Ruth Alderman Schlossberg

Since 2003, Ruth Alderman Schlossberg has used a keen grasp of local government law and management to help Illinois public officials govern more efficiently and cost-effectively. Schlossberg focuses her practice in McHenry and Lake counties, although she is a trusted counselor for public and private clients of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle across the state. She excels at discovering ways to tackle many of the complexities that often encumber entrepreneurial projects and workouts, and she helps clients develop efficient and sustainable solutions.

Schlossberg is thoroughly familiar with all of the recently rewritten provisions of the Illinois “sunshine laws” — the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA). With confidence in her advice, elected officials and government administrators can operate with greater certainty, thus streamlining their work and avoiding unfunded expenses.

With Richard G. Flood, Schlossberg co-authored the 2009 book Congratulations! You’ve Been Elected: Now What Do You Do? A Practical Guide to Local Government. The guide, published by the Illinois Municipal League, offers local public officials advice to help them “hit the ground running” and succeed in new leadership positions. It draws on the municipal law experiences of many colleagues and of several Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle clients.

With more than 20 years of crafting innovations in her law and law-related career, Schlossberg boasts experience as a writer, speaker and practitioner in a wide array of subjects:

• land use
• economic development
• impact fees
• workouts
• the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
• the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA)
• home rule authority
• project development and financing
• annexation and annexation agreements
• tax increment financing (TIF)
• industrial revenue bond issues
• cable television and video services regulation
• bulk electric power purchase agreements
• tax incentive and tax rebate programs
• affordable housing legislation
• Illinois ethics regulation

Raised and educated in Chicago’s south suburbs, Schlossberg now resides in Barrington with her husband and two children. She is a graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor High School, the University of Michigan and Yale Law School.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Illinois State Bar Association, McHenry County Bar Association

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

• Co-author, “Intergovernmental Cooperation,” Chapter 8, Volume IV, Illinois Municipal Law: Annexation Zoning and Regulatory Authority, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2012
• Speaker, “You’ve Been Elected! Now What Do You Do,” Illinois Municipal League annual conference, Chicago, Sept. 2011 (view video))
• Speaker, “2011 Newly Elected Officials Workshop,” Illinois Municipal League workshops in Joliet, Normal, and Schaumburg, Illinois, June 2011
• Moderator, “Meet the Candidates Forum,” PTO President’s Council, Barrington School District 220, March 2011
• Speaker, “Municipal Tune Up,” Illinois Municipal League Annual Conference, fall 2010
• Speaker, “Congratulations You’ve Been Elected: Now What Do You Do?” Illinois Municipal League conference, September 2009
• Speaker, “Recent Major Changes to the Freedom of Information Act Requirements,” Barrington Area Council of Governments, July 2009
• Speaker, “Recent Major Changes to the Freedom of Information Act Requirements,” McHenry County Council of Governments, June 2009
• Author, “A New Era of Openness: The 2009 FOIA Amendments,” Municipal Matters, ZRFM quarterly newsletter, summer 2009.
• Author, “Impact Fees and Non-Home Rule Municipalities: Oil and Water Can Mix,” Local Government Law, newsletter of the Illinois State Bar Association Section on Local Government Law, June 2009
• Speaker, “Strategic Planning Session,” City of Marengo, May 2009
• Speaker, “Newly Elected Officials Seminar,” presented to current Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle clients, May 2009
• Speaker, “Newly Elected Officials Seminar,” Barrington Area Council of Governments, April 2009
• Co-author with Richard G. Flood, “Congratulations! You’ve Been Elected: Now What Do You Do? A Practical Guide to Local Government,” April 2009
• Co-author with Richard G. Flood, “Congratulations! You’ve Been Elected: Now What Do You Do?” (excerpts), Local Government Law, newsletter of the Illinois State Bar Association Section on Local Government Law, April 2009
• Speaker, “Municipal Tune Up Seminar,” Lake County Council of Governments, October 2008
• Roundtable Leader, “Open Meetings Act,” McHenry County Council of Governments, October 2008
• Speaker, “Issues in Economic Development Negotiations,” Illinois Municipal League, September 2008
• Speaker, “Impact Fee and Responding to Growth,” Illinois Municipal League, September 2008
• Speaker, “Sunshine Laws in Illinois,” Lorman Seminars, September 2008, September 2006
• Speaker, “Municipal Tune Up Seminar,” to various municipalities, June 2008
• Author with Richard G. Flood, “A New Tool for Funding Storm Water Management Improvements,” Municipal Matters, ZRFM newsletter, spring 2008
• Speaker, “New Video Services and Cable Television Regulation in Illinois,” McHenry County Council of Governments, October 2007
• Speaker, “Introduction to Impact Fees for Level III Course Presentation,” Illinois Municipal Treasurer’s Institute, November 2006
• Speaker, “Impact Fees,” Illinois Municipal League, September 2006
• Speaker, “Visioning Workshop,” Village of Beach Park, September 2006
• Speaker, “Home Rule Authority in Illinois,” Village of Barrington Board of Trustees, June 2006
• Speaker, “Open Meetings Act/FOIA,” Illinois Municipal League/Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association, June 2006
• Speaker, “Home Rule Authority in Illinois,” Barrington Area Council of Governments, June 2006
• Speaker, “Impact Fees in Illinois,” Controlling Growth Seminar, May 2006
• Author, “Guest View: House Finds Imminent Threat,” Northwest Herald, (responding to public concerns about the use of eminent domain), April 2006
• Speaker, “Introduction to Impact Fees,” School District 200/Woodstock Joint Advisory Commission Meeting, February 2006
• Speaker, “If Impact Fees are the Answer, Then What is the Question?: Rethinking Impact Fees,” Illinois Municipal League, September 2005
• Speaker, “Organized Plan Commission & Zoning Board Training,” Barrington Area Council of Governments/McHenry County Council of Governments, September 2005
• Speaker, “Planning and Zoning Seminar,” Village of Barrington, May 2005
• Speaker, “Open Meetings Act Seminar,” presented to current Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle clients, May 2005

PRIOR EMPLOYMENT

Schlossberg was the assistant dean and director for executive education at Northwestern University School of Law from 1998 to 2000. Before that she oversaw the growth of an international graduate law program while serving as program director of graduate and international studies. She also served as the manager of Northwestern University’s legal clinic. Formerly an active member of the District of Columbia bar, Schlossberg practiced in the Washington, D.C., office of the law firm of Arnold & Porter.

Schlossberg once interned with an investigative unit of Cable News Network (CNN). She also was the legal and research director of an international human rights group where her work focused on human rights in what was still the Soviet Union. The organization dealt with other related issues as that nation dissolved, including immigration.

CIVIC AND CHARITABLE

From 2004 until 2010, Schlossberg has served on the Barrington Plan Commission (and as vice chair for five of those years). She participated in a range of land use and planning matters involving development and zoning for commercial residential and recreational properties. While on the commission, she developed an appreciation of the information needs and analysis required of appointed officials. Schlossberg also has contributed her professional insights to the public good as a member of the board of directors of the Barrington Area United Way where she served as a director for three years, including as a co-chair of the allocations committee. In that role, she coordinated a well-respected due diligence effort to responsibly support agencies meeting a range of human services needs.

PRO BONO

Schlossberg regularly volunteers her time to the Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG), which encompasses the villages of Barrington, Barrington Hills, Deer Park, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, South Barrington and Tower Lakes. The council’s mission is to foster cooperation and strategies to address regional challenges, such as growth and land use, while supporting the area’s 1998 comprehensive plan. Schlossberg also offers pro bono assistance to other intergovernmental organizations including the Lake County Municipal League and the McHenry County Council of Governments, where she sits on the legislative committee and helps monitor and analyze state legislative efforts affecting the group’s membership.