Firm Overview

William E. Ryan has concentrated his practice in representing property owners since 1975. Timothy J. Ryan has concentrated his practice in representing property owners since 1985.

All five lawyers at Ryan and Ryan concentrate their practice on eminent domain and condemnation matters.

In August 2006, the firm obtained $94,500,000 for an industrial property in Bensenville taken by the City of Chicago. We believe that this is the highest single condemnation judgment order ever entered by an Illinois court.

William E. Ryan and Timothy J. Ryan have obtained two jury verdicts on behalf of property owners in condemnation cases in the State of Illinois in excess of $13,000,000

William E. Ryan is the only Illinois member of the Owners’ Counsel of America (www.ownerscounsel.com). The Owners’ Counsel of America is a national organization comprised of one eminent domain trial lawyer from each represented state serving property owners faced with governmental takings. The organization meets periodically to analyze recent eminent domain decisions and case strategies, which allows the members to better serve their clients.

Ryan and Ryan has experience in representing property owners in challenging the public body’s right to take private property. Ryan and Ryan has won challenges against a tax increment financing district, park district takings, and a Forest Preserve taking. Ryan and Ryan also has been successful in reducing the property being taken in condemnation cases filed by the City of Chicago, Chicago Transit Authority, and Illinois Department of Transportation. >>See Results

Ryan and Ryan has represented property owners of virtually all types of property including vacant property, single family detached, townhouse, apartment, retail commercial property, office property, industrial property, institutional property, and special use property. Ryan and Ryan concentrates its practice in Metropolitan Chicago, its surrounding counties, and throughout the state of Illinois.

Lawyers at Ryan and Ryan have written a chapter in the Illinois Eminent Domain Continuing Legal Education series, conducted seminars on eminent domain, and assisted in drafting proposed legislation to limit the taking of private property and increase the amount of compensation paid to private property owners.

Ryan and Ryan has assisted hundreds of property owners in filing claims for relocation payments under the Federal Uniform Relocation Act and similar local ordinances. We have obtained moving and relocation payments for our clients up to $11,000,000.

In some instances the government’s offer of just compensation is far too low. We represented a gas station owner in Lake County who was offered $1,000 by the State of Illinois for a partial taking. We obtained $100,000 for the owner. We also represented a property owner in McHenry County that was offered $40,000 for a strip taking by the State of Illinois. We obtained $1,000,000 for the property owner. >>See Results

Ryan and Ryan’s goal in every case regarding just compensation is to maximize the award with the least of amount of costs to our clients. Due to our experience, techniques, and knowledge we are able to settle 98 percent of our cases without a jury trial. Our attorneys fees are based upon results. We charge a percentage of the increase obtained for the property owner.