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. Since that time he has developed a reputation in the legal profession as a thought leader and small-business advocate in the area of disadvantaged business certification law. He regularly assists clients in the resolution of government compliance, regulatory and procurement-related matters.

He is a member of the Cook County Bar Association and the National Bar Association.

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’ presentations include “Taking Advantage of Diversity Initiatives,” for the American Institute of Architects – Northeast Illinois Chapter, in Downers Grove, Illinois, January 2012. Mr. Gayles serves as a board member for the Chatham Business Association and is the interim chair of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center located in Chicago’s South Loop. His a member of the Local School Council for James E. McDade Classical School and serves as a commissioner for the Chicago Housing Authority Pension Board.