Today’s real estate transactions are increasingly complex. We service projects across the street or across the country.
Timing is Everything
We get to know our client’s business quickly and respond decisively. Our attorneys represent a diversified client base in real estate transactions, including lenders, small and large developers, homebuilders, contractors, corporations, universities, hospitals and many others.
Comprehensive Real Estate Services
Many of our attorneys have written for industry and legal publications regarding transactions, developer liability, land use controls, zoning ordinances and environmental issues in real estate. Some attorneys advise municipalities on land annexation issues and municipal zoning. They speak at industry seminars and law school continuing education programs.
From land acquisition, zoning and financing, to construction, leasing and property sales, we handle transactions quickly and economically.
Property Financing We assist our clients with acquisition, development and construction loans or complex syndications. If a project runs into financial trouble we are experienced in renegotiating agreements and restructuring transactions with new equity participants. In recent years we have:
- Negotiated a $65 million loan for the construction of a state of the art ethanol plant located in northern Illinois.
- Negotiated a $37.5 million loan for the construction of a national hotel chain on a vertical subdivision interest in downtown Chicago.
- Negotiated a $46 million loan for the construction of an eldercare facility in Mystic, Connecticut.
- Negotiated a $25 million loan to a national hotel chain in downtown San Francisco.
- Negotiated a $20 million loan for the conversion of an existing apartment building into condominiums in downtown Chicago, Illinois.
- Negotiated a $13 million loan for the conversion of an existing office building into a condominium hotel in downtown Chicago, Illinois.
- Negotiated an $11 million loan for the conversion of an existing apartment facility into a condominium hotel in Miami, Florida.
- Negotiated a $28 million loan for the construction of a golf course and clubhouse complex in Estero, Florida.
- Represented construction lender in multiple construction loans to Marriott Hotels franchisee for properties in Florida, Colorado, and Texas.
Property Acquisition Our attorneys know how to handle difficult negotiations, acquire parcels from multiple owners while handling simultaneous negotiations with multiple sellers. In recent years we have:
- Represented a national developer of data centers in the acquisition and development of a facility near O’Hare Airport.
- Represented a local university in its acquisition of a vertical subdivision interest in a downtown Chicago building for its new Chicago campus.
- Represented a major video game manufacturer and supplier in its acquisition, development and construction of its new facilities in Waukegan, Illinois.
- Represented a major financial institution in acquisitions of commercial real estate in and around Chicago, Illinois.
- Represented a local developer in a $7 million acquisition of commercial property in West Bend, Wisconsin.
- Represented a local developer in the acquisition and conversion of a multi-unit apartment complex into condominiums in Delavan, Wisconsin.
Lease and Sale of Developed Property We represent landlords and tenants in commercial lease transactions nationwide. We create national programs tailored to clients’ needs. We advise on what is necessary to make a market deal in all kinds of properties including office, industrial and retail. In recent years we have:
- Represented a major financial institution in lease transactions in and around Chicago, Illinois.
- Represented a landlord in a 140,000 square foot industrial building lease in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- Represented a tenant in a 49,000 square foot build-to-suit lease in Glenview, Illinois.
- Represented a landlord in a 60,000 square foot industrial building lease in Scottsboro, Alabama.
- Represented a local developer in a $12 million sale of commercial real estate in Gurnee, Illinois.
- Represented the beneficiaries of a land trust in the sale of 25- to 50-unit apartment complexes in and around Chicago, Illinois.
- Represented a tenant in a 37,000 square foot office building in St. Petersburg, Florida.
- Represented a financial institution in connection with the leasing of office and retail space in several commercial buildings in downtown Chicago, Illinois.
- Represented a tenant in the lease of a 125,000 square foot industrial building in Bedford Park, Illinois.
Zoning and Regulatory We quickly and effectively resolve zoning and regulatory issues. We obtain zoning permits on schedule. We have experience in obtaining approval for specialized zoning districts based on performance zoning and flexible planned development agreements. We also advise regarding environmental issues that may affect development. In recent years we have:
- Obtained rezoning for an 80-acre hospital campus and created a special zoning district for hospitals.
- Handled the annexation and zoning for a major technology campus for a municipality.
- Obtained rezoning over the objections of surrounding municipalities for a hospital and renegotiated a sewer service agreement and a petition to place the hospital in a new Facilities Planning Area.
Environmental We have significant experience with federal and state enforcement of RCRA, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, along with the strategies involved in the area of CERCLA liability. We have represented almost every major industry with sensitive environmental issues, including chemical manufacture and storage, transportation, steel manufacturing, mining, forest products and construction.
- Negotiated largest voluntary clean-up in Illinois.
- Represented the owner of the site of the Illinois-Kentucky Compact’s Low Level Nuclear Waste Depository.
- Represented the purchaser of the former Outboard Marine Corporation facility, which included two superfund sites.