Accomplished Attorney and Financial Services Executive
Bruce Baker has contributed to fiduciary law and legislation for more than three decades, first with the Antitrust Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and currently with the Illinois Bankers Association. Upon graduation with his JD from the Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Bruce Baker was admitted to practice by the Northern District of Illinois’ U.S. District Court and the Illinois Supreme Court, and later, the Federal Trial Bar of the Northern District of Illinois.
At the start of his career, Bruce Baker succeeded in securing more than $5 million for his clients as a representative in a class action settlement and won two state Supreme Court Decisions on price-fixing and restraints of trade as Assistant Attorney General. Before joining the Illinois Bankers Association, Bruce Baker served as Senior Counsel for Discover Card and Dean Witter. Bruce Baker focused on the financial companies’ partnership with Sears, Roebuck and Company and affiliated banking institutions.
Moving next to the Illinois Commissioner of Banks & Trust Companies, Bruce Baker acted as General Counsel for the bank regulation agency. As Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the Illinois Bankers Association, Bruce Baker oversees more than 700 bank and trust client partners. Bruce Baker negotiates changes on proposed finance legislation and networks with top officials regarding regulatory issues. Litigating as a financial institution representative, Bruce Baker offers testimony on issues and often acts as the Illinois Bankers Association spokesperson. Internally, Bruce Baker directs employment matters and creates new products and services for various members.
During his career with the Illinois Bankers Association, Bruce Baker has outlined key banking legislation, including the Illinois Financial Institutions Insurance Sales Law, the precursor to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Bruce Baker also coauthored the Illinois Bankers Association Trust Policy Manual and edited the 2002 IICLE Advising Illinois Financial Institutions piece.
Receiving an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a listing in Marquis’ Who’s Who in America, Bruce Baker has been asked to lecture at several industry events. Bruce Baker is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Bankers Club of Chicago. Links