A Conversation With Alum Amy Timm, Deputy General Counsel at the Chicago Cubs

When the Chicago Cubs finally clinched the 2016 World Series championship in the 10th inning of game 7, Amy Timm was on her couch working instead of cheering with the fans. Then an associate in Sidley’s M&A practice in Chicago, Timm had agreed to forgo watching Major League Baseball’s biggest night with friends in exchange for time off during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. She could hear the post-game celebrations from her 40th floor apartment building in River North.

“It was so loud, I didn’t sleep that night,” she recalls. “The honking and the cheering — it was wild.”

Fortuitously, soon after that game, an opportunity arose for Timm to join the Cubs as in-house counsel. Having recently completed a sports and recreation deal at Sidley, she was intrigued by the work. Although reluctant to leave Sidley, Timm’s transactional background seemed like a good fit for the role, as the Cubs were in the midst of re-developing the entertainment district around Wrigley Field. “I knew I wanted to go in-house eventually, and I didn’t want to miss this opportunity.”

She finds the fast-paced, supportive culture energizing. “People are willing to take risks. They have big ideas. Our ownership and executive teams have recognized, and truly appreciate, how much in-house expertise we have in the legal department.”

As Deputy General Counsel, Timm advises on immediate issues that pop up during baseball season. This includes helping the team plan for the next season by renewing sponsorship and suite license agreements, and signing a new manager. “Everything has a deadline of opening day,” she says. Even when the stands of the historic ballpark sat empty during the pandemic, the front office staff stayed busy: “I painted lines on the field. I also cleaned a lot of spider webs — the spiders took over Wrigley.”

Timm also advises on Cubs ownership’s other business lines, including a real estate development company and a venture capital fund. “I have been fortunate to be here during such a transformative time for the business, and my best memories are of celebrating our collective achievements. One of the best aspects of working here is knowing when we’re in the middle of an intense deal or a challenging situation that we’ll be able to enjoy and celebrate the tangible results of our work when we’re finished.”

At Sidley, Timm’s practice focused on mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance matters on behalf of public and private companies and private equity firms. This work gave her exposure to virtually every area of law, which she says has continued to serve her well in her career.

“I spent a lot of time on calls monitoring the progress of deals and listening to experts explain new areas of the law to our outside counsel clients. As an in-house lawyer, a huge part of the job is issue-spotting and knowing when you can figure something out yourself, versus when you need to seek expert help. I would not be nearly as good at doing that without my Sidley experience.”

She is also grateful for the lasting friendships she made at the firm. “I have fond memories of meeting colleagues when we were so young and figuring it out together. I don’t think I appreciated that the people you meet when you’re a summer associate are your colleagues for life. I have been in the weddings of people from my summer associate class.”

Outside of work, Timm enjoys traveling and trying new restaurants, often with her Sidley network. “We flew to Copenhagen recently to eat at a three-Michelin star restaurant, Noma, which is closing later this year.”

Having relocated from Chicago’s River North neighborhood to Wrigleyville, Timm can walk to and from work and still hear the games from her house. She is currently training her three-year-old dog Huck, a goldendoodle, to volunteer at rehab facilities and hospitals, though she admits it is a work in progress for both of them. “He’s so excited to be around people at the moment that he has a hard time focusing. He’s very sweet, but very wiggly.”

Published June 2024

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