Maria Virginia Martinez

Maria Virginia Martinez has a great depth of experience working with nonprofits and various levels of government. At Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres and Point of Difference Strategies, Maria Virginia wields that experience to offer a two-fold service to her clients: legal counsel and government affairs advisor at both the city and state level. Her experience and duality led to her being asked to serve as Lead Legal Counsel for now-Mayor Brandon Johnson’s transition team where she was instrumental in providing legal advice and insights into the inner workings of City Hall.

Before joining Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres and Point of Difference Strategies, Maria Virginia worked for Mayor Lori Lightfoot as Senior Legislative Counsel, where she represented, developed, and advanced the City of Chicago’s legislative priorities before the Illinois General Assembly and state agencies. In this role, Maria Virginia monitored and communicated the potential impacts of legislative developments to all City departments and sister agencies and developed legislative strategies to effectuate the City’s position. Maria Virginia played a lead role in various legislative initiatives targeting public safety, reproductive health, securing state funds, as well as the City’s response to the recent influx of asylum-seekers.

Maria Virginia also previously served as an attorney on the Property Tax Appeals Board team for the Cook County Board of Review. Here, she adjudicated valuations made by the Cook County Assessor, represented and defended the Board of Review’s final valuation decisions and negotiated tax settlement before the Illinois Property Tax Appeals Board. Prior to joining the Board of Review, Maria Virginia was Assistant Legal Counsel for the Illinois Senate. There, she conducted policy research, and drafted and negotiated legislation with senate members, lobbyists, and stakeholders.

Maria Virginia’s experience in government extends well beyond her legal career: she worked at Chicago Public Schools while attending the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, formerly known as John Marshall Law School, and served as a regional coordinator for the Life Goes On Program with the Illinois Secretary of State right after graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Maria Virginia currently does pro bono work at various Temporary Protected Status Workshops that provide free legal assistance for asylum-seekers in Chicago, helping them acquire legal immigration status and work permits. She has also previously volunteered her time as Chair for the Diversity Scholarship Foundation’s First-Generation Law-Student Mentorship Program, whose goal is to introduce first-generation law students to attorneys and judges who will provide them with mentorship and guidance for law school and beyond.

She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Maria Virginia has called Chicago home since 1996.