CHICAGO ― The national law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP announced today that
Montel M. Gayles has joined its
Chicago office as a partner in the litigation practice. Mr. Gayles has devoted the majority of his career to public service in upper level executive positions with the City of Chicago, including with the Chicago Department of Procurement Services, Public Building Commission, Chicago Housing Authority and Department of Buildings. Most recently, he was the Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Chicago.
“We’re extremely pleased that Montel has joined the firm,” said
Donald L. Mrozek, Chairman of Hinshaw. “His experience with the City of Chicago is unparalleled and his expertise will be invaluable to our municipal and government agency clients.”
While serving as Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Chicago, Mr. Gayles was responsible for purchasing nearly $3 billion worth of goods and services on behalf of 44 municipal departments. He also had oversight of and managed the City of Chicago certification programs, including the Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program.
As Executive Director of the Public Building Commission of Chicago he had oversight responsibility for approximately $500 million in public works projects, such as new police and fire stations, schools, senior centers and libraries, all completed in a four-year period. Additionally, he initiated, planned and designed 24 Chicago public schools, and spearheaded the new Kennedy-King College campus in the city’s Englewood neighborhood.
As Chief of Staff for the Chicago Housing Authority, Mr. Gayles led the strategic overhaul of the agency’s major operational departments. He developed the organizational plan to demolish approximately 30 CHA high rises and successfully relocate 5,000 residents to temporary or permanent housing. Before his work with the CHA, Mr. Gayles was Deputy Commissioner for the City of Chicago Department of Buildings.
Prior to joining the City of Chicago, Mr. Gayles was an Assistant Cook County States Attorney. In this role, he prosecuted more than 400 criminal cases including seven jury trials and three arguments before the Seventh Circuit Appellate Court of Illinois.
Mr. Gayles holds a J.D. from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law (1992), and a B.S. in Communications from Northern Illinois University (1983). He is a member of the American, Illinois, Chicago, Cook County and National Bar Associations and an associate member of Chicago Inn of Courts.
Founded in 1934, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a national law firm with more than 460 lawyers in 24 offices spanning 12 states, including
Arizona,
California,
Florida,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Massachusetts,
Minnesota,
Missouri,
New York,
Oregon,
Rhode Island and
Wisconsin.
Hinshaw offers a full-service practice, with an emphasis in litigation, business law and corporate transactions, environmental, intellectual property, labor and employment law, professional liability defense, estate planning and taxation matters. The firm represents a range of for-profit and not-for-profit clients in industries that include alarm and security services, construction, financial services, health care, hospitality, insurance, legal, manufacturing, real estate, retail and transportation. Hinshaw clients also include government agencies, municipalities and schools.