Jeff Whipple

Jeffrey T. Whipple is of counsel to Williams Montgomery & John and is head of the firm's government relations practice group. He focuses his practice almost exclusively on government relations matters. Mr. Whipple has been elected speaker of the Illinois Third House, an industry-wide acknowledgement reserved for the leaders in his field, and he recently has been asked to sit on the board of the National Association of State Lobbyists. Mr. Whipple has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Illinois Leading Lawyers for governmental, municipal, lobbying and administrative law. With more than 30 years of experience, Mr. Whipple represents the Illinois trust industry, the largest food manufacturer in the United States, some of the largest financial institutions in the country, one of the largest gaming companies in the country, the largest tobacco company in the world, and numerous other corporate and non-profit interests. Mr. Whipple's decades-long presence in Springfield, Ill., has allowed him to develop close working relationships not only with members of the Illinois General Assembly, but also with directors and staff of numerous state agencies. Throughout his many years of experience representing some of the largest corporations in America, Mr. Whipple has been called upon to coordinate and enhance both marketing and public relations efforts for many endeavors, and he has developed and participated in extensive grass roots lobbying campaigns. Education/Bar Admissions Mr. Whipple received a B.A. in English and political science in 1968 from Southern Methodist University (SMU). He received his J.D. in 1970 from the Dedman School of Law at SMU. Mr. Whipple was admitted to the Texas bar in 1970 and the Illinois bar in 1971, and also has been admitted to the following federal trial courts: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit U.S. Tax Court United States Supreme Court For 25 years, Mr. Whipple served as commissioner of the Illinois Court of Claims. Professional Activities Mr. Whipple is active in various professional organizations, including: Illinois State Bar Association Illinois Third House, speaker National Association of State Lobbyists