Greg Smith of Elrod Friedman LLP Appointed Village Attorney
Published on March 21, 2025
Greg Smith and the law firm Elrod Friedman LLP have been appointed Village Attorney for the Village of Oak Park following an action taken by the Board during its Regular Meeting on Tues., March 11.
Elrod Friedman LLP, a Chicago-based firm with a long roster of Illinois local government clients, has been providing the Village of Oak Park with legal support for a number of years, primarily to the Plan Commission and Historic Preservation Commission and on select litigation matters. Elrod Friedman has served as Interim Village Attorney at the direction of Village Manager Kevin J. Jackson since July 2024.
“The team at Elrod Friedman have been providing high-quality service for the Village of Oak Park for quite some time, but especially in the interim capacity over the past seven-plus months,” said Jackson. “Their professionalism, diligence and responsiveness have ensured that we have been able to continue operating at a high level. We are appreciative that the Board supported this action so that we can maintain the high standard and delivery of service from our Law Department.”
“Appointment as Village Attorney for the Village Oak Park is an honor,” said Smith. “We are appreciative of the opportunity to continue to assist the Village President, Board of Trustees, Village Manager, and Village staff in advancing the Village’s most pressing matters. As a longtime Village resident, I am keenly familiar with the Village’s priorities and needs. I look forward to continuing the Law Department’s tradition of excellence.”
Smith is an economic development, land use, and local government focused attorney. In addition to serving as Interim Village Attorney for Oak Park since July, he serves as Village Attorney for the Village of Berkeley, economic development counsel for the City of Aurora, and he supports many of the Firm’s public and private sector clients.
Smith graduated with a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and a juris doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is a member of the Illinois Municipal League Home Rule Attorneys Committee, the Illinois State Bar Association Local Government Law Section and Real Estate Law Section Councils, the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association, and the Chicago Bar Association’s Local Government Committee.
About Oak Park - The Village of Oak Park, located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving, multi-cultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit, high-quality public schools, and arts and cultural attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio and his acclaimed Unity Temple, which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
