Michael S. Sigal began his law career in the late 1960s with a firm that soon merged with the Chicago office of Sidley Austin, where he gained a national reputation for his focus on corporate governance and executive compensation.

"He inaugurated our executive compensation practice," said colleague Tom Cole, former chairman of the firm's executive committee. "It was a combination of his skills as a lawyer and his personal attentiveness that really made him very effective."

Mr. Sigal, 72, who retired earlier this year as a partner and senior counsel, died of complications from Crohn's disease Wednesday, Oct. 15, in Highland Park Hospital, according to his wife, Kass. He was a longtime resident of Bannockburn.

Mr. Sigal played a key role in a number of high-profile deals, according to Sidley Austin. In KPMG Consulting Inc.'s $2.3 billion initial public offering, Mr. Sigal worked on the separation and spinoff of KPMG Consulting and a $1 billion investment by Cisco Systems Inc. in KPMG Consulting.

He was also a talented recruiter and mentor who brought a number of young lawyers to the firm, including many from his alma mater, the University of Chicago Law School. "He was a star at bringing in new lawyers and developing that talent," said another Sidley Austin colleague, H. Bruce Bernstein, who was recruited by Mr. Sigal.

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