Top best Land Use Lawyers in Chicago | 172 available

Nicholas C. Zagotta is a principal of Roberts McGivney Zagotta LLC. His practice includes the representation of municipalities, construction firms, physical fitness centers, chemical, manufacturing and distribution companies, real estate developers, professional athletes, hospitals, individuals, religious orders, commodities firms, securities firms, individual traders, and a multitude of other varied business entities extensively in corporate, as well as in litigation matters. He was the lead attorney for the plaintiff in Homeyer v Stanley Tulchin and Associates, (91 F.3d 959 (1996)), a seminal case in determining who is "disabled" as defined within the Americans with Disabilities Act. Prior to practicing law, he was the principal of Zagotta Grain, a commodity trading firm. He served as a guest lecturer at the Coceral Grain Conference in Bruges, Belgium, and at the Futures Research Symposium in Rome, Italy. He has been an expert witness in many commodity and futures cases. He currently serves on the John Marshall Law School Board of Trustees and has served on various community and corporate boards, including the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Transit Authority and the Western Golf Association. He is licensed to practice in Illinois and Georgia.

Mr. Rock is a founding member of the firm and concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation and civil rights litigation. He represents individuals and corporate clients in a wide variety of matters including commercial disputes, construction litigation, real estate taxation and complex, high-stakes litigation. Mr. Rock advises and represents municipalities and governmental agencies in various issues including civil rights defense, labor and employment, eminent domain, and tax increment financing. Mr. Rock also represents condominium associations and its board members regarding various issues related to the Illinois Condominium Property Act.. Mr. Rock has significant experience in complex litigation matters and has taken many cases to verdict and defended successful verdicts at the appellate level. Mr. Rock is a member of the Federal Trial Bar and has successfully represented clients in hearings, bench trials and jury trials in both State and Federal Courts as well as before various administrative tribunals.. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Rock was an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Mr. Rock authored dozens of appeals on behalf of the People of the State of Illinois and prosecuted hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases in both bench and jury trials.. In addition to his professional duties, Mr. Rock is a member of the Alumni Board of Governors for his alma mater, Loyola University School of Law.  Additionally, Mr. Rock has served as a coach to the mock trial and moot court teams at Loyola University School of Law.  He is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee and has served as a mentor to young lawyers through the Illinois State Bar Association. Mr. Rock also participates in the Mentoring Program for Pre-Law Undergraduate Students at Miami University.. Mr. Rock is proud to be a member of the National Executive Board for GiGi’s Playhouse, Inc. a not-for-profit network of Down syndrome awareness and educational centers that provide resources, specialized teaching, and support to individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community.  Mr. Rock is also on the Board of Trustees for the Village of Clarendon Hills Police Pension Board.. Mr. Rock has been named a “Super Lawyer” by Law and Politics Magazine and was honored by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company by being named one of the “40 Attorneys Under 40 in Illinois to Watch.

I focus my law practice in the areas of real estate tax assessments, property tax incentives and tax exemptions.  I have extensive experience representing a variety of property owners including REIT's, multi-unit residential and condominium properties, commercial and industrial properties, as well as downtown Chicago office buildings, hotels/motels, parking lots, gas stations and restaurants.. My experience in litigation is extensive.  Currently I maintain a docket of over 100 active cases in Circuit Court seeking to obtain property tax refunds on behalf of my clients' property assets.. In 2008, I authored the chapter, "Tax Objection Complaints" in the book, “Real Estate Taxation” and co-authored the chapter, “Real Estate Tax Considerations” in the book “Residential Real Estate Transactions” for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education.  I also co-authored the article “Five Things Every Attorney Should Know About Appealing Their Client’s Real Estate Taxes” appearing in the January, 2004 edition of the “CBA Record”.. I was the former Chairman, Legislative Liaison, and Chairman of the Assessment and Appeals Sub-committee for the Chicago Bar Association's Real Estate Taxation Committee.  I have lectured before the Chicago Bar Association’s continuing legal education seminars entitled, "Real Estate Taxation: What You Don't Know Could Hurt You and Your Client" (2010) and “Real Estate Taxation: An Overview for the Non-Specialist” (2005).. Additionally, I have acted as Special Assistant State’s Attorney on behalf of Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer, as Trustee of the Indemnity Fund in the defense of a claim against the Indemnity Fund.  I have also served on the Cook County Treasurer, Maria Pappas’ Joint Committee for the automation of the Illinois Transfer Tax Form, which is responsible for the design and future implementation of internet accessible filing, fee collection and transmission of the State of Illinois transfer tax information for all real estate transactions in Illinois.

Donna J. Pugh is a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP where she focuses her practice on obtaining governmental approvals related to land use and zoning on behalf of her retail, health care and corporate clients. With her approach of bridging the gap between client, civic and municipal needs, Ms. Pugh has an exceptionally high success rate of securing necessary entitlements for land development projects in the Chicago area.. A consensus builder, Ms. Pugh works to unite property owners, elected officials and community groups to achieve approvals that maximize flexibility of future land use and benefit all involved stakeholders. A member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice and Senior Living Industry Team, she was selected for inclusion in the 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Illinois Super Lawyers® lists for her zoning and land use work. She was also selected for inclusion in the 2010 Super Lawyers® Corporate Counsel list. She has been selected as a Leading Lawyer in the area of Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law from 2003-2010, and was named as one of the Top Business Lawyers in Illinois in 2010 Leading Lawyers Magazine – Business Edition. Ms. Pugh is recognized in the 2011 edition of Best Lawyers of America for her work in land use and zoning law. *. Ms. Pugh has experience in securing rezoning, variations, text amendments and other land use approvals.. Ms. Pugh is proud to recognize that the firm Foley & Lardner LLP has taken top honors in client service among law firms serving the Fortune 1000 and has been ranked number one on the 2010 BTI Client Service 30 list.. * The Illinois Supreme Court does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.

Danielle Meltzer Cassel is a Shareholder in the Vedder Price Real Estate group focusing on transactional real estate, land use and public incentives law. Since 1996, her transactional and land use work has covered a broad spectrum of property types in both urban and suburban contexts, including mixed-use developments, retail and office developments, hotels, hospitals, schools and universities, religious institutions, industrial parks, manufacturing facilities, billboard signage, and single-family and multifamily residential developments.. Ms. Cassel has represented purchasers and sellers, lessors and lessees, providers of debt and equity, developers, project operators and end users in transactions ranging from the beginning phases of due diligence, formation of joint ventures, design and construction to the ongoing operations, disposition, redevelopment and refinancing of existing properties.. Ms. Cassel has successfully obtained governmental approvals for several hundred land use and development projects, including numerous planned developments, subdivisions, annexations, disconnections, map and text amendments, special uses, variations, permits, business licenses (including liquor, restaurant and hotel licenses), establishment of legal-nonconformity status, landmark designation and historic preservation projects, utility and transportation infrastructure agreements, and approvals for billboard, high-rise and streetfront signage.  Ms. Cassel has successfully negotiated and closed PPP or economic incentive components for more than 100 projects, nationwide, including impact fee and utility cost reductions, recapture agreements, tax increment financing, governmental grants and loans, sales and property tax rebates and abatements, and various state and federal tax credits.. The elite Legal 500 United States lists Ms. Cassel as a "Leading Lawyer" for the entire Country in Real Estate and Construction-Land Use/Zoning.  Ms. Cassel has been selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, named as a Leading Illinois Commercial Real Estate Lawyer by Leading Lawyers Network and recognized as an "up and coming" lawyer (Illinois Real Estate category) in Chambers USA, which noted her "phenomenal brain and terrific client skills.”. From 1999 until 2008, Ms. Cassel co-taught seminars in zoning and land use law at both Northwestern University Law School and University of Chicago Law School. She has been an invited speaker for the Urban Land Institute, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, American Bar Association and International Council of Shopping Centers.. Ms. Cassel was a member of Leadership Greater Chicago’s Class of 2006 and has received a "Tomorrow’s Leaders Today" award from Public Allies Chicago and a Special Recognition Award from the Partnership to End Homelessness. She currently serves on boards of the Primo Center for Women and Children, The Law Project (formerly the Community Economic Development Law Project) and Yale Club of Chicago. Ms. Cassel also served for several years on boards of Public Allies Chicago, Business and Professional People for the Public Interest and WomanCraft, Inc.. Prior to joining Vedder Price, Ms. Cassel spent 13 years in the Real Estate Department at DLA Piper US LLP. Prior to beginning her legal career, she worked, studied and volunteered extensively in several fields related to inner-city development and enhancement of public sector service delivery. Her three most significant research projects included multi-year studies of the 1990 National Affordable Housing Act; lending collaborations for Community Reinvestment Act credit among traditional mortgage lenders and neighborhood-based institutions; and bridge loans facilitating non-syndicated Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity investments.

Amy Kurson helps businesses interact with municipal governments. She has extensive experience in real estate development, municipal law, and environmental compliance. For more than 20 years, Amy has provided her clients practical solutions for complex problems. She is particularly adept at balancing her clients’ business, legal, and long-term relationship interests.. Amy has assisted a wide range of development clients including public-private partnerships, hospitals, charter schools, pawn shops, fast-food chains, industrial facilities, mixed use and transit-oriented residential developments. She negotiates real estate development agreements and association documents, as well as municipal development, sales tax, and economic incentive agreements.. Amy received her Juris Doctor from the Chicago Kent College of Law. She is managing partner of Reyes Kurson, Ltd.