General Real Estate:

• Represented client in the joint venture formation and acquisition and development of an office building and subsequent conversion for a hotel project.
• Represented client in connection with acquisition of a downtown office building, its demolition and construction of a new office complex.
• Represented public company client in the leasing of a Chicago area office building for relocation of its corporate headquarters.
• Represented public company client in the acquisition of a suburban office building.
• Represented client in the joint venture formation and acquisition and financing of office/industrial center complex.
• Represented client in the joint venture formation and acquisition, development and conversion of industrial buildings to condominiums.
• Represented client in a $125 Million construction loan for a condominium project in Chicago.
• Represented international lender in connection with a term loan, permanent loan and existing loan modification to a manufacturing company for acquisition of an existing business secured by the personal property and real property assets of the acquired company.
• Represented pension fund in the purchase of a regional shopping center.

Sale/Leaseback:

• Represented client in $440 Million sale-leaseback transaction of a portfolio of department stores.
• Represented client in $600 Million sale-leaseback transaction in connection with the acquisition of a restaurant chain.
• Represented client in the sale-leaseback of a college campus.
• Represented client in the acquisition of over 400 bowling centers and its related $250 Million sale-leaseback transaction of over 180 bowling centers.
• Represented client in $174 Million sale-lease back transaction involving industrial properties.
• Represented client in a series of acquisition, development, sale/leaseback and financing transactions for a portfolio of warehouse and distribution centers across the United States.
• Represented client in $160 Million off balance sheet leveraged lease transaction for the acquisition and development of the largest natural gas storage field in North America.
• Represented client in $150 Million leverage lease transaction for its corporate campus.
• Represented client in $70 Million synthetic lease facility for construction of warehouse and distribution centers across the United States.
• Represented client in a series of black box synthetic lease transactions for the financing and development of senior living centers.
  

Bankruptcy:

• Represented purchaser in the acquisition of a pizza restaurant chain out of bankruptcy.
• Represented newspaper company in real estate matters related to its bankruptcy and restructuring.
• Represented theme park operator with 20 parks in real estate matters related to its bankruptcy and restructuring.
• Represented airline in real estate matters related to its bankruptcy and restructuring and $1.7 Billion special facility bond litigation.
• Represented client in $200 Million DIP Loan to international time share company.
• Represented private equity fund in the acquisition of secured lien claims of a restaurant chain in bankruptcy which liens were secured by 90 store locations.

Hospitality:

• Representing purchaser for the acquisition of an equity interest in a Chicago hotel/condominium project.
• Represented client in $80 Million construction loan and subsequent bond financing for a student housing project in Chicago.
• Represented client in $500 Million joint venture acquisition of international hotel chain, including owned, leased and managed hotels in over 80 locations.
• Represented purchaser in the acquisition and financing of a chain of health/racquet clubs.

• Chambers and Partners (2007-Present, Band 3)
• Legal 500 (2010-Present)
• Leading Lawyers Network - Real Estate Construction & Environmental Member (2010-Present)
• Illinois Super Lawyers (2006-Present)

• "The Debt Stack: Lessons Learned from the Great Recession," Paul Hastings September 13, 2012
• Guest Lecturer, Illinois Institute of Technology, College of Architecture, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Architecture - A Guide for Architects Working with Attorneys, October 2011
• "Who has the Keys? Distressed Hospitality Assets: An Overview of Pertinent Legal Issues," PLI March 2011
• "Who Really is in Charge? Dealing with Distressed Landlords and Lenders-in-Possession," ICSC November 2010
• "Distressed Real Estate Update: Practical and Legal Issues," Part 2 of 2, Paul Hastings June 2010
• "Distressed Real Estate Update: Practical and Legal Issues," Part 1 of 2, Paul Hastings May 2010
• "The Impact of Bankruptcy on Corporate Real Estate," AECRE Fall Forum 2009
• Panelist, Northwestern Law School, Real Estate Panel, November 5, 2009
• Panelist, University of Michigan, Current Conditions in Real Estate Seminar, October 2007, 2008 and 2009
• "Troubled Real Estate in Troubled Times," "Has Real Estate Gone Green and Other Questions of Our Time?" March 2009 Super CLE, University of Minnesota
• “Assignment of Voting Rights in Intercreditor Agreements,” The ACREL Papers, Fall 2007
• “Opting In” to Article 8 and Other Mezzanine Financing Best Practices,” The ACREL Papers, Fall 2007
• “Sale-Leaseback Transactions in Today’s Private Equity Environment,” Venture Capital Review, Spring 2007
• “Pre Bankruptcy Issues: What to Think About Before the Case is Filed,” The ACREL Papers, Spring 2006
• “Title Insurance: an Introduction,” “Using the Bankruptcy Code as a Leveraging Device in Acquiring, Selling, or Repositioning Distressed Real Estate,” Pre Petition Issues: A Few Things to Consider Before Filing,” March 2006 Super CLE, University of Minnesota
• “Unlocking the Value of Your Real Estate Assets,” May 2003, Franchise Times
• Sale-Lease Back Offers Compelling Alternative, New York Law Journal, November 25, 2002
• “The Evolution Continues: The REIT Modernization Act,” US Business Review, March/April 2001
• Electronic Media In Real Estate Transactions - ICSC Conference, October 2000

Law School Teaching:

• University of Minnesota, 1998 – 2000, Adjunct Professor of Law - Real Estate Transactions Seminar
• Northwestern University School of Law - Guest Lecturer
• Michigan Law School - Guest Lecturer
• DePaul University Law School, Guest Lecturer, 2001-2002

Professional Organizations / Licenses:

• Christopher House - Board Member (2007-Present)
• Chicago Central Area Committee – Board Member (2005-Present)
• American College of Real Estate Lawyers - Member (2005-Present)
• Illinois Bar Admission (1989)
• Certified Public Accountant, Illinois (1985)

• Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., May 1989
• University of Illinois (Urbana, Illinois), B.S. in Finance, May 1985 (with Highest Honors.)