September 06, 2023
ADAM L. HOEFLICH
CHAIR, CIVIC FEDERATION TRUSTEES
Number of years with the Federation: 6
Committees: Presidential Search Committee
Day job: Partner, Bartlit Beck LLP
Adam Hoeflich is a partner at Bartlit Beck LLP and a Professor of Practice at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. He focuses on high-stakes problems that corporations and individuals face in the courtroom, in the boardroom, and in their personal lives. Deeply involved in the civic community, in addition to serving as Chair of the Civic Federation Trustees, Adam is a Trustee of Northwestern University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital (where he is a member of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Quality Committee), and the Chicago Public Library Foundation. Adam is a member of both the Commercial Club and the Economic Club.
What made you want to join the Civic Federation?
The Civic Federation has a well-deserved reputation as both independent and non-partisan. I respect its work. When Laurence Msall approached me about being a trustee, I was flattered and quickly agreed.
What do you enjoy most about being a part of the Civic Federation?
I am always learning something new, and often what I learn is different than what I expected the data to show. Sarah Wetmore and her team do an incredible job, and their reports provide me a constantly evolving understanding of what is happening in the City of Chicago and the broader State of Illinois.
What's your favorite Chicago hidden gem?
I love the Chicago Public Library. Our public library system is among the strongest in the world and too few people know that. It has 81 branches and provides incredible resources to our community.
What's a project you're working on right now?
My clients value my keeping quiet about what I’m working on. But I have enough to keep me busy.
You have taught at Northwestern Law for many years and literally wrote the book on complex litigation—what's your favorite part about guiding the next generation of lawyers?
Northwestern Law students are incredible. They are intellectually curious and uniformly committed to expanding their skills and finding ways not only to achieve but also to contribute to our community. It amazes me how much students welcome and learn from feedback. Interaction with people who want to learn, grow, and give back—and who are seeking ways and opportunities to do that—never grows old.