Gregory R. Andre is a Partner in the Real Estate Group of K&L Gates, LLP, in Chicago, with more than 30 years of extensive experience in commercial real estate law, including design and construction contracts, land use and development, leasing and sale-leasebacks, acquisitions and sales, real estate and construction, dispute resolution, and other matters involving properties located throughout the United States. He earned his B.S. magna cum laude from Boston College and his J.D. with honors from George Washington University Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review.
James C. Brescoll is a Partner with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on representing commercial real estate and commercial real estate finance. He also has extensive experience drafting and negotiating retail, office, and industrial leases for both landlords and tenants, with a specific focus on retail leasing involving shopping-center owners and tenants. Brescoll is a member of the Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations and the Urban Land Institute. He earned his B.A. from Columbia University and his J.D. from DePaul University.
Catherine A. Cooke is a Partner with Latimer LeVay Fyock LLC, in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on banking and finance transactions and commercial litigation. Cooke has authored numerous columns published in the IDC Quarterly, the flagship publication of the Illinois Defense Counsel, and served on its Editorial Board beginning in 2015, including as the Editor-In-Chief (2019 – 2020). She also served as the Editor-in-Chief of the 2020 IDC Survey of Law. Cooke earned her B.A. from Indiana University-Bloomington and her J.D. from The John Marshall Law School.
Sara A. Cooper is Of Counsel with Quarles & Brady LLP, in Chicago, where she focuses on real estate. Ms. Cooper is a member of the Chicago and American Bar Associations. She earned her B.A. cum laude from Boston College and her J.D. with honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
William J. Dorsey is a Partner at Blank Rome LLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on high-stakes commercial finance, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, and executive compensation and non-compete disputes. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers (2012 – 2022) and as a Notable Gen X Leader in Accounting, Consulting, and Law by Crain’s Chicago Business (2022). Mr. Dorsey received his B.A. from Claremont McKenna College and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Lawrence C. Eppley is a Partner of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in hospitality. Eppley is a Law 360, Hospitality Editorial Advisory Board Member (2016 – 2023) and Chair of the Board of Directors of Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center/1871, a nonprofit that operates an incubator that provides programming and services for entrepreneurs and start-ups. Eppley earned his B.S. from the University of Illinois, his M.A.S. from the University of Illinois, and his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Timothy D. Gronewold is an associate with Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC, in Peoria, where he focuses on business litigation for financial institutions; business bankruptcy and creditors’ rights; and labor, employment, and immigration issues. His professional achievements include recognition by Illinois Super Lawyers (“Rising Stars,” 2015 – 2019), Illinois Leading Lawyers (“Emerging Lawyer,” 2015 – 2019), and Peoria Magazine (“40 Leaders Under Forty,” 2014). Mr. Gronewold is a member of the Peoria County and Illinois State (Labor and Employment Law Section Council) Bar Associations, as well as the Abraham Lincoln American Inns of Court. He earned both his B.S. and J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.
R. Kymn Harp is a Shareholder and member of the Executive Committee at Robbins DiMonte Ltd., in Chicago, and has years of service as Chair of the firm’s Business and Real Estate Transactions Group. Harp has over 40 years of experience representing investors, developers, business owners, and other stakeholders in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions and development. He is a frequent presenter at IICLE® programs and ISBA programs on topics related to commercial real estate, and he is the author and moderator for www.Harp-OnThis.com, a commercial real estate and business blog. Harp has received awards and recognitions including the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review (Rated AV – Preeminent, for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability), a multiyear selection as an Illinois Super Lawyer, and the Illinois Lincoln Award for Excellence in Legal Writing. He is a member of the Illinois, Indiana, and New Mexico State Bar Associations, and is an appointed member of the Illinois State Bar Association Real Estate Law Section Council. Harp earned his B.A. from Wabash College and his J.D. from University of Illinois – Chicago (John Marshall Law School).
Thomas C. Homburger has written for this handbook for more than 35 years and has written for numerous journals, including the ABA Real Property, Probate, and Trust Journal and The John Marshall Law Review. He has lectured for organizations including the Institute of Real Estate Management, the International Real Estate Institute, and the American Land Title Association and is an adjunct professor at The John Marshall Law School. He earned his B.A. from Columbia University and his J.D. cum laude from Columbia University School of Law.
Chase M. Hundman is an associate at Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC, in Chicago, and focuses his practice on business and employment law. Mr. Hundman received his B.A. cum laude from Illinois Wesleyan University and his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School.
Kevin V. Hunt is a Member of Stahl Cowen Crowley Addis LLC, in Chicago, where he practices in the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group and concentrates in the area of real estate litigation, representing mortgagees, developers, owners, contractors, and title insurance companies. Mr. Hunt is a member of the Turnaround Management Association and a member of the Chicago, Illinois State, and American Bar Associations. Mr. Hunt earned his B.A. from Wabash College and his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Ariane M. Janz is an associate at Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC, in Chicago, and concentrates her practice in commercial and general litigation. Ms. Janz is a Member of the Chicago Bar Association and its Commercial Litigation Committee. She received her B.A. summa cum laude from Syracuse University and her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law. Ms. Janz was a federal clerk for Judge C.J. Williams at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
Karl L. Marschel is a Partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in commercial real estate, brownfield redevelopment, and public finance. Marschel earned his B.A. from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his J.D. from Washington University School of Law, where he was the Associate Managing Editor of the Journal of Law & Policy.
Noah A. Menold is an associate at Howard & Howard Attorneys, PLLC, in Peoria, where he focuses his practice in commercial litigation. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Civil Practice & Procedure Section Council and Construction Law Section Council. He has been recognized as an Emerging Lawyer by Leading Lawyers in the areas of commercial litigation, closely and privately held business law, and medical malpractice defense law. He has also been recognized as “One To Watch” by Best Lawyers in the area of commercial litigation. Mr. Menold received his B.S. summa cum laude from Bradley University, where he was recognized as the Kalman Goldberg Outstanding Senior Business Student (2010 – 2011) and awarded the rank of Top Collegiate Scholar: Management (2011). He received his J.D. magna cum laude from Northern Illinois University College of Law, where he was the Brian E. and Tamra A. McGough Prize Recipient (2014) and the Northern Illinois University Law Review: Notes & Comments Editor (2013 – 2014).
Timothy J. Patenode is a Partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on real estate litigation. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section and Construction Forum. Mr. Patenode received his B.A. from Northwestern University and his J.D. cum laude from Northwestern University Pritzker Law School.
Joseph R. Podlewski, Jr., is in private practice with Podlewski & Hanson P.C., in Western Springs. Podlewski represents clients on a wide variety of environmental matters (including contested matters in state and federal court) and has appeared before numerous environmental agencies. He also provides advice and counsel to clients on environmental issues arising in commercial real estate transactions. He is a member of the Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations. He is Past Chair of both ISBA’s Environmental Law Section Council and the CBA’s Environmental Law Committee and was appointed to the Governor’s Small Business Environmental Task Force in 1994. He was selected as both an Illinois Super Lawyer and Leading Lawyer and was featured in 2013 in Chicago’s Legal Leaders as among the “Top Rated Lawyers in Chicago” in the practice areas of environmental law and land use. He earned his B.A. from Northern Illinois University and his J.D. with honors from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he was a Lead Articles Editor of the Chicago-Kent Law Review.
John M. Rafkin is a Partner with Jones Day in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in real estate finance. Rafkin represents individual lenders, bank groups, agents, and borrowers in single-and multi-asset financings of commercial real estate. He is experienced with all types of real estate, including office, retail, student and senior housing, multi-family and industrial, and has particularly deep experience with hospitality financing. His practice often focuses on the workout of troubled loans, including complex, multi-tiered loan restructurings, deeds-in-lieu, debt for equity swaps, bankruptcy, deficiency notes, and other settlement structures. He has been included in the U.S. edition of THE LEGAL 500 since 2010. He received his A.B. cum laude from Harvard University and his J.D. cum laude and Order of the Coif from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
Michael J. Roth Jr. is a Partner at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, in Chicago, where he is in the firm’s Real Estate, Energy, Land Use & Environmental Practice Group and concentrates his practice in real estate. Roth earned his B.A. from Truman State University and his J.D. from Washington University School of Law.
Joseph B. VanFleet is a Managing Partner at Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC in Peoria, where he concentrates his practice in business litigation. He is a member of the American and Illinois State Bar Associations and the American Inns of Court. Mr. VanFleet received his B.S. with high honors from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Brian P. Welch is a Partner at Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C., in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on bankruptcy, business reorganization, debtor’s and creditor’s rights, insolvency, and commercial litigation. He has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in the field of Business Bankruptcy by Illinois Super Lawyers Magazine and as an “Emerging Lawyer” in the field of Bankruptcy & Workout Law by Illinois Emerging Lawyers Magazine. He earned his B.A. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he was on the Dean’s List, and his J.D. cum laude from The John Marshall Law School, where he worked on The John Marshall Law Review, was in the Moot Court Honors Program (Executive Board), and was on the Dean’s List.
Theodore I. Yi is a Partner with Quarles & Brady LLP, in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in the area of real estate law. His extensive and varied real estate experience includes a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, with a particular focus on commercial lease transactions, representing both owners and users of office, retail, and industrial properties. Mr. Yi has been listed in Chambers USA, was named a 2011 Business Leader of Color by Chicago United, and is a Fellow in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He earned both his B.A. and B.S. from the University of Illinois, with Phi Beta Kappa honors, and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
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