John Nicolay

John D. Nicolay is a partner at Nicolay & Dart LLC, a law firm specializing in Illinois governmental and regulatory representation.12 He has extensive experience in government affairs and legislative lobbying, with a focus on representing clients at various levels of Illinois government.

Professional Background

John Nicolay co-founded Nicolay & Dart LLC in 2005.2 Prior to establishing his own firm, he directed state governmental representation at Winston & Strawn LLP for seven years.2 His career in government affairs spans several decades, including roles such as:

• General counsel to Illinois Senate President James "Pate" Philip
• Legislative liaison for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office
• Assistant State's Attorney
• Legislative Aide to former Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson
• Special assistant to Governor James R. Thompson

Areas of Expertise

Nicolay specializes in:

• Government and regulatory law
• Legislative lobbying
• Agency rulemaking
• Government procurement
• Executive clemency
• Governmental ethics
• Zoning issues

Achievements and Recognition

John Nicolay has been recognized for his expertise in government affairs:

• Named a "Rising Star" in the Illinois Super Lawyers edition of Chicago Magazine in January 2008
• Consistently named a "Super Lawyer" in Government Affairs since February 2019, being the only state government lobbyist to receive this honor2

Professional Associations

Nicolay is actively involved in professional organizations:

• Past President and current Board of Directors member of The Advocacy Group, an international governmental affairs organization
• Vice-Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association's Government Lawyers Committee2

John Nicolay's LinkedIn profile can be found under the username john-nicolay-bb37411.3