Darren concentrates his practice on the state of Illinois and federal government relations, with a specific focus on lobbying the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield, Ill. With decades of experience in Illinois state government and in the private sector, he helps clients navigate a wide variety of public policy issues.
Prior to joining the Cozen O’Connor, Darren worked as the executive director of government affairs for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). Prior to his time at CME, he spent nine years assisting clients with government relations and lobbying at two AmLaw 100 law firms. He developed and managed a diverse client roster of Fortune 100 companies and assisted clients at both the state and federal level.
Prior to his time in the private sector, Darren served as the deputy general counsel and director of legislative affairs for the Illinois Housing Development Authority. He also served as an executive assistant and policy aide for former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan.
Darren earned his bachelor's degree from Indiana University and his law degree from Capital University Law and Graduate Center.