Seasoned Public Policy Lawyer Michael Mannion Joins Locke Lord, Strengthening Firm’s Public Law and Policy Capabilities in Illinois

March 20, 2017 – Michael Mannion, a highly experienced regulatory and public policy lawyer, has joined Locke Lord as Senior Counsel in the Firm’s Chicago office. Mannion will be an integral part of the Firm’s Public Law and Policy Practice Group and will work closely with long-time Chicago Partner and former veteran Illinois State Sen. Kirk Dillard.

Sought out by Gov. Bruce Rauner, Mannion was appointed director of the Illinois Division of Banking, effective Feb. 1, 2015, and was confirmed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote within the month. In the banking division, he had regulatory responsibility for more than 1,000 state chartered banks and mortgage brokers, among other financial service entities. From March 2016 to March 2017, again at the request of the governor, he served in the position of director of the bureau of benefits in Illinois’ Central Management Services, where he oversaw more than $3 billion in annual spending for state employee/retiree benefits programs, including health insurance. Mannion is a former board member of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. He also served as president of the Sangamon County Bar Association and has been a member since 1992.

“Michael is a well-respected business leader on both sides of the aisle and brings to Locke Lord significant insurance, health care and financial services experience,” said Robert Miller, Co-Chair of Locke Lord’s Public Law and Policy Practice Group. “He gives the Firm a veteran presence in Springfield, the state capital, and the combination of his and Sen. Dillard’s experience and proven skill sets, backed by the Firm’s global platform, is unparalleled.”

For almost 25 years, Mannion has advised senior executive-level clients, boards of directors, CEOs and presidents of corporations and trade associations on a wide range of matters, including federal and state regulatory and legislative issues. He has an extensive background in both legal and lobbying work for clients in various industry sectors.

“As a proud son of Irish immigrant parents raised on the South Side of Chicago and now residing in Springfield with my own family, I am excited to be a part of the Locke Lord team and to work alongside Kirk as we look to enhance our Public Law and Policy capabilities in Illinois,” Mannion said.

Prior to his work in state government, Mannion was the vice president of government relations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Prior to that, he was a partner at one of the oldest and largest law firms in Springfield, Ill. 

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About Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord is a full-service, international law firm of more than 20 offices designed to meet clients’ needs around the world. The Firm has a history that spans more than 125 years and is a worldwide leader in the middle market sector. Locke Lord advises clients across a broad spectrum of industries including energy, financial services, fund formation, health care, insurance and reinsurance, private equity and venture capital, public finance, real estate, and technology, media and telecommunications, while providing a wealth of experience through its complex litigation, intellectual property, tax, regulatory and transactional teams.