Paul J. Gaynor

P 312.508.5590 @ gaynor@grpls.com

Paul Gaynor has nearly 30 years of experience in the legislative, policymaking, and litigation arenas, including extensive experience working with private, nonprofit, and governmental constituencies to build consensus, broker resolutions and solve problems. Prior to launching G&R Public Law and Strategies, Gaynor served as Chief of the Public Interest Division for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. As Chief of the Public Interest Division, the hub of the Office of the Attorney General’s affirmative initiatives and enforcement efforts, Paul supervised approximately 50 Assistant Attorneys General and staff who comprised the Special Litigation, Public Utilities, Tobacco Enforcement, Antitrust, Civil Rights, and Disability Rights Bureaus. After 10 years of service, Paul left the Office of the Attorney General to start G&R Public Law & Strategies. During his time with General Madigan, Paul negotiated settlements that provided over $500 million dollars to the State of Illinois and its citizens. He worked on a broad range of substantive legislative and policymaking issues including healthcare, public utilities, false claims, and gaming. Gaynor represented the State of Illinois in matters tried before federal and state courts and state administrative bodies. Before joining the Attorney General’s office, Gaynor was a Senior Attorney at the Environmental Law and Policy Center (“ELPC”) where he led ELPC’s Midwest Transportation and Land Use Project and was Project Manager of ELPC’s Energy Efficient Building Act project. Prior to joining ELPC, Paul was a partner in the Bankruptcy and Litigation Departments in a Chicago law firm representing debtor businesses, secured and unsecured creditors of financially troubled entities, creditors’ committees, and purchasers of assets in bankruptcy.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

LEGISLATION & POLICY INITIATIVES

Paul Gaynor served as General Madigan’s lead representative for legislative and policy initiatives, working with private business entities, government agencies, elected officials, and non-governmental organizations on the following subjects:

• Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act, also known as the “Smart Grid Law” (2011)

• Illinois Natural Gas Consumer, Safety & Reliability Act (2013)

• Illinois Telecommunications Act (2010 and 2013)

• Illinois Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (2008)

• The investigation of Illinois hospital pricing and “charity care” policies and practices

• Co-chaired the Office of the Illinois Attorney General’s Hospital Pricing and Charity Care Task Force

• Illinois Attorney General’s designee on the Illinois Task Force on Health Planning Reform, established by the Illinois General Assembly to restructure the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board

• Illinois Fair Patient Billing Act(2007)

• Illinois Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act (2008)

• “Charity care” legislation regarding property and sales tax exemptions for not-for-profit hospitals (2013)

• Illinois False Claims Act (2010)

• State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (2011)

• Advised the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission on the development of  Administrative Rules for the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENTS/MEDIATIONS

• Lead negotiator on behalf of State of Illinois and four other states in securities fraud dispute with Oppenheimer Funds, Inc., which led to a successful resolution and recovery of over $77 million for Illinois’ Bright Start college savings program investors

• Head mediator in successful resolution of dispute involving public bodies, citizen groups, and Navistar International relating to the location of Navistar’s international headquarters

• Lead attorney in Burr Oak Cemetery matter. Facilitated appointment of independent chief operating officer following allegations of gross mismanagement and fraud

• Led successful effort to stop the Illinois International Port District from building an environmentally harmful small motor boat marina in Lake Calumet

• Developed and led successful project in concert with environmental organizations to halt the United States Forest Service’s plans to clear-cut trees in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Northern Wisconsin

LITIGATION

• Lead trial counsel, Illinois Gaming Board v. Emerald Casino, which resulted in the successful revocation of Emerald Casino’s license due to owners’ violation of gaming integrity laws

• Counsel and supervisor, U.S. and State of Illinois ex rel. Tyson v. Amerigroup, the largest false claims judgment in the history of the false claims act, resulting in a $220 million recovery for Illinois Medicaid

• Counsel, People of the State of Illinois v. Governor Rod Blagojevich, action in the Illinois Supreme Court to seek former Governor’s temporary removal

• Counsel, Provena Covenant, et. al. v. Illinois Department of Revenue, the Illinois Supreme Court decision affirming revocation of hospital’s non-profit tax exempt status for failure to provide sufficient charity care

• Lead counsel, People of the State of Illinois v. Peoples Energy Corporation, an Enron-related fraud in which Peoples Energy agreed to provide refunds and other benefits to ratepayers worth $196 million

• Co-lead counsel, People of the State of Illinois v. Brown & Williamson, in which B&W agreed to pay $1.5 million for violating the prohibition on marketing cigarettes to children

• Supervised all ethics matters referred to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General by the Illinois Executive Inspector General.

• Supervised the State of Illinois’ recent successful arbitration against major tobacco companies under the Master Settlement Agreement which netted the State $50 million

• Co-Counsel, Bank of America v. 203 North LaSalle Street Partnership, bankruptcy case in the United States Supreme Court

COMMUNICATIONS

Paul has extensive experience developing and managing communications strategies. On behalf of the Attorney General, Paul has appeared as a guest on Chicago Tonight, regularly responded to media inquiries, and communicated with local editorial boards.  Paul was responsible for drafting press releases and appearing at press conferences.

EDUCATION

Paul earned his B.A., with distinction, in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin in 1985 and his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1990.

He has completed Northwestern University’s Mediation Skills Training Program (40hr Certificate).

PERSONAL

Paul, a 2004 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, serves on the board of the American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin and served on the Leadership Greater Chicago Alumni Board.  Paul was the recipient of Public Justice 2007 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award for his work on United States ex rel. Tyson v. Amerigroup Corporation.  Paul is an avid cyclist, backcountry skier, and hiker. Paul and his wife, Audrey, are the proud parents of Noah, a drama graduate of  The Julliard School, and Julia, a University of Michigan graduate.  Paul and Audrey are also the owners and operators of White Oak Savanna Events Farm and Sanctuary, located in Dodgeville, Wisconsin.