Mayor Brandon Johnson’s corporation counsel, Mary Richardson-Lowry, announced her retirement from City Hall, marking another shift in his administration. Richardson-Lowry, with experience dating back to Mayor Richard M. Daley, has led the city’s legal department for more than three years.
Johnson has nominated Renee Hatcher, a law professor and director at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic, to succeed her. The City Council will need to approve Hatcher’s nomination. Johnson expressed gratitude for Richardson-Lowry’s work, stating, “Mary has been a trusted partner and a key voice at my side throughout my tenure as Mayor.”
“She has helped guide us through challenging legal issues while staying committed to public service and protecting Chicago,” Johnson added.
Hatcher has contributed to the city’s Community Wealth Building Advisory Committee and a subcommittee for economic equity. “Throughout my career, I have partnered with communities to use the law to build economic power, strengthen neighborhoods, and advance justice,” Hatcher noted in a statement.
Under Richardson-Lowry’s guidance, the city reached its first “global settlement” to resolve police misconduct lawsuits, an initiative she highlighted as potentially saving Chicago over $400 million. She stated, “We spent a lot of years kicking cans down the road. We cannot carry that burden further.”
Her department also played a significant role in opposition to Trump administration policies. Richardson-Lowry led lawsuits challenging federal immigration surges and funding cuts. She was also instrumental in pressuring gun manufacturer Glock to halt models easily modifiable to automatic weapons, celebrating their decision to discontinue those models.
Richardson-Lowry began in the city’s Law Department and served as the Department of Buildings commissioner before entering private practice and later returning under Johnson. Reflecting on her tenure, she said, “My goal was not just to manage challenges but to strengthen the department for the future.”
Her departure coincides with other changes in Johnson’s team. Recently, Tiheta L. Hinton was appointed to lead Human Resources, and JuanPablo Prieto became Commissioner of Fleet and Facility Management. Other notable exits include communications director Erin Connelly, budget director Annette Guzman, acting CFO Steven Mahr, public health chief Dr. Olusimbo Ige, and business affairs head Ivan Capifali.
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