Partner

Michael F. Csar is a partner who maintains an active practice both in real estate investment and finance, and in general corporate and business matters.  In addition, he has a substantial practice in the representation of cultural, educational and health care related nonprofit institutions.

Michael’s practice has a focus in project development and financing and in the structuring and implementation of business entities and strategies.  He has particular expertise at the intersection of real estate and corporate strategies.

Real Estate Investment and Finance

Highlights of Michael’s real estate related practice include:

• Counsel to a publicly traded national REIT in acquisitions, contribution/exchange transactions, joint ventures and financings for development and expansion of investment opportunities.
• Representation of lead lender in the largest single building financing in Chicago, both in the multi-party, tiered initial financing and in the subsequent equity and debt restructuring utilizing an innovative trust structure.
• Counsel to national family investment and operating interests, including: establishment of family management corporation; unification of disparate family interests into partnerships and limited liability companies; internal and external financings; acquisitions and joint ventures.
• Representation of developer in mixed-use office and residential high rise in downtown Chicago, with private subdivision of office and residential portions; negotiation and restructuring of cash flow and equity participation financing.
• Representation of principal owner/master developer in development of 40-acre mixed-use urban planned unit development, including design and drafting of master private development rights agreement, master private covenants and restrictions, and public/private arrangements for the establishment and control of public open areas.

General Business Representation

Michael’s experience with varied corporate and business enterprises includes:

• Special counsel to an international business consulting company, including with regard to the strategic reorganization of the company and international affiliates.
• Representation of an international professional service organization in more than a billion dollars of financings through U.S., European and other international sources.
• General corporate counsel to offshore insurance company for association of professional service entities; representation of company in recapitalization and restructuring of arrangements with insureds.
• Representation of independent directors in conversion and merger of mutual funds into newly created REIT.

Not for Profit Institutions

Michael has applied his business and real estate experience to the service of prominent not for profit institutions in the Chicago area:

• Counsel to nationally prominent specialty care hospital in development of new million square foot hospital in downtown Chicago academic medical center.
• General counsel to renowned botanic garden and horticultural society, including tax-exempt financing, expansion into urban horticultural and jobs training program, and cooperative arrangements with local political jurisdictions.
• Representation of Girl Scouts council in negotiation of amalgamation with other councils into largest council in the United States.
• Representation of urban university in development planning for expansion of its downtown Chicago campus, including academic and residential uses.

In General.  Michael co-chairs the Project Review Committee of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, the leading business association in a key retail and residential area of downtown Chicago.  The Committee reviews all proposed development projects and liaises with private developers and the Department of Planning and Development and other city departments.