Michael J Kasper

Mr. Kasper is a partner in the firm of Fletcher, O’Brien, Kasper & Nottage, P.C., which became of counsel to Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in 1997. Fletcher, O'Brien is one of Illinois’ largest and most diverse governmental relations firm. It represents clients before the Illinois General Assembly, the executive branch of state government and local governments, and works to secur passage or defeat of proposed legislation, secure appropriations and funding for projects, monitors pending legislation and helps clients obtain business opportunities through government agencies. In 2009, Mr. Kasper was appointed outside Special Prosecutor by the Illinois House of Representatives for the purpose of trying Articles of Impeachment against Governor Rod Blagojevich before the Illinois State Senate. The guilty verdict rendered by the Senate resulted in the Governor’s removal from office. Mr. Kasper is also a faculty member at The John Marshall Law School, where he teaches courses on voting rights and elections and the legislative process to second- and third-year law students. Mr. Kasper is currently the General Counsel and Treasurer of the Democratic Party of Illinois. He previously served as General Counsel to Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and as Parliamentarian for the Illinois House of Representatives. Prior to working for the State legislature, Mr. Kasper practiced as a litigator at Winston & Strawn, in Chicago. In both 2007 & 2008, Law & Politics, in conjunction with Chicago Magazine, named Mr. Kasper to the Illinois Super Lawyers list, making him the only attorney in Illinois given that designation in the field of political law for two consecutive years. In August 2000, the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer magazine named Mr. Kasper one of the "40 Attorneys Under Age 40 to Watch" in the publications' inaugural profile of young attorneys. Mr. Kasper has made several appearances on "Chicago Tonight" on WTTW Channel 11 as an expert commentator in the field of election law, and has made similar appearances on CLTV, Chicago's cable news network. His commentary on election law-related topics has been used by several Illinois radio networks, including WBBM Chicago, National Public Radio and the Illinois Radio Network.