Education

Northwestern University School of Law, J.D.

Knox College, B.A., cum laude

Bar Admissions

Illinois

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Barbara A. Adams

Partner
Chicago
t: 312-578-6563

Barbara A. Adams represents local governments and governmental agencies and has counseled these entities in a broad range of substantive areas, including administrative law, construction law, contracts, intergovernmental cooperation, real estate acquisition and taxation, zoning and land use, water law, pension law, personnel and employment, telecommunications, cable television, environmental law, public finance and bonds, and code and ordinance interpretation. She has litigated in state and federal courts and appeared before a variety of administrative tribunals. She also represents private parties in matters dealing with units of government.

Ms. Adams is a frequent author and lecturer on a variety of matters affecting local government law, including cable television, telecommunications law, construction law, contracting and finance, water law, and zoning of and leasing for wireless facilities. She serves as general counsel to the Northwest Water Commission, the DuPage Water Commission, the Village of Kenilworth and the Kenilworth Park District, and has served as village attorney for Hinsdale. Ms. Adams also regularly serves a variety of the firm's clients, including Northbrook, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest and Glencoe. She serves as special counsel to various municipalities on zoning, intergovernmental agreements, cable television, telecommunications, pension boards, boards of fire and police commissioners, personnel and other legal issues.

Ms. Adams prepared a model purchase of service agreement and an accompanying article for the Transportation Research Board that was nationally published and circulated to public transit agencies. Ms. Adams frequently lectures on legal issues at various programs and events, including those of the International Municipal Lawyers’ Association, the Illinois Municipal League, the Illinois Government Finance Officers' Association, the Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials, the Illinois Association of Municipal Management Assistants, Lorman Education Services, and the West Central Municipal Conference. She has recently lectured on public bidding and contracting; the law of easements; the evolving law of electronic records and communications; cable TV and telecommunications matters; and the Open Meetings Act.

Professional Honors & Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Government Relations Law, 2007-2012
  • Illinois Super Lawyers magazine, 2012
  • Leading Illinois Attorney, Governmental Law
  • Lambda Alpha International Honorary Society for the Advancement of Land Economics
  • Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business, Executive Editor
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Pi Sigma Alpha
  • Mortar Board

Memberships

  • International Municipal Lawyers' Association, Board of Directors; Past Regional Vice President; Past Illinois State Chair; Chair, Land Development, Planning and Zoning Section; Member, Program Planning and Vision 2020 Committees
  • Illinois Municipal League Home Rule Attorneys' Committee, Chair (1998-99)
  • Chicago Bar Association Local Government Committee, Chair (1993-94)
  • Chicago Bar Association Legislative Committee
  • National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, National and Illinois Chapters
  • Illinois Municipal League, Past Chair, Home Rule Attorneys Committee and League Subcommittee on the Telecommunications Infrastructure Maintenance Fee Law
  • Northwest Municipal Conference Attorneys' Committee, Past Chair
  • Knox College Board of Trustees (1998-2008), Past Secretary of the Board
  • Knox College Annual Fund Steering Committee, Past Chair
  • ABA - Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law Section

Court Admissions

  • All State Courts in Illinois
  • U.S. Appeals Court, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois

Speaking Engagements

  • "Public-Private Partnerships: Municipal Facilities and Community and Economic Development," Illinois City/County Management Association Winter Conference, February 24, 2011
  • "Construction Contracts in a Tough Economy," Illinois Municipal League's Annual Conference, September 23, 2010
  • "Land Use Update," Municipal Law Conference, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, May 7, 2010 (Springfield, IL) and May 25, 2010 (Chicago, IL)
  • "Federal Restrictions on Local Telecommunications Regulations," Illinois Municipal League's Spring Attorney's Seminar, Bloomington, IL, March 19, 2010
  • "Water as a Resource: Impact on Real Estate Ownership, Development, and Land Use Policy," Kratovil Conference on Real Estate Law & Practice, Chicago, IL, November 20, 2009

Published Articles & Books

  • "Local Government: Illinois Governor’s Amendatory Veto Would Allow Local Voters to Adopt Binding Ethics Ordinances by Referendum," Real Estate, Alert - August 27, 2009
  • "If It Ain’t Broke, Fix It?: Assessing the Impact of Klaeren v. Lisle on Illinois Zoning Law," co-author, Public Interest Law Reporter (Loyola Law School), Spring 2003
  • "The Klaeren Case: Entering a Brave New World of Illinois Zoning Law (Part 2)," co-author, Illinois Municipal Review, April 2003
  • "The Klaeren Case: Entering a Brave New World of Illinois Zoning Law (Part 1)," co-author, Illinois Municipal Review, January 2003
  • "Creation or Incorporation; Dissolution," chapter co-author, Municipal Law Volume of Illinois Jurisprudence, 1995