BETH & CHAMLEY - Key Persons

Mr. Wesner's practice primarily focuses on local government law and real estate. He has over 25 years of experience representing municipalities and other units of local government in a wide variety of matters concerning all aspects of their government and affairs. Experience: Advises municipalities and other units of local government as to their general operation, including matters related to drafting ordinances and resolutions, enforcement of ordinances, drafting written opinions as to various matters, negotiating and drafting collective bargaining agreements, representing the governing body in arbitration hearings and mediation conferences, drafting development and redevelopment agreements, supervising the drafting of various contracts, personnel and disciplinary matters, prosecuting violations of local ordinances, collecting delinquent accounts, licensing matters, and advising staff concerning various matters. Serves as Hearing Officer for units of local government in connection with administrative hearings and proceedings.

Job Titles:

• Architect

Mr. Chamley's practice primarily focuses on Banking, Bankruptcy (creditors only), Real Estate and Commercial Litigation. He is past Chair and CLE Coordinator of the Commercial, Banking and Bankruptcy Law Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. Mr. Chamley is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court, the U.S. Central District of Illinois, the U.S. Seventh Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States of America. He routinely litigates in the trial court and the appellate courts on behalf of financial institutions on issues of commercial collection, foreclosure, bankruptcy and lender liability. He is a member of the panel of attorneys appointed to represent indigent criminal defendants in the U.S. District Court for the Central District and has over 15 years of experience prosecuting municipal ordinance violations. Joe has conducted in-house seminars for financial institutions on loan structuring and documentation. He has been an Instructor for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Commerce and Roosevelt University on issues of business organizations, local government and general litigation. Joe was raised in Whiteside County in the Northwest corner of Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (cum laude) in 1991 and from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Law (cum laude) in 1994. Joe, Amy and their daughters reside in Champaign, Illinois.

Mr. Beth's practice primarily focuses on municipal and public authority finance law, local government law and real estate law, including in the areas of tax increment allocation financing, special assessment and special service areas, annexation agreements and other development and redevelopment matters. He has over 40 years of experience representing municipalities and other units of local government in a wide variety of matters and is known for his approach in providing creative solutions to various legal issues of concern in the communities he represents. Experience: Serves as bond counsel, issuer's counsel, bank/trustee's counsel and underwriter's counsel in connection with the issuance of general obligation and revenue bonds as well as lease and other debt-related financings; is also affiliated with Gilmore & Bell, P.C., another nationally-recognized public finance firm. Counsels municipalities on procedures related to the adoption and termination of tax increment allocation financing, provides representation to municipalities and developers in the negotiation and preparation of development, redevelopment, annexation and other economic incentive agreements, and drafted the Illinois legislation authorizing tax increment allocation financing for closed military installations. Advises municipalities and other units of local government regarding general operation of government, including various matters related to practices and procedures, ordinance drafting and enforcement, personnel practices, licensing, finance and tax, contracts, utility systems and home rule. Represents clients in connection with real estate transactions, including sales and acquisitions, leasing, loan financings, and zoning and subdivision regulations and proceedings. Serves as a hearing officer for local governmental units in connection with various administrative proceedings.