Ms. Kellman concentrates her practice on all aspects of complex commercial real estate development and finance, with particular focus on acquisition, disposition, development, management and financing of hotels and mixed use projects, representing owners and brands in single property and complex multi-state portfolio transactions. She works on projects throughout the United States and abroad, including projects in the Middle East. She is a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants.

Ms. Kellman has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, which speaks of her "dynamic practice" and praises her as “practical, pragmatic and effective.” She has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer in Real Estate, as the result of research projects conducted jointly by Law & Politics and Chicago magazines. She has also been selected as one of Real Estate Forum’s Women of Influence.

Ms. Kellman writes and speaks frequently on various real estate development topics. She co-chairs the firm's Global Real Estate Summit. She is on the planning committee and regularly speaks at the ALIS Hotel Investment Conference and was on the planning committee and a guest speaker at the 2001 and 2000 UCLA Hotel Industry Investment Conferences. She has been a guest speaker and panel moderator for several years at the NYU Hotel Conference and the Lodging Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Some major transactions include:

• Representation of The Blackstone Group in the sale of hotels throughout the U.S.
• Representation of LR Development in connection with a Canyon Ranch Hotel and Spa branded mixed use project in Chicago, which will include condominiums.
• Representation of Hilton Hotels in the $240,000,000 sale of the historic Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. 
• Representation of several hotel developers in the development of major mixed use projects in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Dubai. 
• Representation of a hotel company in a multi-state portfolio acquisition and related securitized financing. 
• Representation of hotel owners and developers in negotiation of management agreements with international management companies expanding into the U.S. 
• Representation of institutional investor in acquisition of multi-state four-star hotel portfolio.
• Representation of a major hotel REIT in connection with the acquisition, historic qualification, entitlements, and vertical subdivision of a landmark hotel on Chicago's Michigan Avenue.
• Representation of private owner and developer in approximately 10 acquisitions and financings over an 18-month period.
• Representation of a major national developer on structuring ownership and management issues relating to a 90+ story mixed use tower.
• Representation of a joint venture in redevelopment of an office campus in Washington, D.C., leasing of the development, and credit tenant financing. Lease transaction was named “DC lease of the year”.
• Representation of a joint venture purchaser of air rights adjacent to Union Station in Washington, D.C., and all necessary easements and other development structuring.
• Representation of independent power producer in multi-property assemblages, entitlement, and permits for development of 6 electrical generation facilities.
• Assemblage, development, financing, and sale of an 1100 MW electrical generation facility.
• Representation of an office building developer in connection with the development, financing, and disposition of fifteen office buildings.
• Representation of the owner of the commercial space in a major mixed use development in connection with the negotiations and restructuring of the governing covenants.
• Representation of a developer of two sustainable “new town” developments each containing single family and multifamily residential, retail, health care, and recreational components. 
• Representation of several office building owners in connection with leasing for national portfolios. 
• Representation of an international hotel chain in site acquisition, entitlements, and development of a flagship 4-star hotel in Chicago, Illinois. 
• Representation of owner in development and management issues relating to portfolios of golf course resorts and related mixed use projects.

ZULASSUNGEN

• Illinois

Publikationen

• "The Government as Lessee/Protective Measures for Landlords Leasing to Municipalities," Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (January 1999)

Seminars

• Moderator, "The Condo Hotel Phenomenon", International Hotel Investment Forum (Berlin, 2006)
• Panelist, "Hotel Ownership: The Big Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities," Americas Lodging Investment Summit (2006)
• Moderator, "How to Improve the Odds for a Successful Transaction," Americas Lodging Investment Summit (2005)
• Panelist, "Advisors on the Hot Seat," Americas Lodging Investment Summit (2004)
• Panelist, "What Keeps Your Lawyer Up at Night," NYU Hotel Conference (2004)
• Moderator, "Public/Private Partnerships," Lodging Conference (2003)
• Panelist, "An Overview of the Hotel and Resort Industry," Lodging Conference (2003)
• Panelist, "Ten Ways to get Hosed in the Hotel Industry . . . With Purchasing," Americas Lodging Investment Summit (2003)
• Panelist, "Drawing a Line in the Sand – Owner/Manager Relations," NYU Hotel Conference (2003)
• Panelist, "Hotel Management Agreement Hot Topics," NYU Hotel Conference (2002)
• Moderator, "Mixed Use Developments," Lodging Conference (2002)