DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Katten

Real Estate

4 ranked lawyers

Band 1

Illinois

USA 2021 View ranking table

chambers review

department information

Ranked Lawyers

Chambers Review

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What the team is known for

Prominent department representing owners, developers, lenders and investors on complex transactional matters, such as joint venture and loan negotiations. Skilled at handling high-profile real estate developments, both regionally and nationally. Offers notable expertise in construction finance.

Strengths

"They are community-oriented, service-oriented, and strive for excellence," says a source

An interviewee reports: "They are a strong firm that is very easy to work with, accessible and diligent."

A source says: "They are always very responsive and do a great job of laying out the issues and providing guidance."

Work highlights

Represented iStar in its $442.5 million sale of seven cold storage facilities to Lineage Logistics.

Notable practitioners

Alvin Katz advises real estate developers and asset managers on matters such as financings, investments and joint ventures.
"He is one of the top joint venture structuring and private equity real estate lawyers in the country." "He is a tremendous communicator and advocate."

David Dlugie is head of the firm's Chicago real estate practice. He works with banks and other lenders.
"He processes the issues in advance of confrontation and handles them with grace and poise." "He is exceptionally thoughtful and offers creative solutions."

Jason Vismantas is highly regarded for his corporate real estate practice.
"He thinks through creatively how to structure what we are doing. He is a hard worker, thoughtful and has a positive energy." "He is very proficient and knowledgeable regarding real estate transactions."

Mark Simon represents real estate investors and financial institutions in the financing of real estate deals. He is singled out for his work on loan origination.
"He is super efficient, focuses on the big issues and doesn't get lost in the minutiae."

Department Information

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Overview

Real Estate is a core practice at Katten, whose more than 120 attorneys across the firm’s 14 offices worldwide have significant experience orchestrating complex transactions on behalf of lenders, developers, operators, owners and investors of all classes. With our diversity and depth in both the equity and debt finance areas, we are looked to by our clients to bring real-time market data to each side of the equation as to what the current trends are in the real estate industry and what is considered “market” in sophisticated real estate transactions and negotiations.

The Chicago office, with 30 real estate lawyers, is a key component of Katten’s highly regarded Real Estate practice. We find creative and practical solutions for the acquisition, development, financing, leasing, operation, restructuring and disposition of all types of real estate on a national basis. In addition, many of our attorneys have particular experience in the negotiation, structuring and documentation of private equity investments and joint ventures. Chicago-based partners have assisted in closing billions of dollars of transactions over the past 12 months, employing a multidisciplinary approach that includes Katten bankruptcy, tax, litigation, corporate, securities and public finance professionals working together, as appropriate, to achieve our clients’ goals.