Agencies
Services
Legal Services
The Department of Central Management Services (CMS), Legal Services will provide proactive, timely, practical and innovative legal solutions and legal counsel that will meet or exceed the expectations of CMS and other state agencies who are our clients. By providing such legal counsel, Legal Services will continuously maximize the total value and efficiency of the services CMS provides to other agencies and the People of Illinois. As Legal Services achieves its mission, and because of the positive environment it creates and maintains, it will be widely recognized both as a highly desirable place to work and as a source of unparalleled talent and integrity both within Illinois State Government and throughout the State of Illinois.
CMS Legal Services operates like a mid-sized law firm with a managing partner (General Counsel) and several attorneys, including six Deputy General Counsels, each specializing in their own area of the law.
CoreyAnne Gulkewicz, General Counsel
Springfield Office
Stratton Office Building
313 S. 6th Street, 3rd Floor
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Christopher Hirschenberger
Public Service Administrator
Springfield
Chicago Office
555 West Monroe, 13th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60101
312-771-2616
Legal-Benefits
The Legal-Benefits team is comprised of attorneys who provide legal counsel to the CMS Bureau of Benefits in its administration of multiple state employee health and retirement programs. The team ensures the programs’ compliance with applicable laws and regulations; addresses individual issues of enrolled members; and assists with procurement, contract, and legislative drafting. Legal-Benefits also advises the CMS Risk Management Division on claims brought under the State employees’ workers’ compensation program and the State’s self-insured auto liability plan.
Joseph B. Chervin
Deputy General Counsel
Chicago
Legal-Personnel
The Legal-Personnel team is comprised of several attorneys, a Special Counsel, the EEO/AA Officer, and the Chief Security Officer. The team provides all agencies with legal advice regarding the Personnel Code, the Personnel Rules, and various federal and state employment laws. In addition, Legal-Personnel represents agencies in matters before the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and responds to inquiries from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Illinois Department of Labor, and the U. S. Department of Justice.
Dina M. Ninfo
Special Counsel
Chicago
Francine Bailey
Senior Counsel
Chicago
Laniya Moore
Counsel
Chicago
Daniel Lanterman
Counsel
Springfield
Joe Gillespie
Chief Security Officer
Springfield
Legal-Property Management
The Legal-Property Management team handling State of Illinois real estate matters is comprised of attorneys who deal with a wide variety of situations involving the State’s extensive portfolio of owned and leased properties, including (1) the leasing of office space and the purchase of vacant land and existing buildings to meet the needs of dozens of State agencies, Boards and commissions, (2) the sale of properties determined to be “surplus” that are slated for disposition, and (3) the documentation of intergovernmental transfers and operational sharing of real estate interests involving counties, townships, municipalities, school districts, and special taxation districts.
Vince Pine
Senior Counsel
Chicago
Legal-Bureau of Strategic Sourcing
The Legal-Procurement team provides legal advice and assistance for State purchasing staff to ensure statutory and regulatory compliance, particularly those purchases subject to the Illinois Procurement Code and associated statutes and rules. The team primarily provides services to CMS's Bureau of Strategic Sourcing; however, it also provides services to the Governor's Office and agencies under the Governor's authority on an as-needed basis.
Vincent Obah
Senior Counsel
Chicago
Elizabeth Hynek
Counsel
Springfield
Legal-Financial and Administrative Services
The Legal-Administration and Finance team provides advice and counsel to the Bureaus of Administrative Services, Internal Audit and Administrative Hearings as well as the Offices of Legislative Affairs, Finance and Management (OFM), Communication and Information (IOCI) and the Director’s Office. The team is comprised of attorneys and support staff and is responsible for the coordination of agency administrative rulemakings as well as Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and ethics compliance.
Sean Coombe
Deputy General Counsel
Springfield
Lindsay Bentivegna
Senior Counsel and Ethics Officer
Springfield
Legal-Labor Relations
The Legal-Labor Relations team provides litigation support for one of the busiest labor relations departments in the country. The team litigates arbitrations, negotiates collective bargaining agreements, interprets the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, represents State agencies under the Governor’s Office before the State Labor Board, and advises labor administrators across the State on how to effectively integrate contract terms with state and federal law.
James L. Daniels
Deputy General Counsel
Springfield
Samantha Long
Senior Counsel
Springfield
Thomas Allen
Counsel
Chicago
Thomas Haughey
Counsel
Chicago
Robert Hopkins
Counsel
Springfield