James Mayer

My focus

I focus my practice on commercial real estate law, including all aspects of real estate acquisition, development, leasing, operation, management, and disposition. My clients include real estate pension funds, investment advisory groups (for their own accounts and unrelated third parties), real estate investment trusts, national and international franchisors, financial institutions, commercial and residential developers, and office, retail, and industrial landlords and tenants. My work also includes acquisitions of hotels, sports facilities development, and real estate finance. I was one of the principal attorneys who represented Miami-Dade County in connection with the drafting and negotiating of the development, management, and operating agreements for the American Airlines Arena. I also represented McDonald’s Corporation as lead counsel in negotiating its lease and relocating its world headquarters from the Chicago suburbs to the City of Chicago. In addition, I represented the landlord in negotiating the lease to relocate the world headquarters of Caterpillar from Peoria to Deerfield, IL.

My practice also includes representation of clients on retail, office, industrial, and health care related leasing transactions, including the representation of the Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois in connection with joint ventures with Simon Property Group, Brookfield Properties, and CBL in various retail leasing matters, including anchor tenant leasing.

I am regularly asked to speak on real estate related topics, in particular retail-related topics, at various conferences and events, including workshops and seminars for ICSC. I am also a member of the planning committee for ICSC.

Looking ahead

Real estate is on the verge of significant expansion in 2021. I foresee opportunities beyond the typical asset classes, such as office, industrial, and retail expanding to include health care related properties, such as medical office buildings and in-patient facilities, with the potential for joint venture opportunities.

Insights

• 2019-2021 ICSC Law Conference panelist on recent developments related to the past year’s case law that related to seller/purchaser and landlord/tenant disputes, October 2019-2021
• 2018 U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Seminars Subcommittee, Facilitator, Management Agreements: Who is Really Managing the Shopping Center? October 24–27, 2018
• The Devil’s in the Details: Brokerage Agreements, Sale/Leasing/Subleasing, Including Exclusions, Indemnities and Confidentiality, ICSC Law Conference, October 30, 2015
• “Does a Broker’s Tail Ever Stop Wagging?” Volume 15, Issue 2, Retail Law Strategist, Summer 2015
• Protected Deals — Tail Period, Colliers 2015 Americas Conference, February 11–13, 2015
• 2014 ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Unravel the Mysteries of Management and Brokerage Agreements, October 22–25, 2014
• Too Big to Bail: How Law Firms and Bar Associations Can Add Value to Each Other, National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP) 2014 Midyear Meeting Workshop, February 7, 2014
• ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Who Says that Brokerage and Management Agreements are Not Negotiable? October 16–19, 2013
• ICSC South Florida Idea Exchange, Who Says that Brokerage and Management Agreements are not Negotiable? October 24–27, 2012
• What’s Next: Retail Development in the United States in the New Economy, Holland & Knight Seminar, Tel Aviv, Israel, May 14, 2012
• International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Lawyers Conference, Green Leasing Issues, October 2011
• “Green Building and Sustainable Development: The Practical Legal Guide,” Building and Sustainable Development: The Practical Legal Guide, September 1, 2009
• “The Commitment to Going Green and Sustainable Development: A Guide for the Practicing Attorney,” 2009
• Retail Bankruptcies Have Arrived—More Are Coming, What You Need to Know Now: Practical Answers for Dealing With Troubled Retail Tenants, December 5, 2008
• Let Us Feed You—Issues in Restaurant Development and Leasing, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Lawyers Conference, October 2008
• RealShare GREEN BUILDING Conference, Corporate Perspectives: Tenants Discuss the Importance of Green, June 3, 2008
• Issues in Restaurant Development and Leasing, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Lawyers Conference, 2008
• “Pitching Green: The Benefits of Green Technology and Sustainable Building,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy, February 2007
• Subleasing Issues and Construction Workletters, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Lawyers Conference, 2005
• Regulatory and Contracting Issues in Wireless Communication, Seminar Session to McDonald’s Corporation, 2003