Departments

Phone: 312.873.3622
Fax: 312.819.1910

Mark J. Nora

Shareholder
Mark J. Nora practices in all areas of commercial and residential real estate development and finance.  He has represented developers, lenders, municipalities, and special taxing districts in conjunction with annexation, land use and zoning, code enforcement, licensing, economic incentives, and regulatory matters in his land use, zoning, and governmental affairs practice, 

His multijurisdictional practice has involved public/private development transactions, including the establishment of industrial, retail, commercial and performance art center tax increment financing projects; the creation of special service areas; and structuring tax-sharing agreements, property tax abatements, job investment development grants, and economic development incentive agreements.

Mr. Nora's extensive experience also includes all aspects of new project and program finance and investment, including traditional senior and junior mortgage loans, participating mezzanine loans, stand-by participatory loans, debt/equity participations, and credit enhancements.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
    • Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law
  • Chicago Bar Association
    • Real Property Law Committee, Chair
    • Land Use Planning Subcommittee

Experience

  • Successfully secured a $4,500,000 Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credit from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in connection with the relocation of a national healthcare consortium to Chicago
  • Represented purchase in connection with the acquisition of a large mixed-use commercial and multi-family housing complex in San Francisco, California, the development of which was refinanced by the proceeds of $108,500,000 multi-modal multi-family housing revenue refunding bonds
  • Represented purchaser in connection with the acquisition, construction, and permanent financing of a significant multi-family residential complex in Kansas City, Missouri, financed by the proceeds of multi-modal revenue refunding bonds
  • Represent a national bank holding company in connection with the liquidation and restructuring of its multi-billion dollar national REO and distressed real estate based loan portfolio
  • Successfully defended more than two dozen audits of hotel, retail and shipping, freight and supply chain management companies conducted by the State of Illinois Department of Revenue and various municipalities
  • Negotiated, documented and closed numerous credit enhanced bond transactions throughout the United States on behalf of a national bank holding company
  • Successfully defended numerous enforcement actions and prosecuted appeals of denials of liquor and other operating licenses against various municipal authorities and the State of Illinois Liquor Control Commission
  • Represented national provider of multi-service human resource business process outsourcing in connection with negotiation and documentation of economic development and tax incentive agreements with the State of North Carolina and the City of Charlotte
  • Successfully secured tax increment financing and other economic incentives for numerous projects, including a performing arts and educational center in Chicago, large commercial and mixed-use projects in Chicago and the Chicago metropolitan area, an industrial and warehouse complex in Kansas City, MIssouri, and a low- and moderate-income residential complex in Chicago
  • Obtained numerous Planned Development Ordinance and other zoning approvals from the City of Chicago, Cook County and various metropolitan Chicago governmental authorities for a variety of commercial, residential, health-care, warehouse, broadcasting and mixed-use projects
  • Represented the nation's largest owner and operator of department stores in connection with various regulatory matters with the State of Illinois, the State of Wisconsin and numerous municipalities and counties
  • Represented client in connection with negotiation, documentation and closing of national air cargo warehouse portfolio

Publications & Presentations

Currently
  • Land Use and Zoning
  • Economic Development Incentives
  • Urban Planning

before a wide variety of organizations including:
  • American Planning Association
  • Urban Land Institute
  • Chicago Bar Assocition
  • Illinois Association of Procurement Officials
  • Lorman Group of the National Business Institute
2nd Quarter 2004