Francisco E. Connell

Francisco (Cisco) Connell is a Principal in the firm’s Banking and Corporate Transactions Group. As practice group leader for Chuhak & Tecson’s Banking group, he oversees an experienced and highly responsive team of transactional and litigation attorneys and staff dedicated to the specialized needs of our financial institution clients. Cisco employs a calm and reassuring approach to problems and is often tasked with particularly challenging or highly sensitive issues. Clients choose him to be that steady hand guiding through complicated legal issues.

As a practice group leader, Cisco helps guide a talented group of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff in providing our institutional clients through the intricacies of banking related issues. Chuhak’s banking group is known for its knowledge of the law, familiarity with procedure, and experience in both bank lending and workout scenarios. Clients can leverage this reputation and knowledge-base in obtaining optimal results.

In addition to financial institution clients, Cisco represents businesses of all sizes both inside and outside the courtroom, providing counsel on entity formation, real estate acquisitions and leases, intellectual property, contracts and more. He works closely with clients and enjoys taking time to get to know them. Cisco takes a holistic approach to client service. With clients ranging from construction companies and dental practices to individuals and other lawyers, he sees the relationship much like a partnership that will secure the business’s best interests going forward. Accordingly, he looks for opportunities to ensure the client’s future business needs will be met—on everything from a wide scope of employment matters to succession planning and asset protection.

Cisco credits nearly a decade of experience as a Chicago police officer for cultivating his people skills and ability to manage difficult situations. Handling domestic calls on a daily basis taught him how to introduce calm when stress is in the room.

Cisco has served on the firm’s Management, Marketing, Litigation, and Compensation Committees. He also was the firm’s inaugural Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Council. He now serves as one of four practice group leaders that work closely with the firm’s Executive Committee in planning and execution of the firm’s current and future goals.

Leading Lawyers has recognized Cisco as a Leading Lawyer for six consecutive years, and he was also named among Crain Chicago Business’s Notable Minorities in Accounting, Consulting & Law in 2020 and 2021.

Cisco and his wife are raising their three boys in Chicago, not far from where from where he grew up. He remains passionate about the City and everything it has to offer. While Chicago is home, Cisco and his family take time to travel. He particularly enjoys vacationing in the western states in both the summer and winter, and especially with there are mountains and rivers to enjoy.