FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CITY OF CHICAGO’S FORMER FIRST DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AMY DEGNAN GEMPELER, JOINS THE LAW FIRM SCHAIN, BURNEY, BANKS & KENNY, LTD. AS A PARTNER
12/2/11
CHICAGO—December 2, 2011—Chicago-based law firm Schain, Burney, Banks & Kenny, Ltd. (SBBK) recently announced that Chicago’s former First Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Economic Development, Amy Degnan Gempeler, has joined the firm as a Partner in the Land Use, Zoning and Government Approvals practice groups.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Degnan Gempeler was the First Deputy Commissioner for the City ofChicago’s Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED). In January 2011, HED was created to consolidate the Departments of Zoning and Land Use Planning, Housing and Economic Development.
Ms. Degnan Gempeler was an instrumental member of the team responsible for the consolidation and reorganization of these multiple city departments. During the reorganization, Ms. Degnan Gempeler revised internal policies and procedures to stream line the development process. She guided all legislation impacting the Department, including Tax Increment Financing, planned developments, zoning map amendments, landmark designations and property tax incentives, in addition to identifying priorities for HED’s State and Federal agendas. She supervised the real estate division of HED which controls over 15,000 city parcels. She also directed multiple departments and agencies to facilitate the development of Walmart stores in the City of Chicago.
Prior to the formation of HED, Ms. Degnan Gempeler was the First Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning. Prior to that, she was Managing Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Planning and Development.
Ms. Degnan Gempeler also served as a former assistant to Mayor Richard M. Daley where she assisted in the Zoning Code Reform Project which resulted in a new City of Chicago Zoning Code. She also worked for the Chicago Park District as a Lakefront Project Coordinator.
SBBK partner Jerry Schain states "Despite the economic downturn, our firm has seen an increase in demand from our clients in the areas of zoning, land use and government approval work in both Cook and the surrounding counties. Not only is Amy Degnan Gempeler highly qualified to help us meet this growing demand, her background provides her with an in-depth understanding of both government and business perspectives that is key to navigating the government approval process”.
SBBK partner and former Chicago Alderman William J.P. Banks adds “In my former life as 36th Ward Alderman and Chairman of Chicago’s Committee on Zoning, I had the pleasure of working with Amy on numerous matters that benefited the city, so I know first hand that our clients will appreciate working with her as much as the City’s Aldermen and Department Heads have over the years.”
Ms. Degnan holds a law degree from DePaul University College of Law and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
