James T Mayer

Practice Areas

Leasing

Real Estate

Sustainable Development

Real Estate Finance

Commercial Lease Disputes

Career

James Mayer is a senior counsel in Nixon Peabody’s Real Estate group and focuses his practice on all aspects of real estate law, with extensive experience in retail, office, and industrial leasing.

/My focus

I focus my practice on commercial real estate law, including all aspects of real estate acquisition, development, leasing, operation, management, and disposition. My clients include real estate pension funds, investment advisory groups (for their own accounts and unrelated third parties), real estate investment trusts, national and international franchisors, financial institutions, commercial and residential developers, and office, retail, and industrial landlords and tenants. My work also includes acquisitions of hotels, sports facilities development, and real estate finance. I was one of the principal attorneys who represented Miami-Dade County in connection with the drafting and negotiating of the development, management, and operating agreements for the American Airlines Arena. I also represented McDonald’s Corporation as lead counsel in negotiating its lease and relocating its world headquarters from the Chicago suburbs to the City of Chicago. In addition, I represented the landlord in negotiating the lease to relocate the world headquarters of Caterpillar from Peoria to Deerfield, IL.

My practice also includes representation of clients on retail, office, industrial, and health care related leasing transactions, including the representation of the Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois in connection with joint ventures with Simon Property Group, Brookfield Properties, and CBL in various retail leasing matters, including anchor tenant leasing.

I am regularly asked to speak on real estate related topics, in particular retail-related topics, at various conferences and events, including workshops and seminars for ICSC. I am also a member of the planning committee for ICSC.

/Looking ahead

Real estate is on the verge of significant expansion in 2021. I foresee opportunities beyond the typical asset classes, such as office, industrial, and retail expanding to include health care related properties, such as medical office buildings and in-patient facilities, with the potential for joint venture opportunities.

Professional Memberships

Green Advantage, Board of Directors

Chicago Bar Association

American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Retail Subcommittee

ICSC (Innovating Commerce Serving Communities), Planning Committee

Sustainability: The Journal of Record, Editorial Board

Education