Michael Kurtzon has over 30 years of experience in providing legal services to the real estate industry. 

As head of Schwartz Cooper’s Real Estate Finance practice, Mr. Kurtzon counsels institutional real estate lenders on a national basis in a variety of complex lending matters.  He regularly represents real estate development companies in residential and commercial construction and development projects, including mixed-use projects, land acquisitions and development, financing and documentation for condominiums, and other for sale housing projects.  He also represents real estate investors and owners in acquisitions and dispositions of properties, securitized debt financings, and negotiation of architectural and construction agreements, as well as landlords and tenants in leasing transactions.

Mr. Kurtzon’s work encompasses many types of transactions including, project and securitized financings, and purchases and sales of hotels, office buildings, apartment complexes and shopping centers.  He has extensive experience representing parties in the formation of joint ventures and other business combinations. 

Mr. Kurtzon is well-regarded for his knowledge of the real estate industry and frequently writes and speaks about his area of practice. Past speaking topics include construction lending, syndicated loan transactions, condominium law, construction law, and the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act.

Mr. Kurtzon is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and the American College of Mortgage Attorneys.  He is name as one of Illinois top real estate attorneys in Chambers. He also is an Illinois “Leading Lawyer” and has been recognized as one of the top 100 Illinois “Super Lawyers.”  Mr. Kurtzon is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.* 

*CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.

Bar Admissions & Memberships

• Illinois

Education

• J.D. - University of Chicago, 1973
• A.B. - Cornell University, 1969

Representative Matters

• Represented lead lender in a $120 million syndicated construction loan for a mixed use “town center” project
• Represented lead lender in a $115 million credit facility for development of a downtown, Chicago office building
• Represented Canadian opportunity fund in a $80 million acquisition and securitized financing of office park
• Represented lead lender in a syndicated construction loan for a $75 million high rise mixed-use condominium/retail project
• Represented California investment company in acquisition of a $35 million office building
• Represented parking garage company in a 1031 deferred tax free exchange of multiple properties
• Represented Chicago area investment company in the acquisition of more than 2,000 rental units in a series of transactions

Memberships

• Chicago Mortgage Attorneys Association
• International Council of Shopping Centers
• Chicago Bar Association - Real Property Finance Committee
• Illinois State Bar Association
• American Bar Association - Section on Real Property, Probate and Trust Law

Professional Activities

• American College of Mortgage Attorneys
• American College of Real Estate Attorneys