Tyrone Fahner, a partner at the Chicago law firm of Mayer Brown, will become the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Tribune has learned.

Fahner succeeds R. Eden Martin, also a lawyer, who has been president of the influential organization since 1999. Fahner will take over Jan. 1, W. James Farrell, chairman of the club, confirmed Thursday.

“It’s quite an honor,” Fahner said. “I’ll give it whatever it takes, as Eden has done.”

The president is responsible for the club’s day-to-day operations. Like Martin, Fahner also will be president of its Civic Committee, a smaller group of business and civic leaders who advocate for regional improvements.

In recent years, the Civic Committee has pushed for the expansion of O’Hare International Airport, public-school reform and changes to the state’s retirement system. It is behind the “Illinois is Broke” advertising campaign advocating for budget reform to fix the state’s pension deficit.

Martin told the club’s leadership when he turned 70 this year that he wanted to retire by June 30, Farrell said. The leadership persuaded him to stay until the end of the year. Martin plans continue his law practice at Sidley Austin.

Fahner said he has been a member of the club since 1992 and served on the Civic Committee for about a decade. He’s the chairman of the committee’s aviation task force, which has focused on O’Hare modernization. Fahner said he will continue to be a partner at Mayer Brown, where he was chairman from 2001 to 2007. Fahner also is a former Illinois attorney general.