Job Description

About Us

Marshall Brown offers clients a broad range of commercial real estate expertise and represents national and regional landlords, developers and institutional investors in leasing, acquisition, entitlement, construction, debt and equity financing, build-to-suit, sale, condominium and related development matters. Our retail leasing practice has our attorneys representing developers and institutional owners in connection with retail projects from million square foot lifestyle shopping centers to retail sleeves in multi-family buildings all across the country.

Our zoning practice represents real estate developers, national, regional and local companies, preeminent cultural institutions, and major nonprofit organizations.

Our development and land use practice spans retail, industrial, multi-family, student housing, mixed-use product types, office, medical office and hotel, product types for private, governmental + major cultural institutions and includes structuring major vertical and horizontal mixed-use projects throughout the country. As part of these transactions, we have negotiated site acquisition agreements, development agreements, joint venture agreements, design/build agreements, leases, construction contracts, loan agreements, tax increment and special assessment financing documents, reciprocal easement agreements, operating agreements, property management agreements, condominium declarations, and the like. We have experience in these transactions in development, re-development, investment, workout, and “real estate-owned” contexts.

As a mid-level attorney at Marshall Brown, you’ll work side-by-side with seasoned partners on sophisticated, high-impact deals.

About the Role

We are seeking a 3rd through 5th year Associate to join our real estate transactional law practice, with a strong emphasis on retail leasing and development, and zoning/land use. In the leasing and development role, you will primarily draft retail leases and ancillary lease documents, plus be involved in certain commercial development work, including drafting purchase agreements, reviewing title and survey and preparing closing documents. In the zoning and land use role, you will draft applications for zoning relief and economic incentive programs, prepare economic disclosure statements and FOIA requests, and assemble supporting documentation required by city, county, and suburban municipalities.

You will also have opportunities to participate in public hearings before legislative bodies and commissions. Our firm is particularly recognized for its work in historic preservation, and the role may include advising on matters involving landmark buildings and culturally significant properties.

This position requires strong analytical problem-solving skills. You should be comfortable managing calls, drafting documentation independently, and collaborating effectively with a wide range of colleagues and both internal and external stakeholders.

We expect a minimum commitment of 1,900 billable hours annually. We provide an extensive training program and one-on-one development.

Location: This is a hybrid position based in the Chicago office, with an expectation of working on-site two days per week.

Compensation + Benefits

• $170,000 - 190,000 base salary, commensurate with experience
• Annual discretionary bonus upon exceeding 1,900 billable hours
• Generous 401(k) match
• Comprehensive health and dental plans
• Paid time off and other firm-wide benefits

Minimum Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and licensed to practice in Illinois
• 3–5 years of experience practicing real estate, zoning, and/or land use law. Firm experience is preferred
• Based in the Chicago area, with the ability to work in-office at least two days per week
• Demonstrated excellence in legal research, drafting, and written/oral communication
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex documents and provide practical, business-minded counsel
• Proven ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision
• Self-starter with sound judgment, professional discretion, and a proactive, solution-oriented mindset
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a proactive, people-first mindset
• Commitment to client-focused, high-quality client service
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and legal research platforms such as Lexis

How to Apply

If you’re ready to take the next step in your legal career and want to be part of our dynamic team, we’d love to hear from you! Please click the EasyApply link to fill out your application.

Note: If your application advances, we may follow up to request a list of representative transactions you’ve led or contributed to in areas like landlord work, development, or land use.

For more about us, visit: .

No agency submissions, please.

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