Leading Illinois Lobbyist Sydney Corryn Holman Returns to Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

CHICAGO – February 5, 2025 –Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the law firm Cozen O’Connor, is pleased to announce Sydney Corryn Holman — who has served as Chicago’s deputy mayor of Intergovernmental Affairs and, prior to that, deputy director of Legislative Affairs for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker — has returned to its highly esteemed government relations practice. Holman, who served as a legislative strategist and policy advocate for Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies for two years, returns to the firm as a senior principal and will work out of its Chicago office.

As deputy mayor of Intergovernmental Affairs, Holman was Mayor Brandon Johnson’s chief liaison to the Chicago City Council and all other levels of government. In that role, she was charged with developing and implementing strategies to promote and pass a wide range of legislation. While working for the governor of Illinois, she lobbied an aggressive agenda on pensions and business reform, gaming initiatives, higher education issues and health care accessibility. She was also a key driver behind an array of headline-generating issues pertaining to college accessibility, COVID related protocol, health care, and business enterprise programs related to procurement.

With nearly a decade of Illinois government service behind her, Holman’s background includes managing a team of liaisons across 27 state agencies; coordinating Illinois Department of Public Health briefings for legislators; providing intel and support for agency policy and legislative strategy development; and preparing agencies for stakeholder meetings and General Assembly public hearings.

“We’re thrilled that Sydney has chosen to return to us and once again play a leading role on our government relations team,” said Howard Schweitzer, CEO of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. “There is no greater testament to our firm and the team we built here, then when someone leaves for a position in government, does great things, and then returns. I’m very happy to welcome Sydney back.”

“With more than a decade of front-line public sector experience, Sydney brings to us the knowledge, diplomacy, and policy skills needed to represent and promote our client interests at every level of Illinois government,” said John F. Dunn, managing director, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. “As an experienced legislative strategist, she’s proven to be especially adept at working both sides of the aisle to find compromises that work for all the parties involved. Lobbyists of Sydney’s caliber are difficult to find, and I too am thrilled to welcome her back.”

Earlier in her career, Holman served as the legislative coordinator for State Legislative Affairs for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, advancing an agenda that included juvenile criminal justice reform, economic development, health care accessibility and revenue. Prior to that, she served as a research and appropriations analyst for the Office of the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, researching and writing bill analyses, drafting appropriations bills during the budget impasse, and collaborating with state agencies, stakeholders, and elected officials on tax and economic initiatives.

Throughout her career, Holman has also put aside time to mentor young minority staffers, helping them navigate government’s often complex bureaucratic landscape and develop the skills they need to fulfill their passion for public service.

“Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies is an excellent fit for me. I love working closely with clients to formulate legislative strategies that create beneficial partnerships and address their needs,” Holman said. “This often entails focusing closely on complex regulatory, policy, and legislative initiatives that can directly impact a client’s scope of business. The heart of my job is understanding a clients’ passions, struggles, and weaknesses and fostering a plan that strengthens stakeholder relationships. I’m very happy to be back.”

Holman earned her bachelor’s degree from Columbia College Chicago and holds an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

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. 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 and strategic communications. Its client base spans multiple industries, including health care, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 925 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 33 offices across two continents.

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