America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2005: Real Estate

Chambers & Partners has compiled their independent and objective list of America's Leading Lawyers for Business based on comments gathered from thousands of interviews with clients and lawyers from Maine to Hawaii. This guide -- which is designed to reflect market opinion -- contains a view of the firms and attorneys who are considered leaders in their field.

In Chambers' 2005 review of national legal talent in the area of "Real Estate," our Firm and our lawyers are listed among the best in the country.

Chambers' comments:

Illinois Ranking:  3

The Firm: Local commentators expect to see more of this growing and enthusiastic 30-lawyer Chicago team, which inspired the label "the kings of private equity real estate work." A "tremendous corporate team" overlaps with this young real estate team, something appreciated by institutional clients putting together development joint ventures and real estate funds. The firm also boasts a robust hospitality sector practice.

The Lawyers: Splitting his time between New York and Chicago, the "business-oriented and pragmatic" real estate head Steve Tomlinson divides his attention between hospitality-related transactions, national and cross-border fund formation and real estate private equity. He represented LaSalle Investment Management in the formation of LaSalle Japan Logistics Funds I and II, with total commitments of $400 million. He also acted for General Motors Asset Management in the formation of a $2 billion joint venture with The Mills Corporation, to own and operate a portfolio of nine super-regional shopping centers.

The Clients: Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Lazard Freres Real Estate Investors; LaSalle Investment Management; CenterPoint Properties; General Motors Investment Management; The Lionstone Group; Kimpton Group and Hyatt.

Reprinted with permission from Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2005 - www.chambersandpartners.com.