Benesch is pleased to announce that partners Juan Morado Jr. and Bob Morgan have been appointed by Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson to serve on his “Chicago for the People” transition team.
Morado joins the Health & Human Services subcommittee; Morgan is a member of the subcommittee focused on Environmental Justice.
“As a firm, we value public service and civic engagement,” said Benesch Chicago Partner-in-Charge Manish Mehta. “It’s an exciting time in Chicago, and we’re deeply proud to see our partners involved in helping set the agenda for the city’s future.”
Morado and Morgan join appointees from across Chicago’s business community, the public sector and policy advocates from a broad range of backgrounds who will issue reports in 11 key areas, from Arts & Culture to Workers’ Rights, that will inform the policies of the incoming Johnson administration.
“Healthy communities are essential for a thriving city,” said Morado, whose practice includes working with clients to establish new hospitals, surgery centers and nursing homes through Illinois’ regulatory Certificate of Need (CON) process. “I’m proud to have the opportunity to help guide policies that will improve access to quality care and strengthen Chicago’s position as a national center of excellence for the healthcare and biotechnology industries.”
A partner in the Healthcare+ practice group and co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Morado advises hospitals, health systems, physician groups, consulting firms, pharmacies and other clients, helping them to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. He previously served as General Counsel to the Health Facilities and Services Review Board of the State of Illinois.
Morgan, too, is a partner in the Healthcare+ practice, applying his considerable regulatory and policy experience to counseling clients in the cannabis industry and other emerging sectors. He is also a member of the Illinois House of Representatives and previously served as the first statewide project coordinator for the State of Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, developing and implementing the state’s regulatory framework for the use of cannabis by eligible patients.
“Bringing multiple stakeholders to the table and maintaining a focus on equity have been central to Illinois’ approach to cannabis legalization,” Morgan said. “We can take a similar approach to environmental justice initiatives, balancing the needs of communities and industry to advance economic growth in a healthy, sustainable way with clear and practical regulations based on best practices and solid science.”
The 11 transition subcommittees are expected to issue their reports after Johnson takes office on May 15.