Tressler attorneys John M. O’Driscoll, Andrew S. Paine, James J. Hess, Megan M. Olson, Erik R. Peck, and Katie E. Ngo are featured authors in various chapters of the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE’s) Special Districts handbook, as referenced in the June Edition of Flashpoints. Flashpoints is the Institute’s monthly e-newsletter featuring the latest updates to the law and discussions of trending topics across several popular practice areas. Congratulations to all! 

About the 2026 Special Districts Handbook

Parks, libraries, sanitation, public water — special districts are responsible for many of the essential services and amenities that make everyday life possible in Illinois. This practice guide, now in print for nearly 50 years, helps practitioners and their clients navigate it all with 10 chapters that cover special districts handling everything from cemetery maintenance and fire protection to drainage, hospitals, and more. The 2026 edition includes updates on legislative changes affecting license fees paid by foreign fire insurance firms, reapportionment plans for certain forest preserve districts, and restrictions on back-billing utility customers under the newly effective Local Government Billing Act. This volume also features dozens of editable forms and sample documents for attorneys to use in their practice.

Chapter 1 — General Considerations
John M. O’Driscoll, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook, James J. Hess, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook

Chapter 2 — Cemetery Maintenance Districts
John M. O’Driscoll, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook, James J. Hess, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook

Chapter 3 — Drainage Districts
John M. O’Driscoll, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook, Erik R. Peck, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook

Chapter 5 — Forest Preserve Districts
John M. O’Driscoll, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook, James J. Hess, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook, Megan M. Olson, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook

Chapter 8 — Park Districts
John M. O’Driscoll, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook, Andrew S. Paine, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook

Chapter 10 — Hospital Districts
Katie E. Ngo, Tressler LLP, Bolingbrook

About Tressler’s Local Government Attorneys

John is a partner and Co-Chair of Tressler’s Local Government Law practice. His practice includes providing general counsel services to local governmental bodies such as cities and villages, library districts and libraries, school districts, and park districts. John handles a wide variety of issues such as day-to-day operations, contract negotiations and breaches, construction terms, employment issues, tort liability defense, referenda items, negotiations, ordinance drafting and violations, “sunshine laws” compliance, and other general counsel items.

Andrew is a partner and Co-Chair of Tressler’s Local Government Law practice. He concentrates his practice in the representation of Illinois park districts, municipalities, and other governmental entities in transactional and litigation-related matters. Andrew has extensive experience in a broad array of local government matters, including real estate, land use, and zoning, economic development, capital development, and construction, annexation, boundary disputes, and board governance, as well as drafting and negotiating leases, licenses, easements, and intergovernmental agreements.

Erik concentrates his practice primarily on the representation of local governments as general counsel, prosecutor, and administrative hearing officer. He offers advice on employment matters, land use, construction, contract review, vendor terms, and a variety of other daily issues. Additionally, in representing various municipal bodies, he has had extensive experience in local election matters, from being a member of the electoral board, representing the electoral board, as well as representing candidates before electoral boards. He is also a past author of the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education on Election Law.

Jim is an experienced attorney in Tressler’s Local Government Practice Group. He represents various local government entities, primarily focusing on day-to-day operations for cities, villages, fire protection districts, park districts, and library districts. Jim’s practice includes handling economic development, intergovernmental agreements, contract negotiations, Tax Increment Financing, administrative proceedings, demolition issues, employment, prosecutions, Freedom of Information Act matters, ethics, and land use matters.

Megan focuses her practice on serving cities, villages, townships, school districts, library districts, road districts, park districts, and other local government entities. In addition to providing general counsel, she provides guidance on establishing and drafting new ordinances and policies, contract negotiations, building and code enforcement, administrative proceedings, Freedom of Information Act compliance, and intergovernmental agreements. Megan also has experience in eminent domain, land use, development, and public water supply matters.

Katie concentrates her practice in school law, traditional labor law, employee relations, and employment discrimination law for public sector clients. Katie counsels clients on all employment matters such as FMLA, ADA, discrimination claims, employee discipline and investigations, collective bargaining, policy development, grievances, and other day-to-day operations issues such as bidding of public contracts, Open Meetings Act (OMA), contract negotiations, and the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

About IICLE

The Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) was formed to provide Illinois attorneys with the knowledge and resources they need to effectively serve their clients for the ultimate benefit of the public. Through a robust catalog consisting of continuing legal education programs, “how-to” focused publications, and other resources developed with experienced attorney contributors, IICLE delivers practical and reliable content concentrating on the ever-evolving nature of the practice of Illinois law. Guided by a commitment to professional development, IICLE stands as a trusted resource for Illinois lawyers.

About Tressler LLP

Tressler has one of the most experienced and multi-faceted government law practices in Illinois. As local governments are faced with increasingly complex regulatory matters and ever-growing exposure to litigation, we offer a diverse array of talent to serve our clients’ needs. From our Chicago and Bolingbrook offices, our seasoned team is uniquely positioned to represent municipalities, cities, villages, park districts, school districts, and other public entities throughout northern and central Illinois, including Lake, Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Grundy counties.

Tressler has significant talent and experience in critical areas of law that support our government law practice. These include lawyers who focus their practices on bankruptcy, construction/surety litigation, environmental law, insurance coverage, intellectual property, complex real estate and construction litigation, among others.

For more information, please visit www.tresslerllp.com.