Janet M. Johnson
Partner
Janet M. Johnson concentrates her practice in commercial real estate transactions and general corporate matters, particularly those involving the representation of closely held businesses and nonprofits.
She regularly represents publicly held and closely held corporations, developers, contractors, institutional investors, and nonprofit organizations and institutions, blending the unique requirements of nonprofits with their real estate development projects. She also has worked on the real estate aspects of independent power projects for non-regulated subsidiaries of public utility companies.
This work frequently involves representing clients in negotiating purchases, sales, leases, and financings (including synthetic leasing and other complex financing transactions) for commercial real estate and land development projects.
Ms. Johnson also:
- Represents developers, users and objectors in Chicago metropolitan area zoning and annexation matters
- Works closely with members of our firm's Construction Group on construction issues related to real estate projects
- Counsels closely held business clients on corporate structuring, corporate governance, general business, real estate and family ownership matters
She served for 12 years as a member (and for six years as Vice Chair) of the Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church Extension Fund – Missouri Synod. This is a $1.3 billion fund which makes loans to congregation, high schools, colleges, universities, seminaries, and other service organizations affiliated with The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS). She also served for 11 years on the LCMS' Northern Illinois District Board of Directors.
Publications
"Landlord's Duties and Liabilities," Chapter in Commercial Landlord/Tenant Practice, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) treatise (2007)
"Changes To Illinois Eminent Domain Law Following Kelo Will Affect Redevelopment Initiatives," Illinois Real Estate Journal (March 2007)
"Digging into Ground Leases — Title Insurance Issues Policies and Endorsements for the Benefit of Parties to Ground Lease Transactions (Including Ground Lessees, Ground Lessors and Lenders)," ACREL Fall program materials (2005)
Principal editor: Home Buyer's Manual, Chicago Bar Association's Real Property Committee (2002)
"For Real Estate Lawyers: A Practical Guide to Identifying and Managing Potential Environmental Hazards and Conditions Affecting Real Estate," 32 Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal 619 (Winter 1998)
"The Limited Liability Company: A New Vehicle for Real Estate Investments," Corporate Real Estate and the Law newsletter, the International Association of Attorneys and Executives in Corporate Real Estate (March 1994)
"Closing the Floodways: IDOT's Expanded Role in Approving Developments," CBA Record (February 1989)
Previous Experience
Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Johnson was an accountant at the Cherry-Burrell Corporation in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a manufacturer of commercial ice cream freezers, milk and other food mixing and packaging machinery, and pharmaceutical machinery.
Awards and Honors
Illinois Super Lawyers, Real Estate
Leading Lawyer — Real Estate; Top 100 Real Estate-Related Lawyers; Top 10 Women Real Estate-Related Lawyers; Top 100 Women Lawyers; Top 100 Women Business Lawyers, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network
AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Norma H. Geis Outstanding Achievement Award – Chicago Bar Association Real Property Law Committee
Education
University of Iowa College of Law
(J.D., with highest distinction,
1980)
University of Iowa
(B.B.A., Accounting, with highest distinction,
1974)
Professional Certifications
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) (non-practicing)
Teaching Appointments
Adjunct Professor and Advisory Committee member, The John Marshall Law School — LL.M. in Real Estate Program, Commercial Real Estate Transactions
Mentor, Goldie B. Wolfe Miller Women Leaders in Real Estate initiative, Roosevelt University, Chicago, Ill.
Professional Memberships
American Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
Iowa State Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
Real Property Law Committee
Past Chair
American College of Real Estate Lawyers
International Association of Attorneys and Executives in Corporate Real Estate
CREW Network/CREW Chicago
Board of Directors
Civic and Charitable Memberships
The Lutheran Church Extension Fund — Missouri Synod
Vice Chair, Board of Directors
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
Housing Support Corporation
Treasurer of the Board
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois Inc.
Board of Trustees
Concordia Theological Seminary
Board of Trustees
