New Leadership Announced At Evanston Law Department

EVANSTON, IL — Interim City Manager Erika Storlie announced new leadership at the Evanston Law Department last week following the departures of the city's top two attorneys in recent months.

Kelley Gandurski, executive director of the Chicago Department of Animal Care and Control, was appointed to become the city's chief legal counsel and oversee the law department as its next corporation counsel, according to a release. She will begin work in March.

Gandurski, 40, worked in the Chicago Law Department as assistant corporation counsel for two years before she was appointed in 2018 to head up the animal control agency, where she was responsible for its approximately 70 employees, budget and litigation.

"Kelley is a proven leader with extensive experience in both municipal and commercial litigation," Storlie said in a statement announcing Gandurski's appointment. "Her comprehensive understanding of the law and commitment to public service will make her a tremendous asset to the City of Evanston in this critical position."

Gandurski began her legal career in 2004 in the torts, municipal prosecutions and building and land use litigation divisions of the Chicago Law Department, according to city staff and an online resume. She then spent nearly a decade in private practice, with a focus on commercial and municipal litigation at the firms Sosin & Arnold and Nielsen, Zehe & Antas.

Former Corporation Counsel Michelle Masoncup's last day was Jan. 20, according to Storlie. She has since taken a position as general counsel at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Masoncup, 38, started with Evanston as deputy city attorney in 2010 and was named corporation counsel in June 2018.

"After serving the City of Evanston for 9 years, I wanted a change in scope and the state level position seems like a good fit," Masoncup said. "While I am enjoying taking this next step in my career, I miss working with the Evanston team on a variety of issues and grateful to have had the opportunity to work there for so many years."

Masoncup becomes the second Evanston Law Department alum to take a job in the administration of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Last year, former Deputy City Attorney Mario Treto was appointed director of real estate for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Storlie also announced a successor to former Deputy City Attorney Victoria Benson, who departed in December 2019 to return to the Chicago Law Department after a year working for Evanston, according to an online resume. She has become Chicago's deputy corporation counsel in the federal civil rights litigation division of its law department.

Deputy City Attorney Nicholas Cummings began working for Evanston last month. He will primarily be responsible for handling litigation for the city as the number two official in the law department, city staff announced.

"Nicholas brings years of valuable experience to the City of Evanston's Law Department," Storlie said. "He is a strategic thinker, a strong leader, and a tireless public advocate, and has already made a positive impact on the City. I'm pleased to have him as a member of our legal team."

Cummings, 41, was previously the chief attorney for tort litigation at the Chicago Transit Authority, where his work dealt with complex personal injury cases, according to a release. Before that, he worked as an assistant state's attorney in the civil actions bureau of the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

The Evanston Law Department has three assistant city attorneys — Hugh Debose, Alexandra Ruggie and Brian George — who report to Gandurski and Cummings.