DREW L. BERES
Partner

Drew is a co-founder of CROKE FAIRCHILD DUARTE & BERES and serves as the Managing Partner. A corporate attorney, Drew has successfully guided investment funds, financial institutions, government agencies, highly regulated companies, family offices, emerging and growth companies, and Fortune 100 companies through some of their most challenging issues and compelling opportunities. Prior to co-founding the Firm, Drew was a corporate attorney at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Drew has advised on a variety of matters spanning both the private and public sectors. Drew’s corporate practice focuses primarily on investment fund formation, the structure and operation of investment funds and their related management companies and general corporate and regulatory matters including ongoing strategic counsel and guidance to a variety of clients.

In the private investment fund space, Drew has advised on the formation of private equity, venture capital, real estate, credit and special situations funds ranging in size from $25 million to over $2 billion. Drew is experienced in the full lifecycle of private investment funds including fund formation, upper-tier structuring, carry arrangements, secondary transactions, and exits. Drew also represents limited partners in private fund investments, benefiting from a deep knowledge of market terms and trends.

Prior to Kirkland, Drew served as the General Counsel and Deputy Chief Operating Officer to City of Chicago Treasurer Kurt A. Summers, Jr. As General Counsel, Drew oversaw all compliance with federal, state and local laws relating to the investment and management of the City’s $6+ billion portfolio, government ethics, procurement and the Office’s work with the City’s five pension funds. Drew also directed the Office’s legislative activities with the Chicago City Council and the Illinois General Assembly. Prior to law school, Drew served as the Special Assistant to Chicago Public Schools’ CEO Ron Huberman and as a Mayoral Fellow in the Office of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

In July 2020, Drew was appointed by Governor JB Pritzker as a Board Member of the Illinois Finance Authority and was confirmed by the Illinois Senate. Governor Pritzker re-appointed Drew for another term in September 2022. In April 2023, Drew was appointed to the Housing Subcommittee of Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s Transition.

Drew has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. His civic engagement includes serving on the Board of the Chicago Children’s Museum, on the steering committee of the Americans with Disabilities Act 25th Anniversary Commemoration and as Host Committee Chair for the 2023 Access Living Gala.  In 2022, Drew was named to Crain’s Chicago Business’ “40 Under 40” list.

Drew serves on the Management Committee and is a member of the Office of General Counsel.