Women in Law 2025

2025

MARY B. RICHARDSON-LOWRY CORPORATION COUNSEL City of Chicago Department of Law

M ary Richardson-Lowry serves as Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago where she acts as the city’s chief legal officer, overseeing all legal affairs for the nation’s third- largest municipality. Appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson in 2023, Mary leads a team spanning 19 legal practice areas and supporting 41 city departments, driving key initiatives that enhance Chicago’s infrastructure, strengthen accountability, and build public trust. After earning her J.D. from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1984, Mary began her legal career with the City of Chicago’s Department of Law. In these early years of public service, Mary played a key role in developing the Chicago Emergency Communication Center, a groundbreaking, integrated system uniting police, fire, and emergency response operations. The initiative set a national standard for coordinated public safety. In 1997, Mary was appointed Commissioner of the Department of Buildings, where she led transformative reforms to modernize the City’s Building Code and championed progressive safety legislation. Mary’s ability to drive meaningful change and foster collaboration across administrations has earned the trust of Chicago’s leadership, reflected in her service under every mayor since Harold Washington. Expanding her impact beyond the public sector, Mary became an Equity Partner at Mayer Brown LLP in 2002, specializing in regulatory and commercial matters. In 2017, Mary served as General Counsel for Ililewa, guiding the multinational firm through complex global compliance, governance, and operational challenges with strategic precision.

In her current capacity as Corporation Counsel, Mary continues to shape Chicago’s future through strategic leadership and complex negotiations that advance significant City priorities. Mary led pivotal discussions with American and United Airlines on the rephasing of O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal Area Plan and successfully negotiated with the Chicago Cubs on infrastructure improvements that helped Chicago secure the 2027 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Most recently, Mary finalized a landmark global settlement addressing reversed convictions for 180 plaintiffs, resolving nearly two-thirds of the city’s active Watts federal civil rights cases and establishing a new precedent for restorative justice. Mary’s influence further extends into Chicago’s nonprofit and philanthropic communities. Mary has chaired the Chicago Community Trust and the Community Development Commission, served as Interim Chair of the Chicago Board of Education, and as Vice Chair of the Cook County Health and Hospital System. Mary's leadership has earned her national recognition, including honors such as Crain’s 100 Most Influential Women , the Chicago United Business and Legal Leadership Award , Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School Innovation Award , the National Council’s Most Powerful and Influential Women’s Award , the Abraham Lincoln Center Humanitarian of the Year Award, the Chicago 50 Women of Excellence Award , and Rush Hospital’s Honorary Service Award . Throughout a distinguished career spanning public service, private practice, and civic leadership, Mary has exemplified resilience, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to excellence and civic progress.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025