Dykema Adds Government Policy Advisor and Counsel John T. Donovan in Illinois

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of John T. Donovan as Government Policy Advisor and Counsel to the firm’s Chicago office. Donovan joins Dykema after serving as Special Counsel for Legislative Affairs to the Cook County Sheriff, Thomas J. Dart.

At Dykema, Donovan assists clients in navigating complex government processes across the State of Illinois to achieve their legal, public policy, and regulatory objectives. His work focuses on raising clients’ visibility and ensuring their voices are heard while shaping policies and regulations that impact their interests. Donovan is a highly experienced attorney and policy and public affairs strategist who focuses on strategic communications and issue development campaigns.

As Special Counsel for Legislative Affairs at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Donovan provided senior-level analysis and counsel on administrative and governmental matters. He also advised the Sheriff on public policy and legislative affairs, negotiating and delivering high-level insights to support the office’s priorities and successfully advance legislative and policy initiatives covering a broad variety of subject matter areas, including but not limited to public safety and mental health, criminal justice reform, ethics, transportation and vehicle safety, corrections and court services, firearm and prescription drug safety, and animal welfare and consumer protection policies and regulations.

Donovan previously served as Special Assistant and Counsel, where he was the key advisor to the Sheriff and his executive and administrative staffs. He successfully developed, managed, and executed the Sheriff’s state, local, and federal legislative and policy initiatives. During this time, Donovan provided legal, political, and strategic communication counsel critical to mission success on behalf of both taxpayers and the more than 6,700 officers, deputies, and civilian employees of the Sheriff’s office.

“We are pleased that John Donovan has joined us to solidify and advance our longstanding government affairs practice in Illinois at the state and local level,” said Alan Wilk, Leader of Dykema’s Government Policy Practice Group. “His experience will greatly assist our current and future clients in achieving their public policy goals.”

Earlier in his career, Donovan clerked with Justice David P. Sterba (Ret.) at the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, and at the Cook County Fifth Municipal District Courthouse. He also served as Assistant Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, where he was a top legislative advisor, providing both legislative analysis and legal counsel for the Illinois House Speaker and the House Democratic Caucus. He negotiated, reviewed, and drafted legislative language for the Illinois General Assembly and served as the lead staff attorney for seven legislative committees in the Illinois House of Representatives: Revenue & Finance; Intermodal Infrastructure; Transportation: Vehicles & Safety; Transportation: Regulation, Roads, and Bridges; Tollway Oversight; Mass Transit; and Business Growth and Incentives.

Having worked within the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government, Donovan has a unique understanding of the complex inter- and intra-workings of the public sector, legislative and judicial processes, and the intersection of regulation and the private sector, which he draws on to deliver successful results.

Donovan earned a J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.