Mara S. Georges

Mara Georges focuses her practice on federal, state and local governmental issues, including zoning, land use and planning, municipal finance, government relations and economic and business development. Ms. Georges provides counsel to corporations and individuals with matters before government boards, commissions, agencies and legislatures. She also advises on legislative development, regulatory affairs and public to private sector partnerships.

Ms. Georges joined Katten after 12 years as the City of Chicago’s corporation counsel. As the City’s longest-serving corporation counsel, she was responsible for the City’s law department of nearly 300 lawyers in practices as diverse as civil and quasi-criminal litigation, contracts, environmental, taxation, bond issues, real estate transactions and other municipal matters. Ms. Georges was the City’s senior advisor on legal and policy issues and worked collaboratively with the Mayor, members of the City Council and the City’s departments, agencies and commissioners.

Throughout her time with the City, Ms. Georges managed disparate interests with an eye toward the needs of the City, and she brings that same focus to her clients at the firm.

Prior to her tenure at the City, Ms. Georges was a litigation partner at Rock, Fusco, Reynolds, Crowe & Garvey, Ltd.

A prolific speaker, Ms. Georges has appeared before the National Association of Women Lawyers, the Black Women Lawyers’ Association, the Illinois Municipal League, the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and many other organizations. She has been recognized by Illinois Super Lawyers (2005–2006, 2008–2009, 2012).

Honors and Awards

In 2011, Ms. Georges was honored by the Illinois Institute for Local Government Law with its Annual Distinguished Service Award, and by the International Municipal Lawyers Association with its Joseph I. Mulligan, Jr. Distinguished Public Service Award. She has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer; one of the “100 Most Powerful Women in Chicago” by the Chicago Sun-Times; one of “Forty Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch” by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin; one of the “Forty Under 40” by Crain’s Chicago Business; and one of the “Ten Most Influential Women Lawyers in Illinois” by American Lawyer Media. She earned a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of AV-Preeminent.

Memberships and Affiliations

Ms. Georges is a board member of the Federal Bar Association and the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA), and an active member of the Chicago Bar Association. In addition, she is a member of the Loyola University Chicago School of Law Circle of Advocates and supports Child’s Play Touring Theater.

Education and Bar Admissions

Ms. Georges received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and her Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She is admitted to practice in Illinois and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and is a member of the trial bar of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.