Leasing

Not only is leasing a highly specialized legal discipline but it is the foundation for income-producing real estate.   Our Real Estate Group lawyers help clients negotiate and draft effective leases, understanding the document’s many significant implications including financing, taxation, bankruptcy, insurance and property valuation. With every lease, our goal is to help clients derive the lease’s full benefits – and avoid unintended liability or other adverse consequences.

We act as exclusive leasing counsel for a host of property owners, developers and tenants on a national basis for all property types. In particular, we:

  • Counsel lessees of real estate (including direct users, franchisers, franchisees and developers) on matters involving lease negotiation, expense sharing, equipment leasing, use restrictions, due diligence and similar matters.
  • Advise owners of a wide range of income-producing property types on matters involving leasehold issues, building operation, building management, regulatory matters, the provision of ancillary services, environmental condition and related issues.

 

Representative Matters

Represented restaurant operator/developer in a 24 property sale/leaseback, and simultaneously closed $20,000,000 in loans secured by the assets of entities operating 63 fast food restaurants, including Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, T.G.I. Friday’s, Blaze Pizza, Old Chicago and Long John Silver’s.  

Represent real estate fund in the acquisition of $57,800,000 commercial office complex in Norfolk, Virginia.

Negotiated 5 credit tenant net leases in connection with the sale/leaseback of office portfolio properties to an international insurer. 

Represented private equity firm in the $210 million acquisition and leaseback of a portfolio of 5 office properties to an international life insurance company and the negotiation of a $136.5 million acquisition loan from a large institutional lender. 

Represented company in the acquisition of well-known Lincoln Park restaurant and bar, and the attached apartment buildings.  Negotiated the asset and real estate purchase agreement, loan documents and lease, and guided client through the municipal approvals including obtaining the licenses and permits required to operate a restaurant and bar.

A national retail chain in connection with the sale-leaseback of all of its portfolio real estate throughout the United States.

A developer of an internationally known building in connection with the ground lease of space from a municipal authority.

Multiple synthetic leasing transactions, sale-leasebacks and similar financing transactions.

A tenant in connection with 200,000 square feet of Class A industrial space in Elgin, Illinois.

A landlord in a 60,000-square-foot industrial building lease in Scottsboro, Alabama.

A landlord in a 140,000-square-foot industrial building leased in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Several medical services companies in connection with office leases throughout the country.

A private REIT in the leasing of portfolio office space.

Corporate tenants in negotiating leases for significant office space in downtown Chicago buildings.

Major law firms in connection with the leasing of office space in Chicago.

Fortune 500 companies in connection with tenant leasing needs throughout the United States.

A major financial institution as landlord in connection with office leasing assignments.

The negotiation of reduction and extension of a lease for a corporate headquarters comprising approximately 148,261 square feet, located at 150 North Clinton Street, Chicago, Illinois.

The negotiation of a new, approximately 70,000 square foot, headquarters lease in Rosemont, Illinois, for a leading distributor of beer and food products.

The negotiation of a lease for a provider of teaching and research solutions, of approximately 21,000 square feet, located at One North State Street in Chicago, Illinois. This included the negotiation of an educational services lease within a commercial office building.

The negotiation of a new headquarters lease for a consulting firm specializing in cloud computing technologies, located at 600 West Chicago, in Chicago, Illinois. This included the negotiation of a lease for a state-of-the-art, open loft-style space for an equally cutting-edge technology company.

An administrator of self-funded employee benefit plans, based in Delaware, in connection with a relocation of all of its Lancaster, Pennsylvania, corporate offices to a new office development, known as the “Stockyards of Lancaster Office Campus.”

A leading provider of real estate investment management services in the handling of a headquarters relocation lease bringing a newly-merged, leading brewing company to Chicago.

A national retail big box tenant in connection with site acquisition, subdivision and leasing matters.

An anchor retail tenant in connection with the lease of space within a premier Michigan Avenue development in downtown Chicago.

Several national restaurant companies in connection with site acquisition and leasing matters throughout the country.

A developer in the lease-up of a 300,000-square-foot retail component of a mixed-use development in downtown Chicago.

A major financial institution in connection with its retail leasing throughout the Midwest.

Several national retail developers throughout the United States in connection with the leasing of space to national, regional and local retailers.

The negotiation of an approximately 11,000 square foot anchor for tenant lease with an Irish pub, for a shopping center located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Counsel to the owner of a large suburban shopping center in connection with the acquisition from a party operating in bankruptcy of a key parcel required for the redevelopment of the center.

Represents national retailers in the development of retail stores throughout the United States.

National and Chicago-based developers in connection with the acquisition, development, construction, leasing, financing and sale of shopping centers and retail properties throughout the United States.