Kevin A. Sterling
Partner
kevin@thesterlinglaw.com
p. (312) 670-9744
Kevin represents clients in all aspects of real estate development, acquisitions, dispositions, financing, construction and leasing. Much of his real estate experience has involved developments of office, mixed-use, retail, hotel and parking properties and the adaptive re-use historic properties. Kevin has also handles transactions involving real estate development incentives including, Tax Increment Financing, Rehabilitation/ Historic Tax Credits, New Markets Tax Credits, Renewable Energy Tax Incentives, Easement Donations and other public-private financing transactions, and transactions involving community and economic development. He also represents clients in the structuring and drafting joint venture agreements for commercial real estate developments.
Kevin’s work also includes corporate and business transactions including advising new and established businesses on the selection of the proper business entity; negotiating and prepare commercial loan agreements, and structuring loans and workouts and other related security devices and guarantees; handling the purchase and sale of a business and business assets; and counseling shareholders, members or partners on corporate, partnership or limited liability company matters or disputes.
In addition to real estate transaction work, Kevin is a zealous advocate for his clients in real estate and commercial litigation matters, including property and easement disputes, commercial landlord-tenant matters, real estate broker commission litigation, title insurance litigation, mechanic's lien litigation, foreclosure defense, earnest money and escrow disputes.
Formerly, Kevin was a partner in the Real Estate and Finance Practice Group at the Chicago law firm, Levenfeld Pearlstein. Prior to joining Levenfeld Pearlstein, Kevin served as the General Counsel for Friedman Properties, Ltd., one of the most active real estate development companies in the Chicago area, where in addition to his development, leasing and financing work, Kevin handled Friedman's corporate matters, its risk management and government relations. He is a also former Assistant Vice President/Counsel for CB Richard Ellis, Inc., the world's largest commercial real estate services firm.
In addition to his real estate experience as an attorney, Kevin has taught as a Continuing Education Instructor for licensed real estate professionals. He is a licensed Illinois Real Estate broker, and has also guest lectured at the John Marshall School of Law, The School of the Art Institute, and several real estate industry groups on financial incentives in historic preservation.
Kevin lives in the Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago with his wife, Michele and two children, Ethan and Layla. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys distance running and golfing.
Education
Northwestern University, B.A., Economics, 1987
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, J.D., with honors, 1993
Bar Admissions
Illinois, 1993
Colorado, 1999
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois - General and Trial Bar
U.S. Court of Appeals - 7th Circuit
Boards
Heartland Alliance Board of Directors
Heartland Housing, Inc. - past Board Chairman
Hamlin Park Neighbors
Memberships
Illinois Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
