John F. Donahue

Partner

Phone (312) 541-1075
jdonahue@rmcj.com
vCard

John F. Donahue joined the firm in 2003. He has been representing local governments since 1988. He advises numerous public entities, including both municipalities and school districts. In addition to his corporate representation of both municipalities and school districts, he has extensive experience in zoning, annexation and development issues; tax increment financing districts; the acquisition of property through both negotiation and eminent domain; general contract drafting; bidding and construction related issues; the preparation of intergovernmental agreements and employment matters.

He is the author of sections of an Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education land use publication addressing the municipal regulation of adult uses. He has also lectured and written about legal challenges facing municipalities and school districts and has served as a presenter for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and at Illinois Municipal League conferences for elected officials.

Mr. Donahue has participated in the presentment of various complex legal issues to state and federal trial and appellate courts including the Illinois Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He was successful in obtaining the first decision upholding the dismissal of a First Amendment claim at the pleading stage from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Kyle v. Morton High School Dist. No. 201, 144 F.3d 448 (7th Cir. 1998). He has also successfully handled litigation where the Illinois Appellate Court first interpreted waiver of subrogation language contained in standard construction contracts in a manner that protected the interests of local governments and their self-insured risk pools.

Since Mr. Donahue received an undergraduate Engineering degree before becoming an attorney, he is uniquely positioned to provide helpful insights into legal matters involving complex technical matters.