the American Inn of Court. He is also a member of the Sangamon County Bar Association, where he serves as an officer.

Mr. Ramage is a member of the Leading Lawyers Network, where he was selected by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Commercial Litigation; Employment Law: Management; and Governmental, Municipal, Lobbying & Administrative Law. In addition, he has been rated by Martindale-Hubbell for legal ability and ethics.

From 2008 to 2010, Illinois Super Lawyers magazine named Mr. Ramage annually to its Rising Star list. Mr. Ramage’s presentations include:

• “FOIA Requests – State of the State,” Illinois State’s Attorney’s Association, Winter Training Conference, Chicago, Illinois, December 2011.
• “Preparing Effective Answers and Motions in Civil Litigation,” Office of the Illinois Attorney General, Springfield, Illinois, May 2011.
• “Pardons and Expungements," Hinshaw in-house presentation, School Law specialty practice group, January 2009; and Business Litigation practice group, November 2008.
• “Sexual Harassment, What Is It? Training and Prevention,” Community Bankers Association of Illinois, Springfield, Illinois, June 2008.
• "Employment Issues and Legal Analysis," Illinois Bankers' Association, Bloomington, Illinois, April 2007 and April 2006.
• "Lawfully Managing Student Records Without Violating Privacy Rights," National Business, Springfield, Illinois, October 2006 and February 2006.
• “Student Legal Issues,” for the Illinois Association of School Board Officials, in September 2005.

Mr. Ramage is a member of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. He is a baseball coach for the Springfield Southwest Baseball Association, and has been a volunteer for the St. John's Breadline, Junior League of Springfield and Meals on Wheels. He is a past member of the Springfield Parks Foundation Board, Pregnancy Care Center Board of Springfield, Grant’s Ridge Homeowners’ Association and the St. Agnes Parish Council.

Mr. Ramage provides pro bono legal services to a number of organizations, including to Sojourn’s clients in domestic abuse cases, and low income persons on behalf of Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation (Legal Aid). He also serves as a guardian ad litem for children and disabled adults in Sangamon County.

Mr. Ramage was a 2004 inductee to the Forty Under 40 Club by the Springfield Business Journal. He currently serves as an elected member of the Lincoln Land Community College Board of Trustees.