Richard Velázquez

Licensed in May of 2003, Rich possesses a diverse legal experience in both the private and public sectors.

From April 2007 through January 2011, Rich served as Special Counsel to the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners under the administrations of Todd H. Stroger and Toni Preckwinkle. In this capacity, Rich was a member of the Executive Staff of the President’s Office and was responsible for advising the President and other members of the Executive Staff with regard to issues concerning the State Constitution, State statutes, local ordinances, and policy matters. In addition to Rich’s core functions as Special Counsel to the President, Rich also provided public relations assistance and acted as a liaison between the Office of the President and other state and local elected officials.

Prior to Rich’s tenure with the County Board, from May 2002 through December 2006, Rich was an attorney at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP where he represented large contractors, construction managers, architects, engineers, developers and other design professionals in multi-million dollar projects; reviewed and prepared contract documents; and, provided litigation defense against various causes of action including breach of contract, construction negligence resulting in personal injury, construction cost overruns and delays, and construction defect. As a member of the Business Transactions practice group, Rich advised and organized new businesses, represented parties in commercial landlord/tenant transactions, and advised and represented restaurants in general business matters, including trademark registration and like issues.

Prior to Rich’s tenure at Hinshaw, Rich clerked for both the Honorable Judge Joseph N. Casciato, now retired, and the Torts and Civil Rights Section of the Civil Actions Bureau of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

While attending DePaul University College of Law, Rich worked full time as a Juvenile Court Probation Officer assigned to the special units of Intensive Probation Services and Electronic Monitoring. Rich was a member of the Dean’s List and was awarded the CALI Award for Excellence in Civil Pre-Trial Litigation. In 1988, Rich acted as a White House Intern for the Clinton Administration.