Heather Wier Vaught
Heather Wier Vaught is a top advisor and counsel to corporations, elected officials, and politicians throughout the state. Her experience with advocacy and government spans more than two decades. Heather’s extensive knowledge and understanding of government, politics, and the law help her guide clients through any issue.
Heather has served as the point person and lead negotiator for many of the top legislative initiatives in Illinois. She has significant experience working on complex issues related to state and local government, public entity procurement, health care and insurance regulation, cannabis and liquor regulation, gaming, pensions, campaign finance and election law, ethics and lobbying compliance, privacy and biometric laws, individual rights and reproductive health, and criminal justice.
She started her career in the Office of the President of the American Bar Association, where she worked on national initiatives including the abolition of the death penalty and judicial independence. After leaving the ABA, she worked with non-profit, good government groups on criminal justice reform, ethics reform, and election issues.
Heather joined the Office of the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and served the House Democratic Caucus in several roles. She was Chief Counsel to the Speaker and provided legal review of all pending legislative measures and led negotiations on behalf of the House Democratic Caucus. She also served as Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives, and Ethics Counsel for the House Democratic Caucus.
In 2009, Heather served as Counsel to the Special Investigative Committee created following the arrest of Governor Rod Blagojevich. After the House found cause for impeachment, she was appointed Assistant House Prosecutor for the Senate Impeachment Trial, which resulted in his impeachment and removal from office.
Heather has been appointed by the Illinois Attorney General to serve as a Special Assistant Attorney General on numerous occasions, and litigated cases raising important constitutional questions, several of which had never before been litigated in Illinois. Most recently she served as counsel for the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House in litigation challenging redistricting of the General Assembly.
She has served as counsel to dozens of committees, candidates, and elected officials, including the Democratic Party of Illinois. She has also delivered numerous presentations on various aspects of the law and politics for private organizations, bar associations, and colleges and universities.
Heather has received awards recognizing her leadership and commitment to the legal profession, including the Women’s Bar Foundation Rise Up and Reach Back Award and the Northern Illinois University’s Alumni Award. In 2014, the Law Bulletin named Heather one of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch.”