Lisa Duarte joins Cornerstone Government Affairs in Chicago
US-based Cornerstone Government Affairs has hired Lisa Duarte as Vice President. Duarte joins the firm from the Office of the Mayor for the City of Chicago, where she was the Chief of Staff to the Mayor's Economic Council.
Prior to joining Cornerstone Government Affairs, Lisa Duarte worked as the Chief of Staff to the Mayor's Economic Council at the Office of the Mayor for the City of Chicago. In the role, Duarte supported the rollout of the Mayor’s economic agenda focusing on job growth, neighbourhood development, infrastructure, and City finances. Concurrently, Duarte was the Legislative Counsel to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, providing the office with legislative counsel regarding all State legislative matters. Duarte started her career as an Associate Attorney for a Chicago, Illinois, based boutique law firm, where she represented clients in the areas of employment law, commercial litigation, construction law, and zoning and land use.
Duarte, who was born and raised in Chicago, holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Michigan State University, and a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law.
In her new role, as Vice President at Cornerstone Government Affairs, Duarte will bring her experience at the top of local government to the firm’s clients across the region, as well as support the firm’s growing regional footprint. Founded in 2002, Cornerstone Government Affairs currently has 9 offices across the US, hosting the firm’s more than 50 senior professionals. Its Chicago hub opened its door in 2012.
“The addition of Lisa to our Chicago team will prove invaluable to our clients,” says Michael Forde, Senior Consultant at the firm. “Her ability to assist us both with policymakers locally and in Springfield will significantly strengthen our reach and depth.”
Duarte says that she is “delighted” to join Cornerstone and that she looks forward to help grow the firm in Chicago and Springfield. She adds: “Their reputation and effectiveness, and their focus on teamwork, was exactly what I was looking for as I contemplated moving to the private sector.”
