Jack Guthman
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Jack Guthman's practice encompasses a wide range of activity before state and local boards, commissions, the Illinois General Assembly, and the U.S. Congress. During his career, he has represented clients in hundreds of negotiations with and public hearings before government bodies. His experience includes 17 years as a member of the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals, the last 12 of those years as its Chairman.
Although his practice is broad-ranging, a substantial portion of his work has consisted of representing developers requiring zoning changes and other relief, which is a precondition to the development process. Mr. Guthman has acted as zoning counsel for the developers of more than 40 million square feet of major Chicago properties. Projects which gained approval under Mr. Guthman's leadership include substantial developments such as Dearborn Park and Cityfront Center; unique situations such as the Miglin-Beitler Tower, which, when proposed, was to be the world's tallest building; and numerous other mixed-use, commercial, and residential buildings.
Among his more specialized assignments were representation of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; the Museum of Science and Industry; the Chicago Orchestral Association; Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies; and Columbia College Chicago's Media Production Center in the zoning and landmarks processes relating to their new construction and expansion of existing facilities. He was responsible for gaining a Planned Development Ordinance for Chicago's Millennium Park and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, as well as the approvals required by the Chicago Children's Museum in its efforts to relocate to Millennium Park.
The scope of Mr. Guthman's activities include landmark, vacation, dedication and easement, traffic and transportation, water and sewer, aviation, and legislative matters as they relate to development in every sector of Chicago and in municipalities throughout the metropolitan area. Further, Mr. Guthman has been responsible for the representation of public bodies, including the Chicago World's Fair-1992 Corporation and later the Chicago World's Fair-1992 Authority, the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority.
Mr. Guthman has also spearheaded a host of pro bono assignments in the land use area on behalf of a wide array of nonprofit institutions. He serves on the boards or advisory committees of numerous civic, arts, and philanthropic institutions, and is currently a MCA Chicago trustee.
