Barry R. Katz

Barry has been involved in numerous multi-million dollar transactions involving the purchase and sale of real estate.

Select representations include:

• The purchaser in four transactions involving residential properties in Chicago totaling $9.8 million, including a 16-unit apartment building, a mixed-use property with 18 apartments and five retail spaces, commercial space for an apartment redevelopment and an SRO property.
• The purchaser of a vacant 11-story building on South Dearborn Street in Chicago. The project included gutting and reconstruction of the building for an additional $6 million to $7 million.
• The seller of a 40,000-square-foot combined manufacturing and office building in the Goose Island area of Chicago for the sale price of more than $6.2 million.
• The seller in two transactions involving industrial properties in the Chicago area totaling $9.7 million.
  
   

Barry has extensive experience representing landlords and tenants in the leasing of a wide variety of retail, commercial and industrial properties.

Select representations include:

• The sale and leaseback of two apartment buildings in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago with the combined purchase price of over $7 million.
• The sale and leaseback of two facilities for a major Chicago bank with a purchase price in excess of $10 million.
• The owner of a major retail shopping center in Chicago in successful negotiations with one of the nation's largest retailers for a long-term, $50 million lease for more than 100,000 square feet. This complicated lease included provisions for extensive renovations and exclusive and prohibited uses.
• A national real estate company that served as receiver to a high-profile suburban mixed-use development in foreclosure. Represented the receiver in negotiating and amending new and existing leases, providing counsel on association documentation and foreclosure matters, as well as negotiating with the village planning department.
• A major gaming manufacturer in the acquisition and leasing of real estate in Chicago.
  
   

Barry's clients have been involved in the merger and acquisition of businesses and the financing of such transactions, including the representation of lenders extending credit facilities and the representation of the buyer or seller of the business. His work in this area also includes handling multi-million dollar financing deals involving teams of legal professionals working under tight deadlines.

Select representations include:

• A major national bank in the assignment of more than 450 loans, in five states, worth approximately $500 million to Fannie Mae. Led the team of 10 attorneys and paralegals who helped to complete the transaction in 2 ½ weeks at the request of the client.
• A real estate entrepreneur refinancing an 11-property portfolio worth more than $10 million. The deal was the culmination of more than two years of work beginning with negotiation of a forbearance agreement with the bank, followed by negotiation of a refinance package.
• A major Chicago suburban developer in the restructuring of a loan portfolio which involved nine loans totaling more than $26 million and 16 properties in Illinois, Wisconsin and Colorado. To meet the bank's deadline, the firm had less than three weeks to review, negotiate and conduct due diligence for nine sets of loan documents and then to prepare documentation required from the client to close the loan. Barry was the lead attorney, supervising an in-house team.
  
   

Barry actively represents several not-for-profit clients on a pro bono basis. For the past 15 years, he has assisted Equestrian Connection, which provides equestrian therapy and offers services for individuals with special needs, with respect to such legal matters as purchasing and leasing its facilities, its banking relationships, employment matters, liability issues and general business issues. He also serves as real estate counsel for Misericordia, which provides housing for nearly 600 special needs individuals.