Best Lawyers in Illinois, United States for Real Estate Law
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Cities
M. Christine Graff is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. M. Christine, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which M. Christine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Joel T. Cooper focuses his practice on transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, development and partnership and joint venture formation, with a special emphasis on private equity fund formation and private equity investment. As a partner in Hahn Loeser’s Chicago office, Joel is a part of the Business Practice Area, focusing in corporate and real estate law. Joel represents institutional sponsors of private equity funds, major money center banks, life insurance companies and ot...
Rachel Brown is a partner in the Real Estate Group in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Her practice focuses on finance, venture formation, acquisitions and dispositions, and development. She advises borrowers and lenders in all types of real estate based financing transactions including first mortgage loans, construction loans, mezzanine financings, credit facilities, subscription facilities and other structured financings. Rachel also represents clients on workouts, loan sales...
Jay Augustyn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Jay, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jay is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Tom is a litigator who represents property taxpayers throughout the country, ensuring their tax liabilities are secured at the lowest level allowable under the law. He represents clients spanning numerous industries, ranging in size and complexity from those with large, sophisticated real estate portfolios to those with just one building critical to their operations. Tom sets his clients’ expectations regarding measurable results in every property tax appeal. Before filing, he provides ...
Josh focuses on complex real estate transactions including joint ventures, acquisitions and dispositions as well as financing, development, management and restructuring of real estate assets. He advises private equity sponsors, publicly traded investment firms, REITs, foreign pension funds and other institutional investors and developers in transactions involving various asset classes, including multifamily, industrial, office, hospitality and opportunity zones. Josh has been recognized as a ...
Alison Constantine represents clients in a wide range of commercial disputes, drawing on her background as in-house counsel at a national financial institution. Her experience includes handling allegations of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, business divorces, tax controversies and commercial lease disputes, among other commercial matters. Additionally, Alison has experience advising clients on financial services matters, including fraudulent conveyance claims, breach of guaranty...
Kristi Mankowske focuses her practice on corporate and transactional matters, particularly in real estate. She represents owners, developers, investment firms, borrowers and lenders in purchase, sale, financing and development of commercial real estate. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/kristi-mankowske/
Elizabeth facilitates commercial real estate leases, acquisitions, dispositions, and loans. She diligently works with clients to efficiently shepherd transactions from start to finish. Elizabeth concentrates her practice on real estate and land use. She has experience in a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, including leasing, acquisitions, and dispositions of various asset types nationwide. Additionally, Elizabeth has worked on lender-side financing for acquisition loans and ...
Fernando Arias is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Fernando, who practices law in Chicago, Illinois, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Fernando is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lauren focuses her practice on a wide range of commercial real estate and related transactions. She provides clients with practical, meticulous, and thoughtful guidance, working diligently to achieve client goals and ensure transactions move seamlessly from kick-off through closing. Lauren represents private and institutional investors, including publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), in single-asset and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions, financing and leasing matters fo...
From deal structuring to closing, Dave takes a detailed and deal-driven approach to successfully achieve client goals across a broad scope of complex commercial real estate and finance transactions. Dave has a wide breadth of experience across commercial transactions involving single-asset and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, and lending. He has represented real estate investment trusts (REITs), corporations, commercial and investment banks, and other real estate investors an...
Audra represents clients in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions. She is thorough and efficient in fulfilling her clients’ objectives. Audra’s experience includes representing private and institutional investors, developers, banks, and owners in the acquisition, disposition, and development of all asset classes of real estate. She has experience in drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, conducting in-depth title and survey reviews, and handling closi...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.