Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez announced the appointment of the new Cook County State’s Attorney – Civil Actions Bureau Chief – a private-sector attorney, who has substantial and extensive years of experience in civil and municipal litigations.
Daniel F. Gallagher, 65, took the oath of office, and has been sworn in as the new Chief of the Civil Actions Bureau, and becoming responsible for overseeing and managing a significant division in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, and handling civil litigations and legal matters for the County, as well as its employees and county officeholders.
State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez welcomes Mr. Gallagher. “I am very pleased to welcome Dan Gallagher to this very important leadership role in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Dan brings a wealth of experience in civil law that will serve this office and all of Cook County government extremely well,” State’s Attorney Alvarez said.
Dan Gallagher is a graduate of both the University of Illinois and the University of Illinois College of Law. Mr. Gallagher was admitted to legal practice in 1973 and had been serving in the field of private legal practice for nearly 40 years.
In his years of service to the State of Illinois, Mr. Gallagher has tried over 75 cases that are a verdict to both the state and federal courts. Furthermore, his experience includes arguing a variety of appeals in several courts, including the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals. Prior to joining the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Dan Gallagher has served 25 years as a prosecutor at the Chicago Law Firm of Querrey and Harrow, with his legal practice focusing on trial work, specializing on commercial litigation, civil rights cases, and contract litigation.
Mr. Gallagher is not only a veteran litigator, but is also an active member of the Chicago Bar Association, where he was a part of both the Finance Committee and the Judicial Evaluation Committee, and served as the Chair of the International Continuing Legal Education Committee. Moreover, Dan Gallagher remains to be an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel.
As the incumbent Chief of the Civil Actions Bureau, Mr. Gallagher serves the public interest in numerous ways. The Civil Actions Bureau is divided into three majors. The Special Litigation Division – consisting of the Medical Litigation Section, the Civil Rights/Torts Litigation Section, and the Labor and Employment Section; The Advice, Business, and Complex Litigation Division – consisting of the Municipal Litigation Section, the Worker’s Compensation Section, the Complex Litigation Section, and the Real Estate Taxation Section; The Child Support Services Division – representing the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) in the Cook County, which aims to help parents receive child support and enforces obligations owed by non-custodial parents to their children.
The Civil Action Bureau is responsible for representing Cook County in civil litigations. Additionally, the Bureau represents the citizens of Cook County, provide legal advice and defends the County Officeholders, as well as to its employees, in lawsuits brought on their behalf. On top of that, the Bureau handles cases involving the County and civil actions brought to collect funds owed for taxes and fees.
As the incumbent Chief of the Civil Actions Bureau, Daniel F. Gallagher manages and oversees over 120 attorneys, and supervises all civil litigations brought to the Bureau, including those that require a representation of the Cook County in lawsuits. The Bureau further represents county agencies and provides legal advice to the County Board.
Updated: August 25, 2020