Commercial Sales, Acquisitions & Leasing

The real estate attorneys of Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Helsinger LLP have years of experience in sales, acquisitions and leasing transactions.  We have extensive experience representing buyers and sellers of all kinds of real estate, including industrial facilities, multi-unit residential and office properties, and retail space.  Our real estate and tax attorneys have worked together to guide our clients through numerous forward and reverse Section 1031 tax deferred exchange transactions.

We have negotiated on behalf of our clients in hundreds of leasing transactions ranging from single retail locations to multi-floor office leases and industrial leases of all sizes.  Our attorneys quickly respond to changes in the leasing market and draw upon their wealth of knowledge to address current and anticipate future issues that may arise for our clients. 

Our Real Estate & Community Development attorneys' recent and notable engagements in commercial sales, acquisitions and leasing include:

• Represented owner of industrial property in Illinois in connection with the lease of railroad facility and associated business assets.

• Represented landlord of Indiana retail properties in negotiating leases with retail tenants.

• Represented industrial tenant in negotiating 5 year lease of Illinois manufacturing facility and subsequent renewal and purchase option. 

• Represented industrial tenant in negotiating 10 year lease for North Carolina manufacturing facility.

• Represented tenant in negotiating multi-floor office lease for Colorado office facility.

• Represented tenant in negotiating full floor office lease for downtown Chicago office building. 

• Represented tenant in negotiating 20 year lease for 45,000 square foot fitness center in Chicago suburbs.

• Represented tenant in negotiating 15 year lease for 50,000 square foot retail space in downtown Chicago.

• Represented owner of 13 site retail business in Chicago area on an on-going basis and in connection with the divisions of that business into multiple separate entities and sale of each of those entities to various purchasers. 

• Represented client in connection with negotiation of contract for purchase of Chicago real estate.  Assisted client with extending contingency periods for over a year and represented client in connection with the closing of the simultaneous purchase and sale of the subject property.

• Represented purchaser of multi-tenant commercial property in Hammond, Indiana.  Worked with client to secure contract rights when seller tried to breach contract and terminate purchaser’s rights.

• Represented purchaser of 4 unit, walk-up apartment in Chicago.  Assisted client with purchase, financing and structuring ownership entity. 

• Represented seller of shopping center in Chicago area, including establishment of 1031 deferred exchange and subsequent acquisition of multifamily apartment property.

• Represented seller of big box retail site, including defeasance of existing debt on property.

• Represented purchaser of big box retail facility in Spokane, Washington.  Assisted client with due diligence review, acquisition, assumption of lease and negotiating financing.

• Represented owner of real property in Chicago area in connection with sale of property, acquisition of new property through 1031 exchange intermediary, construction of new facility on newly acquired property and transfer of property with completed facility from intermediary to client.

• Represented developer of 225 unit residential condominium project in downtown Chicago, including property acquisition and negotiation of air rights easement with adjacent property owner to satisfy zoning requirements for proposed construction.  Assisted client with structuring ownership entity, construction and mezzanine financing, architect’s agreement and construction contract and condominium documents.

• Represented developer of 225 unit residential condominium project in downtown Chicago, including structuring ownership entity, construction and mezzanine financing, architect’s agreement and construction contract and condominium documents.

• Represented real estate developer in acquisition of manufacturing building in Chicago, including successful renegotiation of financing.  Assisted in converting building to 212 residential condos and first floor commercial rental space.  Negotiated leases of commercial space.

• Structured  acquisition of a major building in Chicago for real estate developer by purchasing defaulted debt of the owner, restructuring the debt and later acquiring the building through a deed in lieu of foreclosure, and subsequent sale of the building for substantial gain after short term hold to strategic buyer.

• Participated in development and formation of large chain of consumer retail service outlets.  Continuing general corporate representation and assisted in obtaining operational financing.  Represented company in strategic sales of outlets.

• Represented national retail chain through growth to over 60 company-owned stores and over 40 franchised stores in general corporate matters, real estate leasing and property acquisition, franchisee relations, debt financing transactions and ultimate advantageous sale of all stock of the company to strategic buyer while retaining the real estate on long term advantageous leases to Buyer.  Retained by Buyer for other legal work following closing of the transaction.

• Advised food industry start up business in formation of the company and expansion to multiple locations in Chicago.