David J. Alexander
David J. Alexander
David J. Alexander is a Principal in the Real Estate Practice Group at Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd., in Chicago, where he advises clients in regard to complex real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, financing, and leasing of shopping centers, retail, office, a industrial buildings, and residences. Prior to joining Masuda Funai, Mr. Alexander was in-house counsel for a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the Chicago area. Mr. Alexander is a member of the American, Illinois State, and Chicago Bar Associations, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and the Real Estate Investment Association. He has authored numerous articles on various real estate matters in publications such as the Illinois State Bar Association’s Real Estate Law Newsletter. Mr. Alexander received his B.A. from Eastern Illinois University and his J.D. from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.
William J. Anaya
William J. Anaya
William J. Anaya is an Officer at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., in Chicago, where he concentrates in environmental law transactions and litigation. He is Past Chairman of the Board of IICLE^® and has received IICLE^®’s Addis Hull Award for Excellence in Legal Education. He is a member of the Illinois State and Indiana State Bar Associations. Mr. Anaya received his B.A. from Purdue University and his J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
Richard F. Bales
Richard F. Bales
Richard F. Bales is Assistance Regional Counsel at Chicago Title Insurance Company in Lisle. He concentrates his practice in real estate law. He is a member of the American Land Title Association/National Society of Professional Surveyors liaison committee that drafts the national land title survey standards, was recognized as Northern Illinois University College of Law’s 2015 Alum of the Year, and is the author of THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE AND THE MYTH OF MRS O’LEARY’S COW. Mr. Bales received his B.A. from Illinois College and his J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law.
Scott R. Borstein
Scott R. Borstein
Scott R. Borstein is a Partner at Neal & Leroy, LLC, in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in zoning, land use, and real estate transactions. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and licensed to practice law in both Illinois and California. Mr. Borstein received his B.A. cum laude from Miami University and his J.D. from Georgetown Law, where he was Associate Editor of the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal.
Matthew E. Cohn
Matthew E. Cohn
Matthew E. Cohn is an Officer at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in real estate and the litigation of environmental and insurance coverage matters. Before becoming an attorney, he worked as a hydrogeologist for a global environmental engineering and consulting firm for several years. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Environmental Law Section Council and the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources. Mr. Cohn received his B.S. in Geology with honors from Bucknell University, his M.S. in Geology from Indiana University, and his J.D. with honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Ronald S. Cope
Ronald S. Cope
Ronald S. Cope is a Partner at Schain, Banks, Kenny & Schwartz, Ltd., in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on complex land use matters and litigation in trial and appellate courts and municipal finance. He is a frequent writer and speaker for numerous organizations, including IICLE^®, the American Bar Association, and the Illinois Municipal League, and has taught business law courses at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He is a member of the American, Illinois State, and Chicago Bar Associations. Mr. Cope received both his B.A. and his J.D. from the University of Chicago.
Karen G. Courtney
Karen G. Courtney
Karen G. Courtney is a commercial underwriting attorney with Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on real estate and title insurance. She has served as an advisory member of the Forms Committee of the American Land Title Association and was a member of the ISBA Real Estate Law Section Council (2016 – 2018). She received her B.A. from the University of Central Arkansas and her J.D. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law.
Elizabeth A. Davis
Elizabeth A. Davis
No bio available.
Ania Domagala-Pierga
Ania Domagala-Pierga
No bio available.
Paul J. Evans
Paul J. Evans
Paul J. Evans is the Principal Attorney of the Evans Law Firm, PC, in O’Fallon, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of agricultural law, real estate, and estate planning. He is a member of the Illinois State, Missouri, and St. Clair County Bar Associations and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. He has served on the Agricultural Law Section Council of ISBA since 1995 in various capacities, including serving as Council Chair in 2002 – 2003. He has written articles for the ISBA Section Council’s Agricultural Law newsletter and has been a presenter for ISBA. He has spoken to nonprofit organizations on issues of land preservation. Mr. Evans earned his B.S. and his J.D. from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Thadford A. Felton
Thadford A. Felton
No bio available.
David A. Fernandes
David A. Fernandes
David A. Fernandes is a Staff Attorney and Office Supervisor for First Community Title Services, in Champaign, where he focuses his practice on real property and title insurance. Mr. Fernandes has been in private and corporate practice for more than 30 years. He is also a certified trust and financial advisor (CTFA). Mr. Fernandes is a member of various professional organizations, including the Champaign County and Illinois State Bar Association (Past Chair of the ISBA Professional Conduct Committee and committee member for more than 15 years). He earned his B.S. from the University of Tulsa, his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law at Champaign-Urbana, and is a graduate with Honors of the ABA National Trust School and National Graduate Trust School at Northwestern University.
Michael Filipski
Michael Filipski
Michael Filipski is the President and Founder of Compass Surveying, Ltd., in Aurora, where he has been practicing as a professional land surveyor in northeastern Illinois for over 30 years. He focuses on construction surveying, land boundary problems, right-of-way determination, and land development for residential, commercial, and municipal projects. Having founded the company in 1983, Mr. Filipski has served as President of the Northeast Chapter of the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association and has been a member of the Illinois Land Title and the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Associations, the Missouri Association of Registered Land Surveyors, and the National and Wisconsin Societies of Professional Land Surveyors. Mr. Filipski served as Editor of the book ILLINOIS LAWS RELATING TO SURVEYS, TITLE AND REAL PROPERTY and has also contributed to ILLLINOIS LAND BOUNDARIES and IICLE®’s RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE (2011).
Joseph P. Gattuso
Joseph P. Gattuso
Joseph P. Gattuso is a Partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of land use, zoning, historic preservation, and other regulatory matters; development incentives; acquisition of publicly owned property; liquor and business licensing issues; building and life safety code compliance; right-of-way adjustments; and subdivisions. He is a member of the American and Chicago Bar Associations. Mr. Gattuso received his B.A. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, where he was a member of the law review.
V. Gina Giannelli
V. Gina Giannelli
No bio available.
Keith W. Groebe
Keith W. Groebe
Keith W. Groebe is a Principal at Masuda Funai in Chicago, where he focuses on real estate. He is a member of the American and Chicago Bar Associations and Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent in Real Property Law. Mr. Groebe received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law.
Jack Guthman
Jack Guthman
Jack Guthman is Partner Emeritus at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Chicago, where his practice encompasses a broad range of activity before state and local boards, commissions, the Illinois General Assembly, and the Congress of the United States. He has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Real Estate and Land Use and Zoning Law annually since 2006. He was inducted into the Chicago Association of Realtors Hall of Fame for his achievements in the real estate industry. Mr. Guthman received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and his J.D. from Yale Law School.
Timothy J. Hammersmith, Jr.
Timothy J. Hammersmith, Jr.
Timothy J. Hammersmith, Jr., is a Principal at Masuda Funai in Chicago, where his primary areas of practice include a broad spectrum of real estate disciplines. He is a frequent author and lecturer on real estate issues such as taxation, site selection and real estate development incentives, and landlord/tenant matters. For two years, he also served as an adjunct professor for the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. He has served on the Illinois State Bar Association’s State and Local Taxation Section Council, serving as Chair of the Section Council from 1997 – 1998. Mr. Hammersmith earned his B.S. from the University of South Florida and his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, where he was a member of the law review.
R. Kymn Harp
R. Kymn Harp
R. Kymn Harp is a Shareholder and Chair of the Business and Real Estate Transactions Practice Group at Robbins, Salomon & Patt, Ltd., in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on commercial real estate. Mr. Harp is a prolific writer and frequent speaker on a wide range of topics related to his practice including publications for IICLE^® and his publication of ILLINOIS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE: DUE DILIGENCE TO CLOSING WITH CHECKLISTS. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, and State Bar of New Mexico and serves on the ISBA Real Estate Law Section Council. Mr. Harp earned his B.A. from Wabash College and his J.D. from UIC John Marshall Law School.
Joel M. Hurwitz
Joel M. Hurwitz
Joel M. Hurwitz is Of Counsel to Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on real estate, commercial lending, trusts, and estate planning. He is a former Chair and current member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Professional Conduct Committee, a Highland Park Public Library Trustee, and a member of the University of Pittsburgh Honors College Board of Visitors. He has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer for over ten years. He received his B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh, his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business, and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.
Douglas M. Karlen
Douglas M. Karlen
No bio available.
Lowell B. Krahn
Lowell B. Krahn
Lowell B. Krahn has worked for Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG since 2002), first as a law clerk and then as an attorney for the Commercial Department. He currently works with ATG member attorneys, lenders, closers, and non-ATG attorneys in underwriting all aspects of both commercial and residential transactions. Mr. Krahn also works closely with parties on post-foreclosure transactions and has experience underwriting properties that have been through the foreclosure process. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and is also a licensed attorney in the State of Florida. Mr. Krahn received his B.A. with distinction from the University of Colorado, his L.L.M. with honors and his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School.
Eugene S. Kraus
Eugene S. Kraus
Eugene S. Kraus is a Partner at Scott & Kraus, LLC, in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on banking, commercial, and real estate litigation. He has tried bench and jury cases to verdict in both state and federal courts and is a member of the American, Illinois State, and Chicago Bar Associations. He received his B.A. from Lake Forest College and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Dean W. Krone
Dean W. Krone
Dean W. Krone is a Partner at Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn LLP, in Arlington Heights, where he focuses on local government law and real estate development. He is a member of the American and Illinois State Bar Associations and the Illinois Council of School Attorneys. Mr. Krone received his B.S. and his J.D. from the University of Chicago.
James S. Levi
James S. Levi
James S. Levi is a Partner at Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn LLP, in Arlington Heights, where he serves as general counsel to school districts, municipalities, park districts, and other units of local government with a concentration in construction, real estate, and finance matters. Mr. Levi has extensive experience with public and private sector clients in these areas, within the realm of judicial and administrative proceedings, as well as alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Mr. Levi is the former Chair of the School Law Committee of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association. He is the coauthor of Selecting and Contracting with Construction Managers, From the Ground Up: Legal Issues in School Construction, a publication of the National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys. Mr. Levi served on the Fort Sheridan Joint Plan Commission from 2010 to 2011 and as an Alderman to the City of Highwood from 2011 to 2015. While in law school, he served an externship for the Honorable Ruben Castillo, U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. Prior to entering law school, he worked for Kemper Financial Services in equity management. Mr. Levi previously was associated with the law firm of Arnstein & Lehr, where he was a Member of the commercial real estate practice group and concentrated his practice in the area of commercial lending. Mr. Levi is licensed to practice law in both Illinois and California. Mr. Levi earned his B.S. cum laude from Loyola University-Chicago and his J.D. with honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Brian P. Liston
Brian P. Liston
Brian P. Liston is a Partner at Liston & Tsantilis, P.C., in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in land use. He has been named by Leading Lawyer magazine as the #1 Leading Lawyer in Land Use for 11 consecutive years, as well as being awarded the Top Attorney Award by Crain’s Chicago Business. He is the President of Liston Equities and a member of the John Purdue Club. Mr. Liston received his B.S. from Purdue University, his M.B.A. from Saint Xavier University, and his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. He has tried numerous jury and bench trial and has secured over $1 billion dollars in refunds for his clients.
Anthony J. Loizzi
Anthony J. Loizzi
No bio available.
Ann E. Minarik
Ann E. Minarik
No bio available.
Jeffrey A. Mollet
Jeffrey A. Mollet
Jeffrey A. Mollet practices at Silver Lake Group, Ltd., in Highland, where he focuses his practice on banking and finance, real estate, and agriculture. He is a frequent speaker and published author on agricultural topics. He served as Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Agricultural Law Section Council (2005 – 2006) and has been the Council’s newsletter editor for many years. He was also a speaker on venture capital and financing at the Illinois Coalition for Animal Agriculture Symposium (2002) and spoke on the topic of “Organizing New Generation Cooperatives” for the American Agricultural Law Association (2001). Mr. Mollet earned his B.S. from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and his J.D. from St. Louis University Law School.
John W. Morse
John W. Morse
No bio available.
Jennifer A. Mueller
Jennifer A. Mueller
No bio available.
Kimberly A. Nagle
Kimberly A. Nagle
No bio available.
Dennis J. Powers
Dennis J. Powers
Dennis J. Powers is a Partner at DLA Piper in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in construction law and real estate and commercial litigation. He has been selected to the Best Lawyers in America, Illinois Super Lawyers, and Illinois Leading Lawyers, all in the area of construction law, and is a member of the American and Chicago Bar Associations and the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys. Mr. Powers received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Daniel J. Slattery
Daniel J. Slattery
No bio available.
Sharilee Kempa Smentek
Sharilee Kempa Smentek
Sharilee Kempa Smentek is a Partner at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, LLP, in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice in commercial litigation, employment litigation, and products liability defense. She has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer Rising Star (2010, 2013 – 2017), an Emerging Lawyer (2015, 2016), and received Corporate Vision Magazine’s 2017 Legal Excellence Award. Ms. Smentek earned her B.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her J.D. summa cum laude, Order of the Coif from DePaul University College of Law.
Tania M.S. Stori
Tania M.S. Stori
No bio available.
Jack H. Tibbetts
Jack H. Tibbetts
Jack H. Tibbetts is the Assistant Village Attorney for the Village of Oak Park, where he concentrates his practice in real estate law. Mr. Tibbetts has written for previous editions of IICLE®’s REAL ESTATE LITIGATION and RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE. He is a current member and former Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Real Estate Law Section Council, was one of the drafters of the 1987 Illinois Mortgage Foreclosure Law, and has lectured on the subjects of defense of mortgage foreclosure, land use, and zoning issues at many programs. He received both his B.A. and his J.D from Northwestern University.
Peter Tsantilis
Peter Tsantilis
Peter Tsantilis is a Partner at Liston & Tsantilis, P.C., in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in real estate tax appeals and incentives, land use/zoning, complex industrial and commercial real estate transactions/leasing, and eminent domain litigation. He is a member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the NAIOP Chicago Legislative Committee. He was named one of the 40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch (2013), an Emerging Leading Lawyer (2015 – 2017), and a Leading Lawyer (2018 – 2021). Mr. Tsantilis received his B.B.A. summa cum laude from the Loyola University Chicago School of Business Administration and his J.D. cum laude from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

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Commercial Real Estate (ARCHIVED 2011 EDITION & 2013 SUPPLEMENT)

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David J. Alexander

William J. Anaya

Richard F. Bales

Scott R. Borstein

Matthew E. Cohn

Ronald S. Cope

Karen G. Courtney

Elizabeth A. Davis

Ania Domagala-Pierga

Paul J. Evans

Thadford A. Felton

David A. Fernandes

Michael Filipski

Joseph P. Gattuso

V. Gina Giannelli

Keith W. Groebe

Jack Guthman

Timothy J. Hammersmith, Jr.

R. Kymn Harp

Joel M. Hurwitz

Douglas M. Karlen

Lowell B. Krahn

Eugene S. Kraus

Dean W. Krone

James S. Levi

Brian P. Liston

Anthony J. Loizzi

Ann E. Minarik

Jeffrey A. Mollet

John W. Morse

Jennifer A. Mueller

Kimberly A. Nagle

Dennis J. Powers

Daniel J. Slattery

Sharilee Kempa Smentek

Tania M.S. Stori

Jack H. Tibbetts

Peter Tsantilis

Commercial Real Estate (ARCHIVED 2011 EDITION & 2013 SUPPLEMENT)