James L. Beard concentrates his practice in commercial real estate law and has represented clients in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, financing, joint venture formation, construction contract negotiation, lease preparation, and government procurement and contracting. Mr. Beard has also had considerable experience in representing developers and institutional lenders in restructuring and workout of troubled real estate projects.

Mr. Beard has been designated an Illinois Super Lawyer in Real Estate in every year since 2005, when Super Lawyers began surveying Illinois attorneys. The respected English publisher Chambers & Partners lists Mr. Beard in Chambers USA: America 's Leading Lawyers for Business.

Some representative transactions include:

• Representation of borrower in more than seven securitized debt transactions in 2005 representing loans in excess of $2 billion.
• Representation of a borrower in connection with a $1.44 billion securitized loan covering 29 properties. At the time the transaction was completed, the financing was the largest single-sponsor CMBS transaction to date.
• Representation of client in debt and joint venture restructuring involving an office building in New York, New York.
• Representation of client in acquisition of the controlling interest in joint ventures owning three office buildings in New York, New York.
• Representation of client in acquisition of One New York Plaza and securitized debt transaction in connection therewith.
• Representation of client in acquisition of a portfolio of office buildings in eight jurisdictions from a life insurance company.
• Representation of client in acquisition and financing of Metropolitan Square in St. Louis, Missouri.
• Representation of a developer in vertical subdivision of an office building into a multi-use project, including residential condominiums.
• Representation of a borrower in connection with a $300 million securitized loan transaction involving eleven office buildings located in seven states.
• Representation of a borrower in connection with a $236 million securitized first mortgage loan and a $36 million mezzanine loan involving two office buildings in New York, New York.
• Representation of an apartment REIT in connection with tax-free acquisition of multifamily portfolio in exchange for $150 million of OP units.
• Representation of purchaser in its acquisition of the Sears Tower in Chicago, Illinois which investment included the purchase of a basket of partnership, stock and other equity interests and the assumption of secured and unsecured indebtedness for approximately $110 million in cash and $900 million of indebtedness.
• Representation of developer of an office building in Atlanta, Georgia including site acquisition, financing, construction contracts, and architect’s agreements.
• Representation of owner in redevelopment of a hotel in Houston, Texas.
• Representation of client in acquisition and financing of three office buildings in Houston, Texas from a life insurance company.
• Representation of client in acquisition of subordinate convertible mortgage loan encumbering office building in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Representation of client in acquisition of a portfolio of 20 office properties.
• Representation of client in acquisition of an office building in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• Representation of Dade County in development of the Miami Heat stadium in Florida.

許可

• Illinois

專業資格

• American Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Chicago Bar Association