Our Team

The Power of Two

The Law Office of Michael J. Monaco defends individuals accused of crimes in the Illinois and federal court systems.

Having two attorneys means our clients benefit from two legal minds strategizing for their case. Our clients have two points of contact, and no single point of failure. We are never too busy to be there for you and your family.

Michael J. Monaco

Michael is the founder of the Law Offices of Michael J. Monaco. He has more than 30 years of criminal law experience.

After graduating from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1990, Mr. Monaco began his career as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. There, he litigated thousands of criminal cases in the Narcotics Unit and the Felony Trial Division. After six years in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Mr. Monaco left to pursue a career in criminal defense private practice.

Before the death penalty was abolished in Illinois, Mr. Monaco was admitted as Lead Counsel to the Capital Litigation Trial Bar—the highest designation attainable for a criminal defense attorney at the time.

As a defense attorney, Mr. Monaco has defended over 2,000 criminal cases varying from first-degree murder to drug possession. Concerning searches and seizures conducted by law enforcement in violation of the Fourth Amendment, Mr. Monaco has successfully suppressed evidence of contraband in hundreds of cases ranging from personal use quantities to large amounts of controlled substances. Additionally, he has garnered judgments of acquittal in numerous murders, reckless homicides, and other violent crime and drug possession cases.

Mr. Monaco has an insider’s knowledge of how offenses are charged and how cases are prosecuted. He uses this experience to structure his clients’ cases to obtain the best possible outcome.

Education

  • Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D. 1990)

  • Elmhurst College (B.A. with high honors 1987)

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois (1990)

  • Illinois, Lead Counsel in Capital Litigation Trial Bar (2002)

  • Federal Trial Bar (1996)

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (1990)

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit (1996)

  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin (1997)

  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois (2007)

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois (2009)

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (2012)

Memberships

  • Member, Illinois State Bar Association

  • Member, Chicago Bar Association

  • Vice-Chair, Chicago Bar Association In-Court Lawyer Referral Committee

  • Recognition Superlawyer, 2005 and 2006

William B. Beattie

Mr. Beattie has nearly 30 years of experience as a criminal defense trial attorney. He has practiced in both state and federal courts throughout Illinois. Mr. Beattie has also represented clients in criminal appeals before the Illinois Appellate Court and in clemency petitions before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.

Before entering private practice, Mr. Beattie worked in the Felony Trial Division of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office where he defended clients charged with cases ranging from drug possession and property crimes to first-degree murder. Like Mr. Monaco, before the death penalty was abolished in Illinois, Mr. Beattie was admitted to the Capital Litigation Trial Bar.

Mr. Beattie has lectured and authored publications for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education in the areas of trial advocacy, evidence, aggravated DUI law, the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, and eyewitness identification.

Mr. Beattie graduated with honors, including the Order of the Coif, from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1993. He received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota.

Education

  • Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D., Order of the Coif 1993)

  • University of Minnesota (B.A. 1984)

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois (1993)

  • Illinois, Co-Counsel in Capital Litigation Trial Bar (2003)

  • Federal Trial Bar (2009)

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (1993)

  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois (2009)

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois (2009)

Memberships

  • Member, Illinois State Bar Association