Rachel Bates

Practice Areas

Rachel Bates, Global Vice Chair of Latham's Real Estate Practice, advises clients on all aspects of their most complex and significant real estate transactions across a variety of asset classes, with a particular focus on the hospitality industry.

A nationally regarded real estate lawyer, Ms. Bates serves a broad range of market participants, including private equity sponsors, developers, leading hospitality brands, family offices, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and institutional investors. She frequently serves as a go-to advisor to real estate owners, operators, and developers on every facet of complex transactions.

Ms. Bates’ practice includes:

• Single asset and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions

• Development projects, including public-private partnerships

• Joint ventures and other preferred equity structured vehicles

• Financings, including mortgage financings, mezzanine financings, construction financings, and bridge financings

• Management agreements, franchise agreements, and development agreements

• Acquisitions of distressed debt

• Repositioning of distressed assets through recapitalization or negotiated workouts

A versatile practitioner, Ms. Bates brings particular experience advising both owner and brand-side clients in the hospitality industry.

Ms. Bates delivers business-minded counsel to clients, with a focus on developing thoughtful and creative solutions. She strives to help clients mitigate potential risks while achieving their strategic objectives.

Ms. Bates also frequently advises clients on a pro bono basis. Her work includes child guardianship matters, as well as affordable housing-related matters on behalf of the Chicago Community Loan Fund.

Ms. Bates is a member of CREW Chicago, an organization for senior-level executive women in the Chicago real estate field. She previously served on Latham’s Women Enriching Business (WEB) Steering Committee.