Governor Bruce Rauner nominated partner Hugo Chaviano to take the reins of the Department of Labor. Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Chaviano is a partner at Sanchez Daniels & Hoffman LLP. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and Northwestern University of Law. “I am honored to have been asked by Governor Bruce Rauner to be part of his cabinet and be the first Hispanic to head the Illinois Department of Labor as its director,” Chaviano said. “It has been a long journey for me.”
Chaviano arrived in the United States at 13, when he couldn’t speak English. He has since become licensed to practice law in Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania, building a successful career at the firm. He has represented Fortune 500 companies, large financial institutions and others in civil litigation, and he has focused his practice on complex business and legal issues at both the national and international levels concerning insurance and reinsurance matters, products liability, construction, breach of contract, employment, errors and omissions, as well as joint ventures, franchise agreements, risk management, negotiations and alternative dispute resolution.
Chaviano has served on several boards, including many that serve or represent the Latino community. He has also worked as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Law and received numerous awards for his service. He calls his nomination to lead the Department of Labor the “culmination and realization of the American Dream.”
Mr. Chaviano’s appointment requires Illinois Senate approval.
