Thomas W. Goedert

Of Counsel

Thomas W. Goedert

Of Counsel

Phone

(630) 605-4875

Email

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Practice Areas

Thomas W. Goedert has spent his career advising clients in both the public and private sectors on a broad range of complex legal, business and regulatory matters.

Mr. Goedert’s practice includes extensive experience in aviation matters, including operation and airport planning and concessions. His broad range of experience includes counseling businesses from Fortune 500 companies to locally owned and closely held businesses, on such matters as business formation, contract and partnership agreements, land use and regulation and real estate development (including acquisitions, easements, and eminent domain issues). He maintains a significant practice representing private businesses in commercial disputes and litigation-avoidance strategies, with a focus on financial restructuring, bankruptcy, business insolvency issues, and other business-related litigation.

A seasoned trial attorney, Mr. Goedert has served as lead counsel in complex commercial and real estate matters, including numerous jury trials in both federal and state courts.

Mr. Goedert was appointed a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois, overseeing land acquisition for the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority as part of the I-90 and I-355 highway extensions. He has also served as counsel to local villages and municipalities, providing guidance on a range of legal matters related to governance and public administration.

He served as a lead attorney to the City of Chicago’s O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP), overseeing all aspects of land acquisition and relocation, and advising on federal, state, and municipal regulatory matters and negotiations for the airport’s reconfiguration. He later counseled clients regarding ORD21 and the Terminal Area Program.

Mr. Goedert is a former Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Bankruptcy and Reorganization Committee and the inaugural Chair of the Bankruptcy Liaison Committee to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He also previously served on the Advisory Board of the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Representative Transactions

Appointed as Special Assistant Attorney General for the McCormick Place West Expansion project and provided legal guidance and managed land acquisition efforts necessary for the expansion.
Assisted with the acquisition of numerous sites for fire and police stations, facilitating the construction of new stations for the Public Building Commission.

Aviation

Led a legal team advising the City of Chicago on the O’Hare Modernization Program’s land acquisitions. The team secured over 127 acres near the northwestern boundary – acquiring 52 parcels, relocating 96 businesses, and vacating public streets – and acquired an additional 300 acres along the southwestern boundary, covering more than 650 parcels across residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal properties.

Government Procurement and Contracting

Managed land acquisition processes for the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, including overseeing legal proceedings for both jury and bench trials related to the acquisition of land on behalf of the condemning authorities.