Matthew C. Crowl

Partner

Matthew C. Crowl is a trial attorney. He has extensive experience in civil litigation, internal investigations, white collar crime matters, corporate compliance, and business disputes, as well as governmental policy and operations — achieved at Schiff Hardin and during more than 15 years of distinguished public service as a senior city official and federal prosecutor.

Mr. Crowl represents private and governmental clients in a variety of complex civil litigation matters, including class actions, securities litigation, civil RICO, and tax litigation. Mr. Crowl also represents corporations, government agencies, and individuals in government and corporate internal investigations, such as those involving stock option backdating, complex fraud, RICO, anti-trust, and subpoena compliance.

Publications

"Substantial Assistance Departures: Valuable Tool or Dangerous Weapon?" Federal Sentencing Reporter (July/August 1999)

"The Seventh Circuit: Innovative Interpretations Enhance the Discretion of the District Court," Federal Sentencing Reporter (March/April 1995)

Speeches and Presentations

"Restoring Representation to the House of Representatives: A Constitutional Amendment to Limit House Tenure," University of Chicago Law School Bradley Law and Government Fellowship (1998-1999)

Previous Experience

Prior to joining Schiff Hardin in 2006, Mr. Crowl was a senior member of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley's administration, promoted to First Deputy Chief of Staff in 2004 after serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety in 2003. He oversaw policies, programs and operations for the City of Chicago, including in the areas of economic and urban development, finance, human capital, infrastructure and public safety.

Mr. Crowl coordinated initiatives among the city's more than 40 commissioners and agencies, and he was the mayoral liaison to the city's Law Department and Inspector General's Office. Mr. Crowl helped develop and implement a city compliance and reform program that:

• Expanded the city's Inspector General's Office
• Passed whistleblower, false claims, false statements and qui tam legislation
• Developed new ethics training and accountability forums
• Helped reform the city's Department of Human Resources
• Created a city-wide compliance office

He was a member of the mayor's Finance and Audit Committees, and he helped devise and institute a city-wide performance management system. His duties also included coordinating crime and public safety policy and serving as a liaison for Mayor Daley to the Chicago Police Department, Fire Department, and Office of Emergency Management and Communication. Mr. Crowl developed and coordinated strategies with the Chicago Police Department, state and federal agencies, and community groups to successfully lower Chicago's homicide rate.

Earlier, Mr. Crowl served in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois from 1992 to 2003, rising to Deputy Chief and also acting as Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator. He investigated and prosecuted:

• White collar crime (including mail and wire, bank, bankruptcy, health care and credit card fraud; illegal insider trading; trademark infringement; embezzlement; and income tax violations)
• Public corruption
• Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) violations
• Street gang crime

Mr. Crowl tried 30 jury trials and argued more than a dozen cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. In addition to numerous awards, he received letters of commendation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs Service, and the U.S. Postal Investigation Service.

Prior to his law career, Mr. Crowl spent a year as an English instructor and consultant to the Kitazawa Corporation in Tokyo, Japan.

Awards and Honors

Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation — Joseph E. Stevens, Jr. Public Practice Award

Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation — Elmer B. Staats Public Service Award

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Outstanding Achievement Award

Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Outstanding Service Award

Drug Enforcement Administration Exceptional Service Award

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Crime Prevention Award

Cook County State's Attorneys Office Special Achievement Award

U.S. Department of Justice Special Achievement Award

Education

Clerkships

Honorable James F. Holderman, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (1989-1992)

Teaching Appointments

Mr. Crowl's teaching appointments have included:

• The University of Chicago Law School
• The John Marshall Law School
• International Association of Law Enforcement Analysts
• The Criminal Trial Advocacy Program of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legal Education

Professional Memberships

The Chicago American Inn of Court

Fellow, Leadership Greater Chicago

Harry S. Truman Scholar

American Bar Association

Chicago Bar Association

Federal Bar Association

Seventh Circuit Bar Association

The Economic Club of Chicago

The City Club of Chicago

 

Civic and Charitable Memberships

Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
Truman Scholars Association
          Founding Member