Montel Gayles is a litigator and former Cook County Assistant States Attorney who has devoted the majority of his career to public service in upper level executive positions with the City of Chicago.

He represents municipalities and governmental entities in a variety of litigation and administrative law issues. Mr. Gayles joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in October 2009. Previously, he was Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Chicago’s Department of Procurement Services.

He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association, American Bar Association and the National Bar Association. He is an associate member of the Chicago Inn of Courts and is a commissioner on the Character and Fitness Committee for the Illinois Supreme Court.

Mr. Gayles began his legal career in 1992 as an assistant Cook County states attorney in the Felony and Felony Review Divisions. During his four-year tenure with the office, he prosecuted more than 400 cases, including seven jury trials. He also presented three oral arguments before the Seventh Circuit Appellate Court of Illinois.

He entered public service in 1997 as Deputy Commissioner for the City of Chicago’s Department of Buildings.

In 2000, Mr. Gayles became the Chief of Staff for the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), where he remained until 2004 when he was nominated by Chicago Mayor, Richard M. Daley, and appointed by the Public Building Commission of Chicago’s Board of Commissioners, as Executive Director of the Public Building Commission. During his four-year tenure, he oversaw the planning, design and construction of more than $1.5 billion public works program for the city.

In January 2008, he began serving as Chief Procurement Officer in the Department of Procurement Services, where he purchased approximately $3 billion in goods and services on behalf of the city’s 44 sister departments; provided oversight and management of five of the city’s certification programs; advised the sister departments on the proper and most efficient procurement methods; and communicated to the city council on the status of purchasing activities relative to the various business certification programs.

Prior to his legal career, Mr. Gayles was an account marketing representative for IBM in Southfield, Michigan. Mr. Gayles is a member of the board of directors of the Local School Council for James E. McDade Classical School. He also serves as a commissioner for the Chicago Housing Authority Pension Board.