Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law

Hard work is part of my DNA. I put myself through law school at night while working full time. I am both an attorney and a business owner with over 30 years experience. I understand that business is not a 9-5 proposition, and that's why my clients know they can reach me whenever they need me.

Erik Piazza practices in the area of real estate and business. He represents a variety of commercial, residential, and mixed use developers. His practice is primarily focused on real estate matters, including commercial and residential developments, commercial leases, banking/financing, planning and zoning, condominium regimes and other commercial transactions.

Ms. Li practices in real estate, concentrating in condominium and planned real estate development law. Her experience includes residential condominiums, and subdivided lot communities administered by associations, where she structures the interests of high-rises, single-family detached units, townhomes, stacked flats and duplexes. She is experienced in the conversion of rental properties to the condominium form of ownership and the statutes and regulations governing the removal of tenants in ...

Karen has a general commercial real estate development and finance practice representing owners, developers and financial institutions in construction, term and bridge financing transactions for all commercial real estate asset classes. She also leads the firm's Affordable Housing and Community Economic Development Group and has significant experience representing owners, developers, financial institutions and quasi-public agencies in HUD and Fannie Mae-financed developments, federal and stat...

Kerk practices in the areas of residential and commercial real estate litigation and loan workouts. He has handled numerous commercial foreclosure cases including golf courses, stockyards, theaters, commercial office buildings, development tracts and hotels. He has successfully tried cases in the South Carolina Supreme Court on behalf of lenders and recently litigated the enforceability of arbitration agreements regarding consumer claims against the lender. His construction work has involved ...

Wayne A. Yaffee is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Wayne A., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Wayne A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ms. Cargile represents parties in all aspects of commercial real estate, including leasing, finance and joint ventures. She has a national leasing practice having represented landlords and tenants in both lease negotiation and lease enforcement. She also represents life companies and other lenders in placing financing, and, additionally, in realizing upon collateral where necessary. Ms. Cargile has a great deal of experience using her lending knowledge to assist borrowers in negotiating favor...

Kevin J. Morris is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Kevin J., who practices law in Phoenix, Arizona, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lydia Chartre earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Carthage College and her Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School. She practices with Kaman & Cusimano LLC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she focuses on Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law. Lydia regularly advises condominium and community association boards on a wide range of legal matters, including declaration and bylaw amendments, assessment collec...

Dennis is a senior partner and a founder of Barack Ferrazzano. He concentrates his practice on commercial real estate and business planning matters. Dennis is the primary North American real estate counsel for Bernard Arnault, Agache, LVMH, and the LVMH brands in the Americas. Dennis is consistently ranked among the top lawyers in Illinois for his real estate practice. He has been Band ranked in Chambers USA for more than 20 consecutive years, named by Leading Lawyers as the #1 Real Estate La...

Amanda Gunter is an experienced commercial real estate attorney who focuses her practice on complex commercial real estate transactions. She represents master planned community developers and residential homebuilders in the acquisition, sale, and development of residential and commercial property.

P. Arley Harrel is a Seattle-based attorney who focuses on civil litigation, trust and estate litigation, and real estate and commercial disputes. He represents clients across Washington and Oregon in a broad range of litigation matters in both state and federal courts. Arley’s practice includes commercial disputes, real estate litigation, condemnation and eminent domain, construction, employment, environmental law, intellectual property, municipal liability, products liability, profess...

J. Scott Timmer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. J. Scott, who practices law in Norton Shores, Michigan, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which J. Scott is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kelly Behr is an associate in the Affordable Housing practice group. She works with affordable housing clients across the country on transactional matters involving multifamily affordable housing acquisition, construction, ownership, development, financing, rehabilitation and preservation. In addition to her affordable housing practice, Kelly regularly provides pro bono representation to domestic violence victims seeking protective orders. What do you focus on? I work with clients on all aspe...

Mr. Whittaker is Chair of the firm's Business Section. He represents clients in a wide variety of transactions, including buying, selling and merging companies; private placements of securities; venture capital and private equity transactions; joint ventures; roll-ups, spin-offs and split-ups; and all phases of real estate acquisitions, development and financing. Mr. Whittaker joined Stone Pigman in 1984.

Christopher S.W. Blake focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, and financings for a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, gaming, and real estate. Chris is a co-chair of Hahn Loeser’s International Practice Group and Corporate Transactions Group. He works on deals in the U.S. and around the world. He has worked with clients in countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. Chris regularly us...