Practice Areas

Shareholder

Graham Grady concentrates his practice on government relations, zoning, land use, licensing and regulatory matters to help clients strategically reach their business objectives. He has extensive experience in securing land use entitlements through planned developments, special uses, variations, rezonings, text amendments, landmark approvals, lake front protection approvals and public way adjustments for a broad range of project types including retail, residential, commercial, healthcare, industrial and institutional.

Graham also serves as legal counsel to one of the five annuity and benefit funds of the City of Chicago. He has advised this client in a broad range of areas including compliance with the Illinois Pension Code, investment management agreements, open meetings and freedom of information act compliance and the fiduciary obligations of the trustees of the pension fund.

Graham has served in numerous roles in government including Zoning Administrator and the Commissioner of Buildings of the City of Chicago and as an ex-officio member of the Chicago Plan Commission. He also served as Assistant State’s Attorney, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and Executive Director, Private Industry Council of Chicago and Chief Executive of the Chicago Housing Authority.

EDUCATION

JD, 1983, Northwestern University School of Law (with honors)

BA, 1980, University of Illinois (Student member, Board of Trustees)

BAR ADMISSIONS

Illinois

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

ACHIEVEMENTS

The Best Lawyers in America
-Land Use and Zoning Law, 2010-2012

Leading Lawyers
-Top Ten Leading Lawyer in Illinois in Land Use & Zoning
-Leading Lawyer in Illinois in Governmental, Municipal, Lobbying & Administrative Law and Real Estate Law: Commercial

2011 Business Leader of Color by Chicago United

Leadership Greater Chicago
-Fellow

Crain's Chicago Business
-"40 Under 40"

Ebony
-"30 Leaders Under Age 30"

Graham has been awarded a BV® Distinguished™ Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Law Institute-American Bar Association
-Faculty, Land Use Institute

The Realty Club of Chicago
-Member

Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois
-Board of Directors

Lambda Alpha, Honorary Land Economics Society
-Member

Lawyers Club of Chicago
-Former President

American Bar Foundation
-Former Director, Board of Directors

Art Institute of Chicago
-Architecture & Design Committee
-Leadership Advisory Council

Chicago Bar Association
-Member

Chicago Zoological Society
-Trustee

Economic Club of Chicago
-Member

CIVIC AND PHILANTHROPIC AFFILIATIONS

SPEECHES AND PUBLICATIONS

Graham is a frequent speaker on land use, zoning and green and sustainable development issues. He is a faculty member of the ALI-ABA Land Use Institute.