William J. Lewis

Shareholder

T: 312-609-7930 F: 312-609-5005

Chicago

Bill is a shareholder in the Real Estate and Land Use group. His experience includes office, industrial, and retail leasing; acquisition, disposition, and development of commercial and residential real estate; commercial real estate lending and borrowing; single-family and condominium development and conversion; zoning; and most other types of transactions concerning the ownership, development, and financing of real estate.

• Leasing: Bill represents both landlords and tenants on a nationwide basis, and has been involved in landlord representation for several downtown Chicago, suburban, and national office, industrial, and retail buildings. On the tenant representation side, he has represented tenants in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia, on deals ranging from 5,000 RSF to 275,000 RSF, totaling in excess of 3,000,000 RSF.  Bill also assisted a national banking association with its retail leasing and acquisition needs for its expansion in Illinois, having completed over fifty transactions in one year. In addition, Bill represents several well-known local restaurants with their leasing and expansion needs. Finally, Bill has represented tenants on industrial leases of up to 850,000 RSF.
• Acquisition/Disposition: Bill has been responsible for acquiring and disposing of more than $450 million in commercial property, some of which contained significant environmental issues, including the recent disposal of several industrial buildings owned by a Fortune 500 corporation.
• Zoning: Bill has represented Fortune 50 corporations with critical zoning issues, including issues at a local corporation’s worldwide headquarters. Bill was successful in achieving the desired zoning variances that were necessary to the client’s image for its presence on its campus and in the village where its headquarters reside.
• Financing: Bill has assisted local and national lenders in providing financing for real estate and corporate acquisitions, developments, and refinancing. He has also represented a significant number of corporate and individual borrowers at various levels of net worth.
• Development: Bill has significant experience in all aspects of property development, including: the acquisition of property; the drafting of covenants, conditions, and restrictions; the establishment of easements and rights of way; property owners’ associations; and all aspects of condominium conversions.
• Pro Bono: Bill assisted Habitat for Humanity with the conversion and sale of apartment buildings to condominiums, and has assisted Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) with lease issues.
• Representative clients: Alfred Benesch & Co.; ACCO Brands Corporation; Bank of America, N.A.; Bank of Scotland; CareerBuilder, LLC; Chicago Title Insurance Company; Chicago Trading Company; Day 1 Studios; Dynacircuits; Fortune Brands; Hilco Real Estate; JDS Properties; Jim Beam Brands, Co.; JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.; Kayhan International, Inc.; LFC Capital, Inc.; MacDermid Incorporated; Master Lock Company, LLC; Motorola, Inc.; Park National Bank; Resurrection Healthcare Corp.; R-Group Development; and Rosebud Restaurants.
• Noteworthy Items: Tenant’s attorney/Crain’s List of Largest Chicago and Chicago Area Leases: 2001 (MarchFirst Inc.) and 2005 (Jim Beam Brands, Co.). Former Adjunct Professor at John Marshall School of Law - Real Estate Drafting. Lead Panelist - The Anatomy of a Headquarter’s Lease - presented to the Association of Corporate Counsel, 2007.
• Personal Organizations/Memberships: Chicago Catholic Cursillo and Old St. Patrick’s Patrician Society.

• Land Use and Zoning
• Leasing
• Real Estate & Land Use
• Retail Industry Service Team (“RIST”)

Representative Transactions Include:

• Represented Jim Beam Brands Worldwide in its headquarters' lease for office space (130,500 square feet) in Deerfield, Illinois.
• Negotiated 275,000 RSF lease of build-to-suit office building (Tenant’s Attorney).
• Negotiated 850,000 RSF industrial lease for manufacturer (Tenant’s Attorney).

• Negotiated 650,000 RSF industrial sale for light manufacturer (Seller’s Attorney).

• Negotiated approximately 75 leases worldwide (North America, Australia, Europe, Asia) for technology company with average size of 50,000 RSF (Tenant’s Attorney).

• Negotiated 50+ retail leases for national banking association (Tenant’s Attorney).

• Drafted and negotiated various office leases of varying sizes for landlord nationally in excess of 500,000 RSF (Landlord’s Attorney).

• J.D., Gonzaga University School of Law, 1995
• B.S., Marquette University, 1991

• Illinois

• The Economic Club of Chicago
• IAMC (Industrial Asset Management Council) - Site Selection Committee
• Chicago Association of Realtors