About Gordon W.
Gordon W. Gates earned his law degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1986 after completing a bachelor’s degree in business and economics at the University of Iowa in 1983. He took a steady path into practice following law school. His academic background combined business training and legal study, which has informed the practical approach he brings to cases.
He is admitted to practice in Illinois and Minnesota, in several federal district courts in Illinois, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Those admissions reflect many years working in both state and federal forums. Over time he has handled matters that required appearances in trial courts and on appeal, moving between local dockets and circuit-level briefing.
Gates has served as managing partner at Gates, Wise, Schlosser & Goebel. In that role he has overseen firm operations, case management and the mentoring of younger lawyers. The managing partner position has put him in a position to balance client work with administrative duties. It is a role that combines office leadership and hands-on legal practice.
His career spans several decades. After law school he entered practice during a period of steady change in litigation practice and court procedure. He built a practice that uses federal admissions when a case requires it, and draws on state-court experience where appropriate. He has maintained memberships in the American Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association, and is active in the Sangamon County Bar Association.
Beyond the courtroom he has taken part in community work. He served as president of the Mini O Beirne Crisis Nursery from 1999 to 2000. That position placed him in a governance role for a local nonprofit and involved coordinating with board members and community partners to support the organization’s mission.
Today he continues to practice from his role at Gates, Wise, Schlosser & Goebel. He manages firm matters and appears in both state and federal courts as needed. His practice covers litigation across those jurisdictions, and he remains active in bar associations and community leadership.
