Michael W. Ryan

Michael W. Ryan is a member of Ryan & Ryan Law, LLC. He concentrates exclusively on representing private property owners and tenants in eminent domain matters in Illinois. Mike’s goal is to obtain the best result for the particular client – whether it involves challenging the government’s right to take, obtaining a reduction in the size of taking, negotiating a change in the proposed improvement to be constructed to the client’s benefit, or maximizing the just compensation to be paid under the law. He works closely with his clients to obtain zoning relief or any other entitlement approvals in order to minimize the impact caused by the taking. He has represented clients with property in Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, Kane, McHenry, Winnebago, Grundy, Ogle, Kendall, and DeKalb counties. He has extensive experience in both partial takings (both temporary and permanent) and full takings involving all types of property including: agricultural, residential, commercial retail, industrial, office, and special use properties. Mike has handled eminent domain cases at the trial, appellate and Illinois Supreme Court level. He also frequently advises his private property clients on transactions with government bodies in lieu of condemnation including: drafting and negotiating contracts for sale of improved and unimproved property; permanent easements; temporary easements; right of entry agreements; and leases. Mike has lectured on eminent domain topics for local bar associations and at national eminent domain conferences.

Mike has been awarded the CRE® (Counselor of Real Estate) credential by The Counselors of Real Estate®, an international group of real estate practitioners recognized as leading advisors in complex real property and land-related matters, with fewer than 1100 members worldwide, of which only about 70 are practicing attorneys.

Mike has also been selected as an Illinois Affiliate Member of the Owners’ Counsel of America (OCA), a national organization comprised of experienced eminent domain trial lawyers in each represented state defending private property owners against local and state governments, transportation departments, utilities, and any other government agency armed with the power of eminent domain.