Alvin Katz

Alvin Katz has a widely diversified practice, representing real estate investors and developers in joint ventures and partnerships, acquisitions and dispositions of real property, debt and equity financings, and management and leasing transactions. Mr. Katz is consistently ranked in the top tier of Chicago real estate lawyers by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, which quotes clients who describe him as "a really good lawyer with great business sense," "[f]antastic … stellar at explaining key points during transactions … a go to lawyer who is at the top of his game," "a smart and sophisticated attorney who absolutely deserves his top-tier ranking,” and “probably the best for joint ventures.” Legal 500 calls him "an absolutely first class lawyer" and says that Mr. Katz “comes up very frequently” among the real estate lawyers clients mention most, quoting clients who describe him as “a really big name in the market,” and “outstanding … as good as it gets.” He has also been selected for inclusion in Guide to the World’s Leading Real Estate Lawyers, Who's Who in American Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2006–2013), Leading Lawyers in Illinois and Illinois Super Lawyers (2005–2013).

During more than 30 years of practice, Mr. Katz has been involved in virtually every aspect of the real estate industry. In recent years his practice has focused on representing clients that provide equity capital for real estate transactions. His clients include opportunity funds, investment advisers, public and private pension funds, and real estate investment trusts. In recognition of his accomplishments in real estate law, he has been selected for membership in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

Speeches and Presentations

Mr. Katz is a frequent speaker at real estate industry conferences and continuing education programs for lawyers and real estate professionals. Representative presentations include:

• “Making Outsized Returns in an Illiquid Asset Class,” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (January 2013)
• “Looking to Core and Core-Plus Assets,” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (May 2012)
• "Increasing Deal Flow in an Evolving and Challenging Climate," US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (January 2012)
• "Exiting the Joint Venture," The American College of Real Estate Lawyers Fall Meeting (October 2011)
• "Strategies for Fund Investing Today," US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (June 2011)
• "The Investment Outlook for 2011," US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (January 2011)
• "Where Are the Outsized Returns Today?" US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (June 2010)
• “How Does the Fund Model Need to Evolve?” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (January 2010)
• “Updating Your Playbook for Negotiating Key Lease Provisions,” Advanced Commercial Real Estate Leasing Conference presented by Law Seminars International (September 2009)
• “What Will It Take to Get Back in the Market?” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (June 2009)
• “Making Money in a Recessionary Environment,” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (January 2009)
• “US Residential Distress: On Sale or Too Risky?” European Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (October 2008)
• “Negotiating Key Lease Provisions,” Advanced Commercial Real Estate Leasing Conference presented by Law Seminars International (September 2008)
• “Two Heads Are Better Than One: Evaluating Joint Ventures for Distressed Assets,” Symposium on Distressed Real Estate presented by Information Management Network (July 2008)
• “Navigating the World of Uncertainty,” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (May 2008)
• “The Dance of Negotiation,” Advanced Real Estate Purchases and Sales Conference presented by Law Seminars International (March 2008)
• “Outlook for Opportunistic Investing,” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (January 2008)
• “Fund Sponsors Strategy Roundtable,” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (May 2007)
• “Fund Sponsors Investment Strategy Roundtable,” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (January 2007)
• “Negotiating Key Lease Provisions,” Advanced Commercial Real Estate Leasing Conference presented by Law Seminars International (September 2006)
• “Evaluating Joint Venture Options,” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (July 2006)
• “Where Are Your Investments on the Return Scale?” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (January 2006)
• “Joint Ventures: Exploring the Keys to Successful Partnerships,” US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum presented by Information Management Network (June 2005)
• “What Is Your Investment Strategy?” Forum on Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing presented by Information Management Network (January 2005)
• “Structuring Successful Joint Ventures,” Real Estate Opportunity Fund Forum presented by Information Management Network (June 2004)
• “Structuring the Joint Venture Investment,” Institutional Real Estate Investment Forum presented by Strategic Research Institute (January 2004)
• “Negotiating the Anchor Tenant Lease,” presented by the Chicago Bar Association (2003)
• “Current Issues in Negotiating Commercial Leases,” presented by Practicing Law Institute
• “Negotiating Commercial Leases: How Owners and Corporate Occupants Can Avoid Costly Errors,” presented by Practicing Law Institute
• “Structuring Real Estate Investments Under ERISA,” for the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries

Memberships and Affiliations

Mr. Katz is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, Economic Club of Chicago, Lambda Alpha International (Ely Chapter), Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) and Urban Land Institute (ULI). He serves on the Board of Visitors of Stanford Law School and the Board of Overseers for the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture, and is a trustee of the Chicago Architecture Foundation, a director of Lawyers for the Creative Arts, a director and former president of Victory Gardens Theater, and a member of the Ravinia Festival Annual Fund Committee.

Education and Bar Admissions

Mr. Katz received his BA with high distinction and honors in economics from the University of Michigan, and his JD from Stanford Law School. He is admitted to practice in Illinois.