About Matthew A.
Matthew A. Passen built a foundation in economics at the University of Michigan before turning to law. He earned his B.A. in Economics in 1998 and completed his J.D. at DePaul College of Law in 2004. Those years set the stage for a career split between large-firm practice early on and work at a smaller, more direct practice setting later.
After law school, Passen entered private practice. He joined Jenner & Block as an associate in 2006. The experience at a national firm exposed him to complex matters and the systems that support major litigation and transactional work. Two years later he moved to Passen Law Group. He has been with Passen Law Group since 2008 and continues there as a lawyer.
Outside the office, Passen has taken leadership roles in Chicago’s legal community. He has been chair of the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association since 2016, a role that places him in contact with new attorneys and bar governance. He also serves as president of the Young Professionals Board at the Chicago Bar Foundation, a position he has held since 2015. Those posts reflect steady involvement in local bar institutions over the last decade.
Colleagues describe him as a lawyer who pays attention to procedure and detail. He has experience working within large firm structures and smaller practice environments. That combination has shaped how he approaches client matters and case management. He is known for a pragmatic approach to legal problems and for engaging with professional organizations where policy and lawyer development intersect.
Passen’s path is straightforward: solid undergraduate training in economics, a DePaul law degree, early training at Jenner & Block, and then long-term practice at Passen Law Group. The timeline shows a lawyer who moved from the resources of a large firm into sustained work in a smaller practice setting. He has maintained an active presence in Chicago’s bar community while managing his practice responsibilities.
He currently focuses his practice at Passen Law Group.
