Jay A.Gitles
Partner
Real Estate
jgitles@seyfarth.com
Jay provides thoughtful, responsive, and practical advice on a wide range of commercial real estate transactions.
More About Jay
Virtually all businesses have meaningful real estate components and frequently face capital-intensive decisions. Clients come to Jay for his knowledge of the legal and business implications involved in a broad array of corporate and real estate transactions. He effectively harnesses the vast resources of a large law firm, and has a history of establishing and maintaining collaborative, long-term, and mutually beneficial business relationships, while providing outstanding value to clients.
Jay acts as lead counsel in a wide variety of real estate and corporate transactions on behalf of all types of counterparties and brings a valuable perspective and substantial market knowledge to provide pragmatic legal and business solutions. Jay has extensive experience with headquarters lease transactions, and is also a seasoned professional in office, industrial, retail, and multifamily acquisition, land use, development, construction, financing, leasing, and sale transactions.
Clients count on Jay for consistent service, excellence, pragmatism, teamwork, and accessibility. He enjoys working with counsel and executives at exceptional companies and helping them achieve their legal and business goals. Jay finds it tremendously gratifying to form and work with teams of bright and energetic Seyfarth attorneys to bring great value and results to clients.
Jay acts as lead counsel in a wide variety of real estate and corporate transactions on behalf of all types of counterparties and brings a valuable perspective and substantial market knowledge to provide pragmatic legal and business solutions. Jay has extensive experience with headquarters lease transactions, and is also a seasoned professional in office, industrial, retail, and multifamily acquisition, land use, development, construction, financing, leasing, and sale transactions.
Clients count on Jay for consistent service, excellence, pragmatism, teamwork, and accessibility. He enjoys working with counsel and executives at exceptional companies and helping them achieve their legal and business goals. Jay finds it tremendously gratifying to form and work with teams of bright and energetic Seyfarth attorneys to bring great value and results to clients.
- JD, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, note and comment editor
Author, Note, “Fourth Amendment—Reasonableness of Surgical Intrusions,” Winston v. Lee, 105 S. Ct. 1611 (1985), 76 J. Crim. L. & Criminology 972 (1985) - AB, University of Michigan
Political ScienceFour Year Honors Program
Dean's list
- Arizona
- Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Related Services
Related Key Industries
- Represented a Fortune 100 client in negotiating several large office deals, including at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart.
- Led a headquarter-level transaction for a Fortune 250 client in connection with the development of a new office building. The transaction was recognized as the first completed project in Lincoln Yards along the Chicago River.
- Represented a commercial real estate developer in consummating a private equity real estate joint venture investment and comprehensive restructuring of a commercial real estate portfolio with more than 20 properties that exceeded $250 million.
- Represented of a commercial real estate investor and developer in connection with a joint venture and construction loan financing of the development and construction of two new senior housing projects. The first concerned a 122-unit senior housing facility, and the second concerned a new 110-bed senior housing facility.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Recognition
Aug 18, 2022
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2023
-
Recognition
Aug 19, 2021
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2022
-
Recognition
Aug 20, 2020
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2021
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Real Estate Law (2016-2024)
- Peer Review Rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed in Leading Lawyers for Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law; Real Estate Law: Commercial; and Real Estate Law: Finance (Law Bulletin Media)
- Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (board member; fund board of directors chair; dean's advisory board; John Henry Wigmore club chair)
- International Council of Shopping Centers
- International Association of Attorneys and Executives in Corporate Real Estate
- Chicago Bar Association, Real Property Committee
- Licensed individually as a real estate broker in Illinois
- Board of Editors, Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (April 2000 - Present)
- Author, Article, “Lease Extension Options – A Landlord’s Perspective,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (August 2013)
- Author, Article, “Landlord’s Waiver or Subordination to Tenant’s Lender’s Security Interest,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (March 2011)
- Author, Article, “Consent to Assignment and Assumption of Lease -- The Landlord’s Perspective” (Two Parts), REBusinessOnline.com (June 9-15, 2010)
- Author, Article, “Consents To Sublease - Issues To Consider From The Subtenant's Perspective,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (September 2008)
- Author, Article, “Negotiating Broker Agreements,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (November 2006)
- Author, Article, “Letters of Intent to Lease: Valuable For Landlords and Tenants,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (November 2005)
- Co-Author, Article, “Eminent Domain: A Legal Look at the Ruling,” Heartland Real Estate Business (August 2005)
- Author, Article, “Lease Termination Agreements: Get Out Quickly, But Carefully,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (April 2005)
- Author, Article, “Avoid Oversights In Lease Amendments”, Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (May 2004)
- Author, Book Chapter, “Preconditions To Exercise of Options”, Lease Negotiation Handbook, published in 2003 by AECRE and the American Bar Association (ABA)
- Co-Author, Book Chapter, “Avoiding Battles of Attrition In CAM Negotiations”, Crafting Lease Clauses - Meeting Shopping Center Landlord and Tenant Objectives, published in 2003 by the International Council of Shopping Centers (“ICSC”)
- Author, Article, “Know The Risks Before Signing Wireless Rooftop Leases,” Real Estate Chicago (September 2001)
- Author, Article, “Streamlining The Negotiating Process By Using Either Flat CAM or Gross Leases”, Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (September 2000)
- Author, Articles, “Wireless Telecom Sites Create Opportunity For Landlords” (Two Parts), The BOMA Chicago Report (September and October 1998)
- Author, Article, “The Rezoning Amendment Process,” Realty & Building (February 26, 1996)
- Author, Articles, “Commercial Real Estate Lease Analysis” (Two Parts), Realty & Building (July 10, 1993 and February 12, 1994)
- Participant, Chicago Retail Roundtable, Shopping Center Business and Heartland Real Estate Business (October 2015)
- Programming Committee Member, International Association of Attorneys and Executives in Corporate Real Estate (“AECRE”) Fall Forum (November 12, 2010 and November 6, 2009)
- Program Co-Chair and Speaker, “Lawyers and Brokers Working Together To Make Transactions Work For Tenants and Landlords: Recessionary Deal-Making,” AECRE Fall Forum (November 21, 2008)
- Program Co-Chair and Speaker, “Landlord v. Tenant – The Letter of Intent Battle,” AECRE Fall Forum (November 9, 2007)
- Speaker, “Eminent Domain: A Legal Look at the Ruling and Impact on Commercial Real Estate,” SIOR Chicago Chapter (October 25, 2005)
- Speaker, “Lawyer’s Views on What Makes a Successful Commercial Real Estate Broker,” Marcus & Millichap, Chicago area Investment Sales Brokerage Group (August 3, 2005)
- Speaker, “Subleasing and Bankruptcy Risks,” CB Richard Ellis, Chicago area Corporate Real Estate Services Group (February 7, 2002)
- Speaker, “Wireless Telecom Rooftop and Tower Leasing,” Cushman & Wakefield, Chicago area Brokerage Group (December 12, 2001)
- Speaker, “Recent Trends in Telecommunications Site Leasing,” Chicago Bar Association - Real Property Law Committee (April 26 2000)
- Speaker, “Avoiding Battles of Attrition in CAM Negotiations,” ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona (November 22, 1999)
- Instructor, “Leases; Landlord and Tenant Relationships,” BOMA/Chicago Commercial Real Estate Law Course (Summer 1999)
- Speaker, “Lease Option Clauses,” ICSC Chicago Retail Leasing Symposium (June 9, 1999)
- Speaker, “Wireless Telecommunication Site Leasing,” ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (October 30, 1998)
- Speaker, “Telecommunication Leases,” ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Palm Desert, California (October 24, 1997)
- Speaker, “Current Trends In Commercial Lease Negotiations,” Institute of Real Estate Management, Chicago Chapter (June 25, 1997)
- Speaker, “Common Area Maintenance Clauses,” ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Orlando, Florida (October 26, 1996)
- Jewish United Fund, real estate and buildings trade group
- The Standard Club (board of directors; secretary; by-laws committee chair)
"Jay: Per usual you did a great job. If I never tell you that, I always think you do." —Founder and majority owner of commercial real estate developer client
"This was an outstanding job by everyone! I appreciate the creativeness from everyone to close this deal. I will miss all of our last minute, late night calls but I am glad it is over! Thanks again." —Fortune 100 client's director of global real estate
"Jay, thanks so much for everything you did on this unorthodox deal. Very much appreciate all your hard work." —Fortune 100 client's senior counsel
Jay provides thoughtful, responsive, and practical advice on a wide range of commercial real estate transactions.
More About Jay
Virtually all businesses have meaningful real estate components and frequently face capital-intensive decisions. Clients come to Jay for his knowledge of the legal and business implications involved in a broad array of corporate and real estate transactions. He effectively harnesses the vast resources of a large law firm, and has a history of establishing and maintaining collaborative, long-term, and mutually beneficial business relationships, while providing outstanding value to clients.
Jay acts as lead counsel in a wide variety of real estate and corporate transactions on behalf of all types of counterparties and brings a valuable perspective and substantial market knowledge to provide pragmatic legal and business solutions. Jay has extensive experience with headquarters lease transactions, and is also a seasoned professional in office, industrial, retail, and multifamily acquisition, land use, development, construction, financing, leasing, and sale transactions.
Clients count on Jay for consistent service, excellence, pragmatism, teamwork, and accessibility. He enjoys working with counsel and executives at exceptional companies and helping them achieve their legal and business goals. Jay finds it tremendously gratifying to form and work with teams of bright and energetic Seyfarth attorneys to bring great value and results to clients.
Jay acts as lead counsel in a wide variety of real estate and corporate transactions on behalf of all types of counterparties and brings a valuable perspective and substantial market knowledge to provide pragmatic legal and business solutions. Jay has extensive experience with headquarters lease transactions, and is also a seasoned professional in office, industrial, retail, and multifamily acquisition, land use, development, construction, financing, leasing, and sale transactions.
Clients count on Jay for consistent service, excellence, pragmatism, teamwork, and accessibility. He enjoys working with counsel and executives at exceptional companies and helping them achieve their legal and business goals. Jay finds it tremendously gratifying to form and work with teams of bright and energetic Seyfarth attorneys to bring great value and results to clients.
- JD, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, note and comment editor
Author, Note, “Fourth Amendment—Reasonableness of Surgical Intrusions,” Winston v. Lee, 105 S. Ct. 1611 (1985), 76 J. Crim. L. & Criminology 972 (1985) - AB, University of Michigan
Political ScienceFour Year Honors Program
Dean's list
- Arizona
- Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Related Services
Related Key Industries
- Represented a Fortune 100 client in negotiating several large office deals, including at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart.
- Led a headquarter-level transaction for a Fortune 250 client in connection with the development of a new office building. The transaction was recognized as the first completed project in Lincoln Yards along the Chicago River.
- Represented a commercial real estate developer in consummating a private equity real estate joint venture investment and comprehensive restructuring of a commercial real estate portfolio with more than 20 properties that exceeded $250 million.
- Represented of a commercial real estate investor and developer in connection with a joint venture and construction loan financing of the development and construction of two new senior housing projects. The first concerned a 122-unit senior housing facility, and the second concerned a new 110-bed senior housing facility.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Recognition
Aug 18, 2022
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2023
-
Recognition
Aug 19, 2021
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2022
-
Recognition
Aug 20, 2020
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2021
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Real Estate Law (2016-2024)
- Peer Review Rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed in Leading Lawyers for Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law; Real Estate Law: Commercial; and Real Estate Law: Finance (Law Bulletin Media)
- Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (board member; fund board of directors chair; dean's advisory board; John Henry Wigmore club chair)
- International Council of Shopping Centers
- International Association of Attorneys and Executives in Corporate Real Estate
- Chicago Bar Association, Real Property Committee
- Licensed individually as a real estate broker in Illinois
- Board of Editors, Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (April 2000 - Present)
- Author, Article, “Lease Extension Options – A Landlord’s Perspective,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (August 2013)
- Author, Article, “Landlord’s Waiver or Subordination to Tenant’s Lender’s Security Interest,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (March 2011)
- Author, Article, “Consent to Assignment and Assumption of Lease -- The Landlord’s Perspective” (Two Parts), REBusinessOnline.com (June 9-15, 2010)
- Author, Article, “Consents To Sublease - Issues To Consider From The Subtenant's Perspective,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (September 2008)
- Author, Article, “Negotiating Broker Agreements,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (November 2006)
- Author, Article, “Letters of Intent to Lease: Valuable For Landlords and Tenants,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (November 2005)
- Co-Author, Article, “Eminent Domain: A Legal Look at the Ruling,” Heartland Real Estate Business (August 2005)
- Author, Article, “Lease Termination Agreements: Get Out Quickly, But Carefully,” Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (April 2005)
- Author, Article, “Avoid Oversights In Lease Amendments”, Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (May 2004)
- Author, Book Chapter, “Preconditions To Exercise of Options”, Lease Negotiation Handbook, published in 2003 by AECRE and the American Bar Association (ABA)
- Co-Author, Book Chapter, “Avoiding Battles of Attrition In CAM Negotiations”, Crafting Lease Clauses - Meeting Shopping Center Landlord and Tenant Objectives, published in 2003 by the International Council of Shopping Centers (“ICSC”)
- Author, Article, “Know The Risks Before Signing Wireless Rooftop Leases,” Real Estate Chicago (September 2001)
- Author, Article, “Streamlining The Negotiating Process By Using Either Flat CAM or Gross Leases”, Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy (September 2000)
- Author, Articles, “Wireless Telecom Sites Create Opportunity For Landlords” (Two Parts), The BOMA Chicago Report (September and October 1998)
- Author, Article, “The Rezoning Amendment Process,” Realty & Building (February 26, 1996)
- Author, Articles, “Commercial Real Estate Lease Analysis” (Two Parts), Realty & Building (July 10, 1993 and February 12, 1994)
- Participant, Chicago Retail Roundtable, Shopping Center Business and Heartland Real Estate Business (October 2015)
- Programming Committee Member, International Association of Attorneys and Executives in Corporate Real Estate (“AECRE”) Fall Forum (November 12, 2010 and November 6, 2009)
- Program Co-Chair and Speaker, “Lawyers and Brokers Working Together To Make Transactions Work For Tenants and Landlords: Recessionary Deal-Making,” AECRE Fall Forum (November 21, 2008)
- Program Co-Chair and Speaker, “Landlord v. Tenant – The Letter of Intent Battle,” AECRE Fall Forum (November 9, 2007)
- Speaker, “Eminent Domain: A Legal Look at the Ruling and Impact on Commercial Real Estate,” SIOR Chicago Chapter (October 25, 2005)
- Speaker, “Lawyer’s Views on What Makes a Successful Commercial Real Estate Broker,” Marcus & Millichap, Chicago area Investment Sales Brokerage Group (August 3, 2005)
- Speaker, “Subleasing and Bankruptcy Risks,” CB Richard Ellis, Chicago area Corporate Real Estate Services Group (February 7, 2002)
- Speaker, “Wireless Telecom Rooftop and Tower Leasing,” Cushman & Wakefield, Chicago area Brokerage Group (December 12, 2001)
- Speaker, “Recent Trends in Telecommunications Site Leasing,” Chicago Bar Association - Real Property Law Committee (April 26 2000)
- Speaker, “Avoiding Battles of Attrition in CAM Negotiations,” ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona (November 22, 1999)
- Instructor, “Leases; Landlord and Tenant Relationships,” BOMA/Chicago Commercial Real Estate Law Course (Summer 1999)
- Speaker, “Lease Option Clauses,” ICSC Chicago Retail Leasing Symposium (June 9, 1999)
- Speaker, “Wireless Telecommunication Site Leasing,” ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee (October 30, 1998)
- Speaker, “Telecommunication Leases,” ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Palm Desert, California (October 24, 1997)
- Speaker, “Current Trends In Commercial Lease Negotiations,” Institute of Real Estate Management, Chicago Chapter (June 25, 1997)
- Speaker, “Common Area Maintenance Clauses,” ICSC U.S. Shopping Center Law Conference, Orlando, Florida (October 26, 1996)
- Jewish United Fund, real estate and buildings trade group
- The Standard Club (board of directors; secretary; by-laws committee chair)
"Jay: Per usual you did a great job. If I never tell you that, I always think you do." —Founder and majority owner of commercial real estate developer client
"This was an outstanding job by everyone! I appreciate the creativeness from everyone to close this deal. I will miss all of our last minute, late night calls but I am glad it is over! Thanks again." —Fortune 100 client's director of global real estate
"Jay, thanks so much for everything you did on this unorthodox deal. Very much appreciate all your hard work." —Fortune 100 client's senior counsel