Current Public Administrator
Hon. Louis G. Apostol
Public Administrator of Cook County
Mr. Apostol was reappointed Public Administrator by Governor Pritzker in 2022. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Executive Director, general counsel and legislative liaison for the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (2008-2017). As Executive Director, he was responsible for the management and adjudication of all residential, commercial, industrial and farm property tax appeals in Illinois. He has been a practicing lawyer in Illinois for over 40 years and was a partner in several large law firms in Chicago specializing in civil and criminal litigation, tax, finance, property, administrative and government law. He is a certified executive (CAE), having served as general counsel and chief operating officer to multiple corporations and associations. He currently practices law in Chicago, Northfield and Glenview.
He served as a Commissioner / trial judge on the Illinois Court of Claims (2003-2008), hearing complaints against the State of Illinois. He served as Public Administrator of Cook County, managing the litigation and administration of over 2,500 cases (1991-2003). He was appointed a Special Counsel for the City of Chicago and is a member of Chicago Sister Cities International, as an appointee of the Mayor (1992-present). He served as Chair of the Attorney's Advisory Committee for the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Cook County. He is an active member and contributor to many charitable organizations such as the Diversity Scholarship Foundation, “Leadership 100” and served as the President of the Hellenic Foundation in Chicago. He was elected to the NIU National Alumni Association Board of Directors (2015-2021). He was elected to the Associated Colleges of Illinois Board of Trustees (2016-2018). In 2018, he was appointed to the position of “Distinguished Advisor” to the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago. In 2022, he was elected to the Chicago Bar Association Board of Managers. In 2023, at a ceremony in New York City, he was elevated to the rank of Archon in the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle for the Ecumenical Patriachate.
He received his BA from Elmhurst College, MBA from NIU College of Business and JD from NIU College of Law. He was elected to the NIU College of Law Board of Visitors in 2000, served as Vice Chair and was elected Chair in 2014. He is admitted to practice in the State of Illinois, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Court of Claims, U.S. Court of Military Appeals and U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. He received a 100% Qualified, Recommended and Highly Recommended judicial evaluation from the Chicago Bar Association and the (12) Member Alliance of Bar Associations.
He is an active member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago Council of Lawyers and Hellenic Bar Association, having served as Chair, Vice Chair and Legislative Liaison to various committees. In 1997, he received the "Hellene of the Year Award" from the HBA in Chicago. In 1998, he received the "Distinguished Service Award" from the NIU College of Law. In 2003, he received the "Community Service Award" from the Association Forum of Chicago. In 2012, he received the "Outstanding Government Service Award" from the United Hellenic Voters of America and was elected to the National Supreme Board. He was inducted into its “Hall of Fame” in 2013. In 2004 and 2005, he was featured on the "Best Lawyers in America" - Sky News Program. In 2018, he received the prestigious “Public Service Award” from the NIU College of Law. In 2019, the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognized his exemplary government service and contributions to the practice of law. In 2022, he received the “Achievement in Public Service Award” from the NIU Alumni Association. He has been a speaker at bar associations and public interest groups nationwide.
Office of the Public Administrator