Ex-Chicago Mayor Daley joins law firm

Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, who stepped down last month after serving six terms, has joined the law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP.

Daley, 69, will be of counsel and won't participate in any work at Katten involving the city or any of its affiliated agencies, the firm said today in a statement.

“I chose Katten for a number of reasons,” Daley said in the statement. “They have an innovative yet practical approach to helping clients accomplish their goals, and they are expanding globally.”

Daley was mayor of the third-largest U.S. city for 22 years beginning in 1989, following in the footsteps of his father Richard J. Daley, who was mayor from 1955 to 1976. Under the younger Daley's leadership, Chicago lured Boeing Corp. and United Continental Holdings Inc. corporate headquarters to the city and built Millennium Park.

“His advice and counsel will be invaluable,” Vincent Sergi, Katten's national managing partner, said in today's statement.

The University of Chicago said May 24 that Daley would join as a senior fellow for five years beginning July 1 and will coordinate a series of guest lectures at the Harris School of Public Policy Studies.

Founded in Chicago in 1974, Katten ranked 63rd on the trade magazine American Lawyer's 2011 list of large U.S. firms, with $443 million in gross revenue in 2010.