MICHAEL SCHIERL
Partner

Michael is the Chair of Croke Fairchild’s Public Finance Practice and the Co-Chair of Croke Fairchild’s Non-Profit Advisory Practice.

Michael is a recognized leader in the non-profit financial community for his work developing sophisticated “evergreen” conduit bond financing structures with embedded shelf-offering capabilities that enable the funding of high-impact projects often viewed as beyond the reach of non-profit organizations. Mr. Schierl’s life’s work is to help his non-profit clients create new “financial ecosystems” that integrate finance (borrowing) and balance sheet philanthropy (structured and planned giving) in order to fund mission-critical initiatives and new business units.

Michael began his career with Dewey Ballantine (New York), where he worked for five years as an associate in the bond finance and the M&A practice groups. After moving to Chicago, he founded Immaculata Law Firm, where he developed a national bond practice, with a client base consisting of Catholic dioceses, parishes, schools and universities and other NFP organizations. In 2024, Michael combined his firm, Immaculata Law Firm, with Croke Fairchild.

Michael’s “total funding” solution approach to bond structure design draws from Mr. Schierl’s unique experience in several disparate worlds: (1) bond financing techniques from his experience practicing law with Dewey Ballantine and Immaculata Law Firm; (2) balance sheet philanthropy techniques utilized by leading foundations and universities; and (3) business startup experience from Mr. Schierl’s experience as an entrepreneur as a founder and/or advisor of several for-profit and non-profit startups.

A graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Notre Dame (’84 Great Books Program), Mr. Schierl has practiced law for over 30 years. Mr. Schierl is a licensed member of the Bar in Illinois, New York and Wisconsin. He is consecrated to Our Lady and a member of the Militia Immaculata, founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe. Mr. Schierl serves on the Advisory Board of the Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate at the University of Notre Dame. He resides in LaGrange Park, IL with his wife, Valerie. They have five adult children, with three children currently in college.