Matthew M. Swift

Matthew M. Swift is a member of the labor and employment practice group. He counsels employers in various aspects of employment law, such as employee discipline, employment contracts, wage and hour laws, and employment discrimination matters under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Illinois Human Rights Act, Title VII, and other federal and state anti-discrimination laws. He also helps clients with labor relations matters such as grievances and traditional and interest-based collective bargaining.

Matthew also frequently advises on legal issues that are unique to public-sector clients and educational institutions, including compliance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, the Open Meetings Act, the First Amendment, and Title IX. He works with clients on some of their most complex FOIA requests and board governance questions.

Before moving to Chicago for law school or attending college in Texas, Matthew grew up in a California mountain town, about a 20-minute drive from the nearest stoplight. He loves life in the big city—especially the museums and great food—but his more folksy roots still occasionally make an appearance.

Matthew has a soft spot for alliteration thanks to a family tradition—each Swift family member’s first initial matches their middle initial. He enjoys when his work requires careful interpretation or choosing precise language, and he always appreciates a clever turn of phrase.

Organizations

  • Chicago Bar Association

Publications

Presentations

  • The ABCs of CBAs: Best Practices and Recent Trends, ISDLAF+ School Finance Seminar (March 2026)
  • Legislative Update, ED-RED Member Meeting (February 2026)
  • FOIA Year in Review: Trends and Current Issues, Illinois ASBO SupportCon (December 2025)
  • Hot Topics in the Federal Government for School Business, Illinois ASBO Lunch & Learn Webinar (October 2025)
  • Illinois FOIA at 15: Recent Decisions and Developments, IASA Legal Seminar (April 2025)
  • Keep Calm and… Call a Lawyer? Spring 2025 Legal Updates, ICCCFO Spring Conference (April 2025)
  • Legal ABCs of DEI EOs and OCR, ICCTA Meeting and Seminar (March 2025)
  • Please Proceed in an Orderly Fashion: Responding (or not) to Executive Orders, ED-RED Virtual Member Meeting (February 2025)
  • FOIA Fundamentals: The Bottom Lines for School Business Officials, Illinois ASBO Lunch & Learn Webinar (November 2024)
  • Beyond the Redaction Marker: Tools and Strategies for Managing Difficult FOIA Requests, LUDA Communications Conference (December 2023)
  • The Open Meetings Act: FAQs and Answers, ICCTA Professional Development Training (June 2023)

Education

  • J.D., University of Chicago Law School
  • M.P.P., University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy
  • B.B.A., summa cum laude, Baylor University

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • Supreme Court of Illinois

Location

Keeping You Informed