Louis S. Cohen is the international chair of Locke Lord's Finance, Banking and Real Estate departments and a partner in the Firm's Chicago office.
His general practice is national in scope and concentrated in transactional real estate matters and matters related to the development and use of professional sports venues.
The focus of Lou's general real estate practice is commercial acquisitions and dispositions, development, venture structuring and formation, leasing, lending, restructuring and workouts. His clients include national lenders, developers, REITs, public pension funds, pension fund advisors and governmental entities.
Lou's sports franchise and sports facilities development practice addresses the development, financing, leasing and media/sponsorship/naming of professional sports stadia, as well as the acquisition and disposition of interests in professional sports franchises. His clients in this area have ranged from states, counties, and municipalities to the private owners of majority and minority interests in professional franchises and corporate sponsors.
Lou is one of only 13 Illinois lawyers recommended by the Corporate Real Estate Cross-Border Guide and one of only 16 Illinois real estate lawyers cited in the PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook 2009. Chambers USA calls him "ethical and hard-working." Legal 500 recognizes Lou, hailing his "nationwide reputation, particularly for his work on sports venue developments and transactions." He is included in the 2007-2009 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law. Lou has been designated an Illinois Super Lawyer since the inception of that honor in an annual survey conducted jointly by Law & Politics and Chicago magazines. He also frequently lectures on a variety of industry issues around the country.
He has been lead counsel for some of the largest and highest profile real estate transactions for almost 30 years.
Examples include the following:
Major Real Estate Transactions
In the late 1980’s Lou was lead counsel for Sears, Roebuck & Company in connection with its relocation of its world headquarters from the Sears Tower to new location. Lou spearheaded the land assemblages for two potential sites and the acquisition, zoning and development the selected 800-acre parcel in suburban Chicago. The site has since become a mixed use development that houses the Sears world headquarters and many other commercial buildings.
In 1993, Lou was lead counsel for the acquisition by a State Pension Fund of what was then the largest portfolio of non-performing loans and properties to date. Since that time, Lou has acquired innumerable $1 Billion portfolios of properties, loans and other assets, particularly distressed assets, for institutional clients.
In 2005, Lou completed a four year representation of two real estate investment trusts in the acquisition of private development rights, the subdivision in to five ground leasehold estates and related matters involving the south 92.5 acres of the Meadowlands Sports Complex in New Jersey. The rights obtained included 2.7 million square feet of entertainment/retail improvements, 900,000 square feet of office improvements, a 500,000 square foot hotel and a minor league ballpark.
Also in 2005, Lou was lead counsel for the relocation of the national headquarters of Sara Lee Corporation, a project that involved the acquisition of a new research and development facility in suburban Chicago.
In 2011–2012, Lou has represented the owner of an existing building complex in connection with the lease for an approximately 130,000 square foot data center and other uses.
Also in 2011-2012, Lou has represented the owner and proposed redeveloper of a prior manufacturing building to be converted for use as the fourth Soho House Club in the United States.
In 2012, Lou represented the seller of a 163,000 square foot industrial building located in Lincolnshire, Illinois.
Major Sports Transactions
During the mid-1990s, Lou expanded his practice to include the development and financing of professional sports stadia, serving as lead negotiator for many recently completed major league professional sports facilities throughout the United States, including:
- Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (MLB)
- Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio (NFL)
- Great America Ballpark, Cincinnati, Ohio (MLB)
In 2006, Angels Baseball, L.P. retained him to serve, and Lou was certified as an expert witness in sports facilities leasing and negotiations in its dispute with the City of Anaheim, California.
In 2007, Lou served as special counsel to the City Counsel of the District of Columbia in the approval of legislation authorizing the development of a new baseball stadium in the District for use by the Washington Nationals baseball franchise and instituting a “hard cap” on the public contribution to that project.
In 2010, Lou represented Sun Life Insurance, a Toronto based full-spectrum insurance, mutual fund and wealth management services provider in negotiating a Stadium Naming Rights and Sponsorship Agreement and obtaining NFL approval thereof, pursuant to which Miami Dolphins Stadium was renamed Sun Life Stadium and re-branded in time for the January NFL Pro Bowl and February Super Bowl played at the stadium. The facility is also the home venue for the Florida Marlins, University of Miami Hurricanes and the NCAA BCS Orange Bowl.
In 2012, Lou has represented the proposed owner/developer of a new NBA and NHL arena in Seattle, Washington.
Lou has also been involved in many transfers of ownership of sports franchises, of both controlling and minority interests.
Education
- J.D., Northwestern University School of Law, 1981
- B.A., Stanford University, 1978
Bar Admissions