Amy Degnan Gempeler

Amy Degnan Gempeler is a partner with Schain, Burney, Banks & Kenny, Ltd. where she counsels clients on matters relating to land use, zoning, and government approvals.

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 anew CityofChicagoZoning Code.  She also worked for the Chicago Park District as a Lakefront Project Coordinator. 

Practice areas:
Land use, zoning and government approvals

Education:
JD, 2003, DePaul University College of Law
BA, 1994, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Spanish curriculum-literature and culture, 1995, University of Seville, Spain

Bar Admissions:
Illinois

adegnan@sbbklaw.com