Robert Shannon represents corporate clients in business litigation and regulatory matters. He also works with the hospitality industry and represents restaurants in litigation, licensing and regulatory matters. Mr. Shannon has significant trial experience in both state and federal court.

Beyond his business counsel, Mr. Shannon concentrates his government litigation practice on the defense of Illinois state agencies, and county and municipal governments.

He was honored for his achievements in 2003 by being selected as one of "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch." Mr. Shannon is the partner in charge of the firm's Associate Development Mentor Program, which aims at increasing young attorney professional development. He also is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and Hiring Committee. Mr. Shannon’s clients include the Chicago White Sox; Major League Baseball; theIllinois State Treasurer; Thomas Dart, Sheriff of Cook County; AT&T; Sears Holdings; and the Illinois Restaurant Association. Throughout his career, Mr. Shannon has been involved in several high-profile cases, including:

• Lead attorney representing Cook County Sheriff, Thomas Dart, in the well-known lawsuit Michael Shakman v. Democratic Party of Cook County.
• Lead attorney defending Cook County Sheriff, Michael Sheahan, in the wrongful death lawsuit Michael Chambers v. Sheriff Sheahan, arising out of a wedding brawl at the Countryside Holiday Inn.
• Trial attorney in the successful defense of the State of Illinois Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Program against constitutional attack brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Hargett v. Department of Human Services.
• Defended the State of Illinois highway construction program for minority and disadvantaged businesses against federal constitutional attack in Northern Contracting v. IDOT.
• Defending Illinois State Treasurer, Alexi Giannoulias, in a constitutional class action lawsuit in Canel v. Giannoulias.
• Lead attorney defending the Chicago White Sox in a lawsuit brought by former Kansas City Royals coach, Thomas Gamboa, based upon an attack by a spectator during a game at Comiskey Park.
• He has also defended the White Sox before the Illinois Appellate Court in Mazin v. Chicago White Sox, and has represented major league baseball in litigation.
• Lead trial attorney in successful defense of White Sox ball park security practices in Shugrue v. Chicago White Sox.

Mr. Shannon currently serves as Special Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant State’s Attorney.

Prior to joining Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in March 1999, Mr. Shannon was a prosecutor with the City of Chicago’s Special Prosecutions Division, where he represented the Mayor’s Licensing Commission, and where he gained significant trial experience in the Cook County criminal court system. As a prosecutor, Mr. Shannon was the lead trial attorney in Chicago’s first prosecution under the City’s Dangerous Animal ordinance. He also successfully defended the Chicago ordinance authorizing the City to revoke certain business licenses from those convicted of felonies.

After serving as a prosecutor, Mr. Shannon defended the City of Chicago in federal civil rights litigation. He also advised the Chicago Police Department on arrest and First Amendment issues arising during the 1996 Democratic National Convention.

Mr. Shannon entered public service as an assistant to former United States Senator Alan J. Dixon, in both the Senator’s Chicago and Washington, D.C. offices. He subsequently worked as a Legislative Assistant to United States Representative Charles Hatcher, with responsibility for the Congressman’s domestic legislative positions.

He was on the faculty at Loyola University School of Law for three years, where he taught first year law students legal writing and oral advocacy.

Mr. Shannon has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer in the categories of Governmental, Municipal, Lobbying & Administrative Law and Commercial Litigation. Mr. Shannon serves as the vice president to the board of The Three Arts Club of Chicago. He is a member of the Illinois Restaurant Association and serves on its Government Relations Committee.