Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Patrick Lespinasse as principal.
Please join us in welcoming Donovan Pepper to Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies as a principal & director of national strategic partnerships in our Chicago office!
Donovan brings over 20 years of national government relations experience to the firm, having led advocacy, civic engagement, and strategic partnership efforts across municipal, county, and state governments in all 50 states for a Fortune 100 company and other corporations and state trade associations.
In his new role, Donovan will strengthen the firm’s relationships with key state and local organizations across the country and expand our national network of partnerships. Read the press release here.
“Illinois lawmakers are sending a bill to Gov. JB Pritzker that makes a pair of changes to Illinois’ tax code in response to new federal tax provisions that could reduce state revenue,” by Capitol News Illinois.
“The Regional Transportation Authority on Tuesday said it is no longer requiring the CTA, Metra and Pace to implement 10% fare increases next year, following the passage last week of a historic transit funding package in the General Assembly,” by the Chicago Sun Times.
“Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs won his first statewide race in 2014 by fewer than 10,000 votes against his Republican opponent. More than a decade later, Frerichs — at least for now — is unopposed for a fourth term as the state’s chief investment officer,” by Capitol News Illinois.
“Three weeks after former House Speaker Michael Madigan reported to federal prison, his lawyers have filed a long-awaited appeal to overturn his corruption conviction, arguing the prosecution flouted recent Supreme Court rulings reining in the use of the bribery and fraud statutes and instead stretched the laws ‘past their breaking points,’” by the Chicago Tribune.
“Races for a pair of obscure but influential West Side political posts will pit powerful Chicago Democrats against each other, but they won’t include a head-to-head matchup between the Illinois General Assembly’s top legislative leaders,” by the Chicago Sun Times.
“A group of Chicago aldermen on Monday scheduled a rare special City Council meeting in an effort to push Mayor Brandon Johnson to further consider budget cuts. The group is demanding the Ernst & Young consultants hired by Johnson’s administration to create a budget report testify during the meeting next Monday about their findings,” by the Chicago Tribune.
“Despite prodding from some on the City Council, Ciere Boatright, commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development, refused to put an inch of distance between herself and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to declare over a $1 billion TIF surplus that will help the city’s budget and send $552 million to Chicago Public Schools,” by Crain’s Chicago Business.
“Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to spend $50 million to build a new Greyhound station bankrolled over the next two years by funds siphoned from the Canal-Congress tax increment financing district, a surprise plan that blindsided the local alderperson,” by the Chicago Sun Times.
“Facing the elimination of dozens of currently vacant positions and other cuts, Chicago librarians and some alderpeople are urging Mayor Brandon Johnson to allocate more funding in next year’s budget to the city’s 81 library branches,” by Block Club Chicago.
“Mayor Brandon Johnson’s arts and culture leader resigned amid an investigation into allegations that she harassed staffers, records obtained by the Tribune show,” by the Chicago Tribune.
President Trump has taken a more direct interest in influencing the private sector in his second term, as his administration opportunistically pursues deals aimed primarily in industries deemed strategic to competing with China.
The Trump administration and Congress are both searching for ways to lower the cost of housing at a time when mortgage rates and the cost of living are near the top of voters’ list of concerns.
While AI is all the rage now, quantum technology is thought to be the next frontier and the federal government is looking to promote US competitiveness in this domain. Read the Cozen Currents here.
All eyes are on Virginia. As the election nears, our political insiders unpack the campaigns, candidates, and key issues driving the race—and what these contests could reveal about the nation’s political trajectory heading into 2026. Featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Julia Hammond, and Heidi Hertz, along with Jerry Kilgore, former Virginia Attorney General and co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s state attorneys general practice. Listen here.
Legislative Analyst
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.
December 11, 2025
December 11, 2025
December 10, 2025
