Legal Practice Areas

Corporate Governance

We aim to have a hands-on approach to the development, management, and well-being of local communities through the unique and improved advisements of municipal law.

Montana & Welch represents cities, villages, school districts, park districts and other governmental and special purpose entities in a variety of different ways. We strive to find unique ways to build a better and more efficient result for our municipal clients by providing a hands-on approach to assist with the development, management and well-being of their communities. We are equipped to handle a broad range of municipal issues that agency officials face. Many of our attorneys regularly advise our clients in all areas of municipal law including: OMA, FOIA, Fire & Police Commissions, Real Estate, Economic Development & Tax Increment Financing, Campaign & Election Law, Labor & Employment, Zoning & Land Use, School Law, Park District Law.

Campaign & Election Law

We can help clients through the process of participating in local elections and provide legal representation to the state and political committees.

We help clients comply with all applicable laws and regulations and guide them in navigating the legal, political, and administrative challenges that can arise when participating in the political process.

Monitoring new campaign laws for local entities, counties and state.
Provide legal representation to state, local candidates and political committees.
Counsel candidates and political committees about pre-election procedure and post- election vote count process, recounts, election contests, etc.
Representing candidates in lawsuits challenging the conduct of state and local elections, disputes over eligibility and residency.

Litigation

The firm has an active municipal litigation practice, and if an issue cannot be resolved and litigation becomes necessary, our team will do so aggressively and with a successful record in federal, state and local courts.

Litigation Experience Includes:

Civil Rights/Tort/Employment Litigation
Civil Litigation
Eminent Domain and Condemnation
Election Litigation
General Insurance Defense
Land Use
General Liability
Contract Litigation
Administrative

Labor & Employment

We counsel our clients on how to manage proactively. The goal is to ensure that problems are resolved before they become costly and negatively impact production and employee relations. We assist with creating employee policy manuals; in handling unfair labor practice claims; in resolving discipline and termination issues; in collective bargaining and arbitration; and in the entire labor negotiation process. We are successful in the defense of employers in labor and employment matters before state and federal courts, Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

We aim to make sure that any labor problems are resolved before they turn into expensive and drawn-out cases.

Economic Development & Tax Incentives

Our team has in-depth knowledge about the workings of the legal, political, and policy frameworks that determine the development of Chicago and its suburbs.

Montana & Welch offers extensive legal services in the creation of legal and financial strategies for economic and community development projects. Specializing in the representation of government entities, the firm has developed a depth of knowledge and understanding of the legal, political, and policy frameworks that shape development in our area. We represent clients on a wide range of tax increment financing matters, ranging from the initiation of the TIF process through the termination of tax increment districts following the completion of projects or the final payment of tax increment bonds.

Zoning & Entitlements

We understand local zoning laws and regulations and will advise our clients in the areas of economic development, real estate, housing developments, and business licensing.

Our firm handles all aspects of the land use process, including zoning and comprehensive plan changes, subdivision and preliminary plat approvals, planned unit developments, conditional use permits, interim use permits, variances, and business licensing, public finance, government relations and enforcement. We assist clients contemplating development opportunities by streamlining the process and negotiating the approvals necessary to get the project done.

School Law

Our attorneys can represent any school district or officials on all litigation cases that come up in courts from general laws to personnel issues.

The firm represents school districts in the following areas of school law:

General School Law
Labor & Employment Law
Student Issues
Real Estate/Construction

Special District Law

Our team represents park districts in all aspects of law relating to the governance, finance, labor and personnel, real estate, contracts, commercial transactions, and litigation.