Former Illinois Commerce Commission General Counsel Joins Sonnenschein's Environmental and Energy Group in Chicago

August 23, 2005

(CHICAGO, August 23, 2005)—Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP today announced that Phillip A. Casey has joined the law firm as a partner in its Chicago office and member of the national Environmental & Energy Group.  Most recently, Casey served as general counsel for the Illinois Commerce Commission. 

“Phil’s expertise in all facets of utility regulation, intimate knowledge of legal and policy issues, and experience working with the state legislature should prove uniquely valuable to our clients,” said Jeffrey C. Fort, chair of Sonnenschein’s Environmental & Energy Group and a managing partner of the Chicago office.  “We are very pleased to welcome him to the firm and look forward to working with him to further expand our already fast-growing practice.” 

At the Illinois Commerce Commission, Casey provided legal advice on various substantive areas of utility regulatory law, including regulated industries such as telecommunications, energy and water.  In his role as general counsel, he also served as the Commission’s chief ethics officer, as well as chief liaison between the Commission and the Office of the Attorney General and the Counsel to the Governor.  Prior to being appointed general counsel, he served as an administrative law judge with the Commission, presiding over matters involving deregulation of the electric supply, local telephone service and natural gas industries. 

Casey received a J.D. degree from John Marshall Law School  and a B.S. degree from Illinois State University.

Sonnenschein, with more than 700 attorneys and other professionals in nine U.S. cities and a global reach, serves the legal needs of many of the world’s largest and best-known businesses, nonprofits and individuals.  For more information, visit www.sonnenschein.com.

Media Contact:

Linda Butler
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
(312) 876-3453
LButler@sonnenschein.com