Jorge V. Cazares

Jorge Cazares is a Partner in Pugh, Jones & Johnson's Litigation Practice Group.  His practice includes the representation of clients in contract and business disputes, defamation, major personal injury defense, civil rights, employment discrimination, labor disputes and arbitrations, local governmental defense, RICO, bankruptcy, real estate and commercial litigation matters.

Mr. Cazares rejoined the Firm after serving as General Counsel for the Chicago Housing Authority.  As the first Latino to serve as General Counsel for the Chicago Housing Authority, Mr. Cazares oversaw all of the agency’s legal affairs and provided advice and counsel to the CHA’s Board of Commissioners, senior management and employees.  Mr. Cazares also supervised a staff of over 50 employees which included over 20 in-house lawyers who provided legal assistance on the complicated and sophisticated real estate and finance transactions involved in creating mixed income communities.  The Legal Department also represented the CHA in litigation matters, ranging from personal injury lawsuits to decades-old federal court consent decrees to providing advice and counsel on compliance with HUD and other regulatory requirements.

Mr. Cazares also served as the Chicago Housing Authority's Ethics Officer in charge of supervising compliance with the agency’s ethics policies as well as other applicable Federal and State ethics policies.  Additionally, Mr. Cazares supervised the agency’s Office of the Inspector General, which investigated reports of possible fraud and waste of CHA’s resources by the agency’s employees, residents or contractors.  He also supervised the agency’s ADA compliance department as well as its One-Strike Program.

Prior to his tenure at the Chicago Housing Authority, Mr. Cazares practiced at Pugh, Jones & Johnson since 1992.  He has tried various jury and bench trials and has argued before the United Stated Circuit Court of Appeals and the Illinois Court of Appeals.