Michael A. Santschi

Michael Santschi has been an associate with Spesia & Taylor since 2016 and focuses his practice on municipal law, industrial and commercial real estate, and land use and development projects. Michael is also experienced in municipal litigation and most other civil cases, including zoning cases, mandamus cases, and contract disputes.

Michael assists with Spesia & Taylor’s representation of the Villages of Bradley, Crete, Grant Park, Manhattan, Minooka, New Lenox, and Rockdale. Michael also assists with Spesia & Taylor’s representation of the Cities of Crest Hill and Kankakee. As a municipal attorney, Michael has been involved in the annexation, rezoning, and development of thousands of acres for the Firm’s rapidly-growing Villages and Cities, and has established and helped to administer tax increment financing (TIF) districts, special service areas, business development districts, and other special districts for the benefit of residential, industrial and commercial projects.

Among Michael’s transactions and cases are those related to:

Securing Lake Michigan Allocation Permits for several of the Firm’s clients, as well as assisting in the complex municipal actions and contract negotiations associated with the formation of a regional water commission.
Complex boundary litigation between various municipalities involving disputed jurisdiction over thousands of acres in high-growth areas.
Establishment and administration of TIF districts, special service areas, business development districts, and other special districts, including the negotiation and drafting of incentive and redevelopment agreements associated with the same.
Securing low-interest municipal loans (with and without principal forgiveness) from state-run programs such as the IEPA’s wastewater and drinking water, water pollution control, and public water supply loan programs.
Multiple municipal bond issuances for public safety and public infrastructure purposes.
Annexation and development of numerous solar farms and other green energy projects.
Litigation of suits challenging improper/arbitrary municipal denials of zoning requests and building permits.
Purchase and development of hundreds of acres of property for development as municipal recreational facilities, parks, and green-space.

Articles and Publications:

“Illinois Murder Jurisprudence in the Absence of Capital Punishment,” Michael A. Santschi, 13 Ave Maria L. Rev. 142 (2015).

“Something to Think About: Leveraging the CARES Act to Support Local Small Businesses in These Difficult Times,” Michael A. Santschi, JOURNAL OF THE ILLINOIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, Vol. 18, No. 5 (Sept./Oct. 2020).

“Monell Update: First Midwest Bank v. City of Chicago”, Michael A. Santschi, JOURNAL OF THE ILLINOIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, Vol. 19, No. 2 (Mar./Apr. 2021).

“New Service from ILGL: Pop-Up Groups (‘PUGS’),” Michael A. Santschi, JOURNAL OF THE ILLINOIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, Vol. 19, No. 5 (Sept./Oct. 2021).

“Something to Think About: Referenda and the 2022 Election Year”, Michael A. Santschi, JOURNAL OF THE ILLINOIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, Vol. 20, No. 2, (Mar./Apr. 2022).

“Something to Think About: Appropriations Versus the Budget System,” Michael A. Santschi, JOURNAL OF THE ILLINOIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, Vol. 21, No. 1 (Jan./Feb. 2023).

“First Amendment Concerns: Balancing Constitutional Rights and Public Order,” Aly N. Harms & Michael A. Santschi, JOURNAL OF THE ILLINOIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, Vol. 21, No. 4 (July/Aug. 2023).