Meet the Staff
City Attorney
Frederick C. Stavins
Frederick C. Stavins has been the City Attorney for the City of Champaign since 1981. As City Attorney, he is responsible for supervising the entire Legal Department staff. He provides legal review and advice to the City Council, City boards and commissions, the City Manager, and all department heads within the City organization. Along with providing legal support to departments within the City organization, his additional duties include responding to citizen inquiries, dealing with ethical
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Frederick C. Stavins has been the City Attorney for the City of Champaign since 1981. As City Attorney, he is responsible for supervising the entire Legal Department staff. He provides legal review and advice to the City Council, City boards and commissions, the City Manager, and all department heads within the City organization.
Along with providing legal support to departments within the City organization, his additional duties include responding to citizen inquiries, dealing with ethical issues, drafting legislation and coordination of communication and lobbying efforts within the State Legislature, as well as managing the defense of cases brought against the City and those cases the City brings against others.
Mr. Stavins was Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Joliet, Illinois from 1977-1981. Prior to that, he spent two years as an English teacher at West View Junior High School in Romeoville, Illinois. He is a University of Notre Dame graduate and received his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1976. Among other legal organizations, he is a member of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, Illinois Municipal League Home Rule Attorneys committee, and a past president and founding board member of the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association. He is the recipient of the Epps Award from the International Municipal Lawyers Association and the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association.
Assistant City Attorney
Jennifer Gover Bannon
Jennifer Gover Bannon joined the City of Champaign Legal Department as an Assistant City Attorney in 2014. She provides legal counsel regarding personnel matters involving union and non-bargaining unit employees and serves as the principal advisor to the Fire Department; Office of Equity, Community, and Human Rights; Human Resources Department; and
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Jennifer Gover Bannon joined the City of Champaign Legal Department as an Assistant City Attorney in 2014. She provides legal counsel regarding personnel matters involving union and non-bargaining unit employees and serves as the principal advisor to the Fire Department; Office of Equity, Community, and Human Rights; Human Resources Department; and the City of Champaign Township.
Ms. Bannon is a graduate of the University of Illinois and received her Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Minnesota Law school in 2011.
Assistant City Attorney
Kathryn Cataldo
Kathryn Cataldo joined the City of Champaign Legal Department as an Assistant City Attorney in 2016. Her primary responsibilities include advising the Liquor Commissioner’s Office on liquor-related matters and licensing, small claims collections, and drafting and reviewing economic development agreements and incentives. She also advises the City’s Finance Department and
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Kathryn Cataldo joined the City of Champaign Legal Department as an Assistant City Attorney in 2016. Her primary responsibilities include advising the Liquor Commissioner’s Office on liquor-related matters and licensing, small claims collections, and drafting and reviewing economic development agreements and incentives. She also advises the City’s Finance Department and the Champaign Public Library.
Ms. Cataldo is a graduate of Fordham University and received her Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2015.
Assistant City Attorney
Thomas Yu
Thomas Yu joined the City of Champaign Legal Department in 2017. He provides legal counsel to Planning & Development, Public Works, Police, Human Resources, and METCAD, along with related boards and commissions. He deals primarily with areas of litigation, zoning, subdivisions, public right-of-way, utilities, risk management, insurance, and police, which
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Thomas Yu joined the City of Champaign Legal Department in 2017. He provides legal counsel to Planning & Development, Public Works, Police, Human Resources, and METCAD, along with related boards and commissions. He deals primarily with areas of litigation, zoning, subdivisions, public right-of-way, utilities, risk management, insurance, and police, which includes managing claims, advising City departments and staff, and drafting contracts, land use documents, and intergovernmental agreements.
Mr. Yu is a graduate of the University of Illinois and received his Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2000.
Assistant City Attorney
Nancy L. Rabel
Nancy Rabel joined the City of Champaign Legal Department as an Assistant City Attorney in 2021. Her primary responsibilities include prosecuting City ordinance violations, workers compensation litigation, contracts and purchasing for the City, and Freedom of Information Act requests. She serves as the principal advisor to the Neighborhood Services Department
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Nancy Rabel joined the City of Champaign Legal Department as an Assistant City Attorney in 2021. Her primary responsibilities include prosecuting City ordinance violations, workers compensation litigation, contracts and purchasing for the City, and Freedom of Information Act requests. She serves as the principal advisor to the Neighborhood Services Department and Information Technologies Department.
Ms. Rabel is a graduate of Knox College and received her Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School in 1997.