a joint project of The Chicago Bar Foundation and Public Interest Law Initiative

Mary Ann O’Connor

Assistant General Counsel

JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA

Mary Ann O’Connor has been a Board Member of the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), since July, 1995, and was the chair of PILI’s Pro Bono Initiative from its inception in 1998 until 2004, when she became the President of the PILI Board.   Through her leadership, Mary Ann has encouraged members of law firms and in-house legal departments to work together on pro bono projects.  As a direct result of her efforts, a number of Chicago-area law firms and in-house departments have greatly increased their pro bono contribution by pairing on pro bono projects, helping one another develop new pro bono programs, and resolving obstacles to increased pro bono work.

Ms. O’Connor received her A.B. in 1977 from the College of the Holy Cross.  Upon receiving her law degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1980, she became an associate in the commercial lending practice of Sidley & Austin.  In 1984, Ms. O’Connor went to work for The First National Bank of Chicago, now JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA.  She has practiced in a number of different areas of law over the years, and at present, her principal area of practice is private banking and lending transactions.

Throughout her twenty-six years of practice, Ms. O’Connor has been actively involved in pro bono legal work and community service.   Always an advocate for involving non-litigators in pro bono work, Ms. O’Connor has provided pro bono legal services to clients at Centro Romero, where she counseled clients on general contract questions, reviewed leases, and provided legal advice on non-litigation matters. As a board member for the Organization for the NorthEast, Ms. O’Connor has volunteered her legal expertise on such matters as drafting by-laws and reviewing leases. Ms. O’Connor has also volunteered for the Lakeview Tenants Council, and has represented persons in deportation proceedings with the Midwest Immigrant and Human Rights Center.

Ms. O’Connor was honored for her pro bono work and her work with PILI when she was selected in February, 2001 to receive the Distinguished Legal Service Award, an award co-sponsored by LEXIS-NEXIS and the Corporate Legal Times.  In August, 2001, the Chicago Bar Foundation presented Ms. O’Connor with their award for Outstanding Corporate Counsel and in 2002, Ms. O'Connor received the American Bar Association Business Law Section National Public Service Award. Additionally, as a board member for Organization of the NorthEast, Ms. O’Connor was active in developing the role of the business members of that organization.  She was a member of the local and national committees of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development for 13 years, and was a board member of Voice of the People from 1991 through 1997.  Ms. O’Connor spends well over 100 hours per year on her pro bono commitments, community service activities, and work for PILI.