Commercial real estate
Leases, purchases, sales and financing of commercial property in Chicago and the suburbs: offices, storefronts, restaurants, warehouses and small industrial buildings.
What we handle
Businesses that buy or lease the building they work in, and families who own a few commercial properties.
- Leases
- Office, retail, restaurant and industrial leases, for tenants and for landlords, with a one-page summary of what matters.
- Purchases and sales
- Commercial buildings up to about $25 million, from the letter of intent to the closing table.
- Due diligence
- Title commitment, ALTA survey, zoning report and environmental review, read line by line.
- Financing
- Loan documents and guaranties for borrowers who buy or refinance.
- Build-outs
- Work letters, contractor agreements and the lease terms that decide who pays for what.
- Property owners
- Small portfolios of storefronts and flex buildings: leasing, estoppel certificates and the paperwork of a sale.
From letter of intent to closing
A typical purchase of a commercial building, from a signed letter of intent to the keys. Deals with a loan or a zoning question take longer.
| Step | What we do | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of intent | We negotiate the terms that are hard to change later: price, contingencies, timing and the right to assign. | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Contract | The purchase agreement, with the due diligence period and the conditions to closing. | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Due diligence | Title, survey, zoning, environmental reports, existing leases and service contracts. | 30 to 60 days |
| Closing | Closing checklist, loan conditions, prorations and the settlement statement. | 1 to 2 weeks |
- Lease review with a redline and a one-page summary: $1,950 to $4,500, depending on length.
- A landlord lease form for a building or a portfolio: $3,500.
- Purchase or sale closing: flat fee from $6,500 for a building under $2 million, quoted in writing above that.
- Other work is billed hourly: partners $560, associates $340.
Who works on these matters
Ruth Zielinski leads every matter in this field.
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Ruth Zielinski
Partner · Commercial real estate
Ruth represents tenants, landlords, buyers and sellers of commercial property in Chicago and the suburbs: leases, purchases, sales and the financing that comes with them. She joined the firm in 2015.
- Direct line
- (312) 555-0113
- rzielinski@marloweokafor.com
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Lena Sato
Associate · Commercial real estate, employment law
Lena works on leases, purchases and closings with Ruth Zielinski, and on handbooks and agreements with Adaora Okafor. She joined the firm in 2022.
- Direct line
- (312) 555-0115
- lsato@marloweokafor.com
Questions we hear first
Something else? Call (312) 555-0110 or send a confidential inquiry.
Should a lawyer review a lease the landlord calls standard?
Yes. A standard form is written for the landlord. Most of what we change sits in a few places: operating expenses, repairs, assignment, relocation and personal guaranties.
How long does a commercial purchase take?
Usually 60 to 90 days from a signed contract to closing, longer with a loan or a zoning question.
Do you handle home purchases?
No. We work only on commercial property.
Do you work outside Chicago?
Yes, in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will and Kane Counties, and in Northwest Indiana through Ruth Zielinski, who is also admitted in Indiana.
Talk to Ruth Zielinski
Describe the matter in a few sentences. It is encrypted in your browser, and Ruth or a colleague replies within one business day.