Education
Washington University School of Law, J.D.
Bowdoin College, B.A., cum laude, Double Major in History and Political Science
Admitted to Bar
Illinois
Missouri
Experience Summary
A founding member and Managing Partner of BBN, Sarah concentrates her practice in real estate law. For 30 years, she has performed extensive legal services for the corporate real estate department of a major financial institution with office and retail properties throughout the United States. Her experience includes representation in all aspects of the development and management of property at office and retail locations, including negotiating and drafting commercial leases, purchase and sale agreements, property transfer documentation, subordination and non-disturbance agreements, and related documents. She is also experienced in assisting clients in obtaining compliance with zoning and building laws, and has appeared in court on code compliance matters. She has conducted hearings before local governments throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan area to obtain land use entitlements in the form of re-zonings, variations, and special use permits. Additionally, she represents clients in the sale, purchase and leasing of residential real estate. Her legal experience includes:
- Leasing expertise acquired through more than 30 years of representing building owners, landlords, and tenants in the negotiation and drafting of office and retail leases, subleases, lease assignments, and related documentation (including estoppels, and subordination and non-disturbance agreements)
- Representing the corporate real estate department of major financial institution in day-to-day real estate operations, including drafting and negotiating sale/purchase agreements, office leases, retail leases, and real estate transfer documents
- Representing the corporate real estate department of a major financial institution in the creation of standard forms, including office leases, commercial leases, SNDA’s, estoppels, subleases, and lease assignments
- Conducting and managing due diligence property and lease reviews for more than a dozen mergers and acquisitions over a 25 year time period involving hundreds of commercial properties throughout the United States
- Representing clients before local governments in the greater Chicago metropolitan area in obtaining land use entitlements in the form of variations, special use permits, annexation agreements, re-zonings, and text amendments
- Conducting sophisticated land use litigation at trial and appellate levels in State and federal courts
- Representing clients in the sale, purchase, and leasing of residential real estate
Practice Areas:
- Extensive background in Commercial and Corporate Real Estate
- Commercial Property Acquisitions
- Commercial Property Dispositions
- Commercial Leasing
- Real Estate Development
- Leasing
- Due Diligence
- Closings
- Land Use
- Zoning
Outside Affiliations
- American Bar Association, Member: Sections on Real Property and Urban, State and Local Government
- Illinois State Bar Association, Member: Real Estate and Local Government Sections
- Chicago Bar Association, Member: Real Property and Local Government Committees
- Northside College Preparatory High School, Parent Network Member and Volunteer, 2011 – 2015
- Bowdoin Alumni Schools Interviewing Committee Member, 1982 – Present
- Bowdoin College, Associate Class Agent
- Wesleyan University, Parent Network Member, 2015 – Present