Brian is proud to be both a partner and Chair of the LP’s Real Estate & Finance Practice Group. The Real Estate Group achieved a #1 ranking of Midwest real estate law firms in 2007and 2008, and recognition by Chambers Partners in 2009. Brian’s work is consistent with these achievements. Brian has broad experience in real estate law and represents developers and owners of office, senior housing, hotel, medical office, retail, and industrial properties. Brian also represents landlords of downtown and suburban office and retail properties.
Brian’s wealth of experience and real estate industry knowledge has lead him to numerous awards and career defining deals, including:
- Named a Leading Lawyer and a Super Lawyer in Real Estate by Leading Lawyers Magazine
- Represented a group of private equity investors in the $440,000,000 sale-leaseback of a chain of west coast department stores with locations in multiple states
- Represented the purchaser of the four tower Presidential Towers apartment complex in Chicago, Illinois in a $475,000,000 deal.
- Represented the seller of the IDS Tower, the tallest office building in Minneapolis, in a $225,000,000 sale to The John Buck Company.
- Represented clients in sales and purchases of numerous hotels in Chicago, New York, Florida, Arizona, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and California.
- Worked with developers to help create many big box oriented shopping centers in Illinois and Wisconsin
- Currently serves as an elected Trustee in the Village of Northfield.
Brian has represented landlords of Chicago and suburban office buildings and has negotiated significant leases against tenants like Microsoft, New York Life, Travelers, BP Amoco, Jones Lang LaSalle, SAP, DDB Needham (Omnicom), Xerox, Ariel Mutual Funds, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Oracle, and Pulte Home Corporation. Brian has also represented retail owners in negotiations with retailers such as Target, the Gap, Filene's Basement, TJ Maxx, Starbucks, Kohl's, Toys R Us, and major grocery chains.
Brian has also had a number of deals involving vertical subdivisions and condominium structuring, including unorthodox use of the Illinois condominium statute in non-residential settings. Brian helped a client vertically subdivide a downtown office building into retail and office components in order to maximize the revenue streams available. Brian’s realization that the fully leased retail space could be sold at a premium to the significantly vacant office space which was better suited for an entrepreneurial purchaser completely changed the value of the deal. The subdivision helped the owner maximize value by selling the parts rather than the whole. Beyond this, Brian has also advised clients on office condominium possibilities and office-to-residential conversion possibilities.