Robert Shannon represents corporate clients in business litigation and regulatory matters. He also works with the gaming and hospitality industries, handling litigation, licensing and regulatory matters. Mr. Shannon has significant trial experience in both state and federal court.
Mr. Shannon has served as litigation counsel for the Chicago White Sox for more than 10 years. Through his work for the White Sox and hospitality clients, he has developed a practice focus in defending public venues in security, premises and tort matters.
Beyond his business counsel, Mr. Shannon concentrates his government litigation practice on the defense of Illinois state agencies, and county and municipal governments.
Mr. Shannon’s clients include the Chicago White Sox; Major League Baseball; theIllinois State Treasurer; Thomas Dart, Sheriff of Cook County; Sears Holdings; and the Illinois Restaurant Association. Throughout his career, Mr. Shannon has been involved in several high-profile cases, including:
- Represented two United States Congressmen in the lawsuit brought by Illinois Republicans challenging the congressional map drawn by Illinois Democrats in Judy Biggert, et al. v. Illinois State Board of Elections, et al.
- 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. This lawsuit was identified by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of the most significant cases in 2007.
- 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, Dan Rutherford, in a constitutional class action lawsuit in Canel v. Rutherford.
- Lead attorney defending the Chicago White Sox in a lawsuit brought by former Kansas City Royals coach, Thomas Gamboa, based upon an attack by father and son spectators during a game at U.S. Cellular Field.
- • He has also defended the White Sox before the Illinois Appellate Court in both Mazin v. Chicago White Sox; and Marianne Fricano v. Chicago White Sox, et al.
- Lead trial attorney in successful defense of White Sox ball park security practices in Shugrue v. Chicago White Sox.
- 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.
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.
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.
Mr. Shannon 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 Hinshaw’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.
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 is the author of:
Mr. Shannon is a member of the Illinois Restaurant Association and serves on its Government Relations Committee. He is also a member of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.