Michael J. Zalewski

Michael is a former member of the Illinois General Assembly, having served as Chairman of the House Revenue and Finance Committee from 2017 to 2023, where he helped lead the state’s successful fiscal comeback. As a lawmaker, Michael authored and led the passage of several important laws, including Illinois’ first Racketeering statute, a comprehensive rideshare law, and the Sports Wagering Act. He also facilitated the creation of an Independent Tax Tribunal to help repair the state’s sagging image with the business community.

At Taft, Michael leads the Chicago office’s legislative and government affairs practice, serving a broad matrix of clients across multiple forums. He has successfully led efforts to obtain important legislative achievements in gaming, energy, and local government.

Michael was born and raised on the southwest side of Chicago. He received his B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and returned to Chicago for his J.D. at the University of Chicago School of Law (formerly the John Marshall Law School). Michael began his legal career as a prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

• Represents client interests in a wide variety of municipal venues regarding compliance matters.
• Acts as counsel and parliamentarian for a not-for-profit committee involved in transportation issues.