Timothy J. Patenode

Timothy J. Patenode focuses on litigation, and over the last 27 years has engaged in general commercial trial practice and litigation with a substantive concentration in the field of real estate. Mr. Patenode’s real estate litigation experience is significant and spans real estate finance, development, construction, management, leasing, brokerage, zoning and title. His real estate clients have included: institutional lenders on a wide variety of commercial properties in and around Chicago, including office buildings, apartment complexes, shopping centers, hotels and residential subdivisions; trustees and servicers of and investors in securitized transactions; developers of high-rise, mixed-use buildings and industrial properties; a regional property management and leasing company; a nationally known general contractor/construction manager; a number of other general and speciality developers and contractors; and several nationally known title insurance companies. Mr. Patenode has appeared before state, federal and bankruptcy courts on real estate matters around the country and has argued several appeals on matters of particular interest to the real estate industry.

Mr. Patenode is a past chair of the CBA’s Real Property Law Committee, the only litigator ever to be nominated to an executive position with this committee. He is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Construction Law Forum. He has lectured to law school classes on issues pertinent to real estate litigation and is the author of chapters published by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education in Mortgage Foreclosure Practice and Commercial Landlord-Tenant Practice. Mr. Patenode has also been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer (2007, 2009–2012) and as an Illinois Leading Lawyer.

In addition to his experience in real estate matters, Mr. Patenode has represented clients in debt collection and insolvency matters, in governance and dissolution disputes involving corporations and partnerships, and in a variety of contract enforcement issues. He has also acted as special counsel for the trustee in a bankruptcy arising out of a major pyramid scheme. Outside the field of commercial law, Mr. Patenode has represented an Illinois state agency in a significant constitutional case, and has represented other clients in employment discrimination matters and educational policy disputes.

Mr. Patenode attended Northwestern University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics in 1977 and his law degree, cum laude, in 1981. While at Northwestern University, Mr. Patenode served as executive editor of the Journal of International Law and Business. Mr. Patenode has been a member of the federal trial bar since 1985.