Kathryn Kovitz Arnold

Kathryn is the Real Estate Practice Group Chair and a member of the executive committee. The Real Estate Practice encompasses more than 90 attorneys across all of Taft’s offices and was twice named the “Best of the Best” by Midwest Real Estate News Magazine and is also ranked National Tier 1 in Real Estate Law by U.S. News/Best Lawyers.

Kathryn also heads the firm’s Condominium practice group which handles all aspects of condominium law, from development to working with homeowner’s associations and de-conversions.

For 30 years, Kathryn has played a key role in shaping the landscape of many of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods and business communities, through her wide-ranging real estate practice. She focuses in the areas of real estate development, commercial and residential condominium development and conversion, leasing, mixed-use projects, restaurants, mixed-use high-rise development, vertical subdivisions and separations, and commercial financing (lender and borrower representation). In the red-hot Chicago rental market, a focus of Kathryn’s practice has been condominium de-conversions. She served as lead counsel on several large condominium de-conversion projects including:

• Bel Harbour condominium, a 30-story, 207 residential units and 120 parking unit high-rise overlooking Belmont Harbor condominium in the Lakeview neighborhood.
• Clark Place condominium tower at 2625 N. Clark in Lincoln Park.
• Country Faire condominiums in Grayslake, IL.

Gaming Industry Real Estate Work

• Land acquisitions and ground lease for Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans.
• Land acquisitions and real estate work for Black Hawk Casinos in Colorado.
• Real estate issues for the City of Detroit Casinos.
• Real estate work and land acquisitions for Revel Casino in Atlantic City.
• Real estate work for Majestic Star Casino.
• Real estate work for Indiana river boats.
• Real estate work for Gaming and Entertainment Management (GEM).
• Real estate work for Great River Entertainment.

Condominium Projects and Mixed Use Developments

• The New York Private Residences
• River City Private Residences and River City Marina
• The West Loop Lofts (10 property loftominium conversion)
• The Elm at Clark Private Residences
• Four Lakes Condominium Homes in Lisle, Illinois (multi-phase conversion)
• Superior West Private Residences
• 2000 North Lincoln Park West Private Residences
• Park Bloomingdale Condominium
• The Superior at LaSalle Private Residences
• 2625 North Clark Private Residences
• Ravenswood Town Center
• Superior 110 Condominiums
• James Place Private Residences
• Reciprocal easement agreement for The John Hancock building
• Midtown Crossing Condominiums
• Harper Court in Hyde Park

Speaker, Second Annual Chicago Women in Commercial Real Estate Summit, hosted by the Illinois Real Estate Journal, Jan. 21, 2021

Moderator, CRE Forecast and Beyond... 19th Annual Chicago CRE Forecast Conference, hosted by the Illinois Real Estate Journal, Jan. 7, 2021

Moderator, Third Annual Deconstructing Deconversion Virtual Summit hosted by Illinois Real Estate Journal, Sept. 15, 2020

Moderator, 18th Annual Commercial Real Estate Forecast Conference hosted by Illinois Real Estate Journal, Jan. 9, 2020

Moderator, “Deconstruction Deconversion Summit” hosted by the Illinois Real Estate Journal, May 29, 2019

Member, Preliminary Investment Committee, Kellogg Real Estate Venture Competition, April 18, 2018

Publications

“Steps That Property Owners Should Consider Taking During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Protect Their Real Estate Assets,” May 13, 2020

“Real Estate Transactions During COVID-19: Issues to Address,” May 7, 2020