Overview

Thomas P. Bayer graduated from DePaul University in 1980 with highest honors and received a B.A. degree. He received his J.D. degree with honors from DePaul University College of Law in June of 1983 where he graduated number one in his class. While attending DePaul University College of Law, he received three awards for excellence in courses taken, two awards for general outstanding scholastic achievement and was a member of the research staff for the DePaul Law Review. He has been admitted to the bar of the State of Illinois and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois and is a member of the Illinois, DuPage County and Chicago Bar Associations.

He is co-author of the following publications: Zoning Controls – Regulating Land Use, and Governmental Financing of Development, Illinois Land Use Law, published by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education; Special Assessments, Special Service Areas and Business Districts, and Finance and Taxation, Illinois Municipal Law, published by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education; Financing Municipal Improvements, a handbook published by the Illinois Municipal League; Manual on Conflict of Interests and Liability of Illinois Elected Municipal Officials, a handbook published by the Illinois Municipal League; Municipal Forms of Government, a handbook published by the Illinois Municipal League; Home Rule vs. Non-Home Rule Status (What’s Best For Your Municipality), a handbook published by the Illinois Municipal League; Liquor Licensing and Regulation, a handbook published by the Illinois Municipal League; and The Sunshine Laws – Open Meetings and Freedom of Information Acts, a handbook published by the Illinois Municipal League. 

Mr. Bayer currently serves on the Revenue and Taxation Policy Committee that advises the Illinois Municipal League’s Legislative Committee. He has spoken to various groups, including the Illinois Tax Increment Association, the Illinois Municipal League’s Annual Conference and Newly Elected Officials Conference, the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association Annual Conference, the Government Finance Officers Association, and Northern Illinois University’s Civic Leadership Academy, on a wide range of municipal law topics and is currently working on a wide variety of municipal law matters, including numerous tax increment financing, special assessment, special service area, business district and economic development projects, areas of the law in which he specializes.

Mr. Bayer was selected as one of the leading lawyers in Illinois in the government related field as reported in Crain’s Chicago; as one of the Illinois Super Lawyers for 2007 and 2008; as a Leading Lawyer for 2008 through 2020, in the governmental category; was awarded the “Marvin J. Glink Private Practice Local Government Award” by the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) at IMLA’s 2017 Annual Conference; and was awarded the “Robert J. Mangler Distinguished Service Award for Lifetime Achievement” by the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association (ILGL) at ILGL’s 2022 Annual Conference.  Mr. Bayer has served as the Municipal Attorney, Assistant Municipal Attorney or Municipal Prosecutor for several suburbs in the Chicago area. In addition, Mr. Bayer serves as Special Counsel for a number of municipalities in Northern Illinois relative to special assessment, special service area, tax increment financing, and economic development projects.