Jim Durkin Joins Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres
Former Illinois House Republican Leader is Latest High-Profile Hire by Firm Noted for Regulatory and Business Advisory Work
CHICAGO, March 27, 2024
Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC (CFDB), the forward-looking firm founded by entrepreneurial Big Law alumni, welcomes Jim Durkin as a partner in their Public Finance and Government Affairs & Regulatory Law practice groups.
Drawing upon experience from his distinguished career in public service, Durkin advises local governments on economic development and public finance matters. Durkin’s public finance experience will complement that of CFDB, which serves as counsel for bond financing transactions nationwide.
“I am excited to join such a talented and diverse team,” Durkin said. “Building a practice at CFDB is an opportunity to help the next generation of leaders apply business and legal solutions to the needs and challenges of our communities while also driving economic growth.”
Durkin served as minority leader in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2013 to 2023. He was a state legislator from 1995 to 2003, representing the west suburban 44th district, and, following redistricting, representing the 82nd district from 2006 to 2023. He had previously served as an assistant Illinois attorney general and as an assistant Cook County state’s attorney, working as a felony trial prosecutor and as a special prosecutor in the Narcotics Bureau. He is also an experienced commercial litigator and has conducted internal investigations for public and private entities.
At CFDB, Durkin joins former Chicago Planning Commissioner David Reifman and former Illinois First Assistant Deputy Governor Lisa Duarte in shaping a culture focused on civic involvement and community service as well as delivering world-class advice and counsel to innovative companies, government agencies and non-profits.
“Partnering with an accomplished legislator and lifelong public servant of Jim’s caliber is an honor for all of us,” said CFDB partner and Management Committee co-chair Lisa Duarte. “We continue to work with clients at the intersection of business and government, drawing on our own experience in the public sector and as entrepreneurs to deliver unparalleled value in the areas of practice that matter most to our clients.”
About Croke Fairchild:
A full-service law firm with offices in Chicago and Milwaukee, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC is home to a diverse team of trusted advisors and counselors valued for their legal skill, intellectual curiosity and commitment to forging pragmatic solutions. The firm’s clients include entrepreneurs, investors, growth-stage companies, family offices, family businesses, and Fortune 500 companies. Croke Fairchild is also a certified women’s business enterprise and a member of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF). For more information, visit www.crokefairchild.com.
Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC’s lobbying and government affairs partner is Point of Difference Strategies. For more information, visit www.podstrategies.com.