Michael Forde

Board Member

Michael Forde is the managing partner of Forde & O’Meara LLP, a boutique law firm in Chicago, where his practice focuses on complex commercial litigation. He was previously a partner at Mayer Brown LLP, where he co-chaired that firm’s Commercial Litigation practice.  From 2011-19, he served as Chairman of the Illinois International Port District, the City-State agency that oversees the Port of Chicago.  During his tenure, the Port District returned to profitability and reduced its long-term debt by 70%.  The District also brought in a private golf management company to oversee its Harborside golf facilities, resulting in a large financial windfall for the Port District.  Forde was also a member of Governor-Elect J.B. Pritkzer’s Transition Committee on Capital & Infrastructure.

Forde has also served Chief Legal Counsel in the Illinois Comptroller’s office, Law Clerk to the Honorable Mary Ann G. McMorrow of the Illinois Supreme Court and as Law Clerk to the Honorable Charles P. Kocoras of the United States Northern District Court of Illinois.   He is a past board member at St. Xavier University and at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.  He is currently a member of the Development Committee at St. Ignatius College Prep and a member of the Economic Club of Chicago.  He has an A.B. (Economics and Government) and J.D. from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.