RYAN & RYAN LAW - Key Persons
Michael W. Ryan is a member of Ryan & Ryan Law, LLC. He concentrates exclusively on representing private property owners and tenants in eminent domain matters in Illinois. Mike's goal is to obtain the best result for the particular client - whether it involves challenging the government's right to take, obtaining a reduction in the size of taking, negotiating a change in the proposed improvement to be constructed to the client's benefit, or maximizing the just compensation to be paid under the law. He works closely with his clients to obtain zoning relief or any other entitlement approvals in order to minimize the impact caused by the taking. He has represented clients with property in Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, Kane, McHenry, Winnebago, Grundy, Ogle, Kendall, and DeKalb counties. He has extensive experience in both partial takings (both temporary and permanent) and full takings involving all types of property including: agricultural, residential, commercial retail, industrial, office, and special use properties. Mike has handled eminent domain cases at the trial, appellate and Illinois Supreme Court level. He also frequently advises his private property clients on transactions with government bodies in lieu of condemnation including: drafting and negotiating contracts for sale of improved and unimproved property; permanent easements; temporary easements; right of entry agreements; and leases. Mike has lectured on eminent domain topics for local bar associations and at national eminent domain conferences.
Mike has been awarded the CRE® (Counselor of Real Estate) credential by The Counselors of Real Estate®, an international group of real estate practitioners recognized as leading advisors in complex real property and land-related matters, with fewer than 1100 members worldwide, of which only about 70 are practicing attorneys.
Mike has also been selected as an Illinois Affiliate Member of the Owners' Counsel of America (OCA), a national organization comprised of experienced eminent domain trial lawyers in each represented state defending private property owners against local and state governments, transportation departments, utilities, and any other government agency armed with the power of eminent domain.
Education:
DePaul University College of Law, J.D.
Xavier University, B.A.
William E. Ryan is a member of Ryan & Ryan Law, LLC. Bill focuses his practice on representing private property owners against the government throughout metropolitan Chicago and Illinois in eminent domain proceedings. With over 40 years of experience, he has represented property owners in every major transportation improvement project in the Chicagoland area, including the construction of I-355 through DuPage and Will Counties, the expansion of O'Hare International Airport, the new Elgin O'Hare Expressway (I-390 & I-490), the expansion of I-294 in Cook and DuPage Counties, and various METRA and Chicago Transit Authority line improvements and expansions. Not to mention multiple road projects and municipal projects throughout Illinois. Bill uses his wealth of experience to come up with unique solutions to limit litigation costs for the property owner while still maximizing compensation.
Bill has authored a chapter on eminent domain topics for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and lectured on various eminent domain topics before national legal and appraisal organizations. He was involved in drafting portions of the current Illinois Eminent Domain Act and is the Illinois member of the Owners' Counsel of America, a national organization comprised of eminent domain trial lawyers in each represented state serving property owners faced with governmental takings.
Since 2007 he has been selected by the Best Lawyers in America® in the area of eminent domain and condemnation and "Lawyer of the Year" for 2014.*
Bill also acts as municipal real estate counsel for the Village of Rosemont in all of the Village's tax increment projects, including planning, adoption, acquisition, leasing and redevelopment. As municipal counsel, he has negotiated and drafted development agreements for over 5,000,000 square feet of new office, hotel, and retail redevelopment in the Village of Rosemont, including the Parkway Bank Park at Rosemont, Impact Field, the 500,000 square foot Fashion Outlets of Chicago, and the Pearl Street TIF District.
Bill has been Peer Review Rated as AV® Preeminent TM, the highest performance rating in Martindale-Hubbell's peer review rating system.