[attorney_combined_sections]
Overview
William concentrates his practice in commercial real estate, subsidized residential housing and strategic planning for entrepreneurs. He represents real estate developers, commercial landlords, tenants and various closely-held businesses in complex transactions, locally and throughout the country.
Bill’s real estate practice extends to the acquisition, development, sale, leasing and financing of commercial, office, residential and retail properties.
In his affordable housing practice, Bill has represented owners and developers of thousands of housing units in numerous states with multi-layered financing including taxable and tax exempt bonds, low income housing tax credits, HOPE VI, Community Development Block Grants, Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds, Tax Credit Assistance Program and Tax Credit Exchange Program.
Bill has also represented developers of conventionally financed projects, both residential and commercial. He also guides buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants through all aspects of their respective transactions.
Aside from real estate matters, Bill has worked with numerous closely held businesses on a variety of matters including representing business in obtaining credit facilities, structuring start-up organizations and the purchase and sale of a number of business entities.
Bill is an avid sailor and participates annually in the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. Bill has also competed in the Transpac, racing from Long Beach, California to Honolulu, Hawaii.
Education
- J.D., University of Illinois, magna cum laude
- B.S., Northern Illinois University, cum laude
Admissions
- Illinois State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Significant Engagements
- Represented tenant in negotiating 15 year lease for 50,000 square foot retail space in downtown Chicago.
- 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 owner/developer of 165 unit affordable housing project in Ohio involving taxable bonds, tax exempt bonds and low income housing tax credits.
- Represented developer of over 300 unit multi-phase affordable housing development in West Virginia involving tax exempt bonds, low income housing tax credits, HOME loan funds, Community Development Block Grant funds, Federally earmarked funds, Tax Credit Assistance Program funds and the Tax Credit Exchange Program. Total project cost was in excess of $40 million.
- Represented buyer of existing promissory note and mortgage on residential apartment building in Chicago with negotiating purchase, financing, subsequent acquisition of property by deed in lieu of foreclosure and subsequent sale.
- Represented owner of multi-site retail business in Chicago area in connection with sale of business assets to multiple purchasers by location.
- Represented a real estate developer in the acquisition of a major building in Chicago by purchasing defaulted debt of the owner; restructuring the debt negotiating financing for developer secured by underlying debt documents 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.
- 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.
- Represented owner/developer of 165 unit affordable housing project in Ohio involving taxable bonds, tax exempt bonds and low income housing tax credits with a total project cost of approximately $8 million.
- Represented owner/developer of 152 unit affordable housing project in Ohio involving tax exempt bonds and low income housing tax credits with a total project cost of approximately $4.5 million.
- Represented owner/developer of 248 unit affordable housing project in West Virginia involving tax exempt bonds and low income housing tax credits with a total project cost in excess of $12 million.
- Represented owner/developer of 200 unit affordable housing project in Ohio involving tax exempt bonds and low income housing tax credits. The total project cost was approximately $6 million.
- Represented owner/developer of 110 unit affordable housing project in West Virginia involving tax exempt bonds and low income housing tax credits with a total project cost of approximately $6 million.
- Represented owner/developer of 333 unit affordable housing project in Ohio involving tax exempt bonds, low income housing tax credits and HOME loan and CDBG funds with a total project cost in excess of $20 Million.
- Represented owner/developer of assisted living facility in southern Illinois. Assisted with acquisition of property, segregation of air rights and deeding of air rights to related entity. Prepared air rights easement between two entities and HUD. Assisted with HUD financing of project and construction of ground level and air rights phase of development.
- Represented developer of 12 site affordable housing project in Illinois involving bonds and low income housing tax credits having a total project cost in excess of $50 million.
- Represented owner/developer of 240 unit affordable housing facility in Illinois involving conventional financing and HUD $12.5 million insure-upon-completion financing (221(d)(4)).
- Assisted client with restructuring real estate holding company and obtaining HUD consent to various estate planning driven transfers of ownership.
- Represented general partner in connection with the buy-out of limited partner in LIHTC transaction.
- Represented various property owners in connection with refinancing properties under HUD 223(a)(7) program.
- 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 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 purchaser of big box retail facility in Spokane, Washington. Assisted client with due diligence review, acquisition, assumption of lease and negotiating financing.
- Represented seller of big box retail site, including defeasance of existing debt on property.
- Represented seller of shopping center in Chicago area, including establishment of 1031 deferred exchange and subsequent acquisition of multifamily apartment property.
- Represented purchaser of 4 unit, walk-up apartment in Chicago. Assisted client with purchase, financing and structuring ownership entity.
- 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 client in connection with negotiation of contract for purchase of Chicago commercial 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 for substantial gain.
- 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 tenant in negotiating 20 year lease for 45,000 square foot fitness center in Chicago suburbs.
- Represented tenant in negotiating full floor office lease for downtown Chicago office building.
- Represented tenant in negotiating multi-floor office lease for Colorado office facility.
- Represented industrial tenant in negotiating 10 year lease for North Carolina manufacturing facility.
- Represented industrial tenant in negotiating 5 year lease of Illinois manufacturing facility and subsequent renewal and purchase option.
- Represented tenant in negotiating long term build-to-suit building lease in India.
- Represented landlord of Indiana retail properties in negotiating leases with retail tenants.
- Represented owner of industrial property in Illinois in connection with the lease of railroad facility and associated business assets.
- Represented lender in connection with suite of loan facilities to industrial customer including 2 mortgage loans, a term facility, a revolving line of credit and a non-revolving Cap-Ex line.
- Represented lender in connection with $15 million revolving facility to health club chain.
- Represented borrower in negotiating multiple loan facilities secured by rolling stock and leases of rolling stock.
- Represented manufacturing company in connection with over $10 million of revolving and term facilities, including the renewal of those facilities and subsequent acquisition of loan by an entity related to the borrower.
- Represented owner of multiple Chicago area multi-family apartment properties in Chicago area in connection with Fannie Mae backed refinancing ranging in size from $500,000 to $5 million.
- Represented large national entity in connection with acquisition of Midwest area construction equipment rental business valued in excess of $100 million. Assisted with negotiating purchase contract (structured as both stock and asset purchase based on multiple selling entities), completing due diligence, transferring all applicable leases, licenses and assets and the separate transfer of real estate used by the seller and owned by a related entity.
- Represented purchaser of Chicago area equipment rental business valued in excess of $22 Million through stock purchase. Assisted with all aspects from drafting and negotiating letter of intent through closing.
- Represented tenant in connection with 50,000 square foot built-to-suit facility in India.
- Represented seller of multi-site industrial properties in sale-leaseback transaction.
- Represented owner of real estate management company in connection with sale of stock of company and sale of multifamily properties owned by affiliate partnerships.
- Represented general partner in connection with buyout of tax credit syndicator limited partner from LIHTC deal and subsequent refinance of project.
Publications, Recognitions and Speaking Engagements
Leading Lawyers Network – Closely & Privately Held Business Law; Real Estate Law: Associations & Condominiums; Real Estate Law: Commercial; Real Estate Law: Finance (2017)
Professional Affiliations
- Chicago Yacht Club, Member
- Westgate Terrace Condominium Association, Board (2004-Present)
- Westgate Terrace Condominium Association, President (2006-2011)