Direct, administer, and coordinate the activities of the City's Legal department in support of policies, goals, and objectives established with the City Manager and City Council. Advises City officials and staff concerning legal rights, obligations, and privileges. Leads the City's Legal team in providing professional legal services to all City departments.Previously, a key member of the McLean County Administrative team, Chris worked closely with the County Administrator, the Board, and all County department heads while leading the Civil Division of the State’s Attorney’s office. He served as the County's Risk Manager, Ethics Officer, and Parliamentarian. He served as lead negotiator for the County’s collective bargaining team, and managed all civil litigation. Works closely with human resources on benefit and disciplinary matters, and managed the county’s self-insured worker’s compensation program. He has experience in matters before state and federal agencies including EEOC, IDPH, IDHS and IDES. He provided legal support for enforcement of the regulations of the Liquor Commission, Animal Control, Zoning, and the County Health Department. His duties also include matters involving elections, assessment and taxation, budgeting, vendor contracts, and inter-governmental agreements. Chris is a seasoned civil trial attorney with 29 years of complex litigation experience. He has successfully tried nearly 100 civil jury trials and has also appeared in front of the Appellate Court, the Court of Claims, and various administrative agencies.