Alexandra Cole
Alex assists clients with real estate transactions and development, hospitality, international real estate, project finance, and construction law.
Alex Cole handles large real estate acquisitions relating to hotels, offices, and retail spaces, representing various parties in the construction and development process. Her past projects include Park Hyatt Australia; the Fairmont Hotel and Canadian Pacific Hotel merger; Chicago Mercantile Exchange; The Harold Washington Library; McCormick Place Expansion and Hotel; Underwater World at Pier 39; purchase and sales of crypto mining facilities; and the construction and renovation of numerous industrial complexes, hotels, shopping centers, and other commercial projects in the United States and Europe.
Education & Credentials
Education
- The University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 1979
- DePauw University, B.A., cum laude, 1976
Bar and Court Admissions
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Illinois
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Wisconsin
Related Employment
- Altheimer & Gray, Partner, 1988-2003, Real Estate Practice Chair
- Antonow & Fink, Partner, 1985-1988, Associate, 1979-1985
Professional Recognition
Ranked by Chambers USA, as “America's Leading Lawyers,” in Leisure & Hospitality, 2013-2022; Construction, 2005-2023; Real Estate, 2013-2014, 2019-2023
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Construction Law; Real Estate Law, 2006-2025
Listed in Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers, 2024
Selected by Super Lawyers Magazine as a "Super Lawyer", 2005-2023
Named Best Lawyers’ Chicago "Construction Law Lawyer of the Year," 2018, 2021
Listed in the Law Bulletin Publishing Company's Leading Lawyers Network as Illinois Leading Lawyer
Received "Women in Real Estate 2010 Career Achievement Award," presented by the Illinois Real Estate Journal
*Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
(AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)
*The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Association for Real Property and Infrastructure f/k/a Anglo-American Real Property Institute (ARPI), Member, 2011; Chair, 2024
- American College of Real Estate Lawyers, Fellow, Vice Chair of Hospitality Subcommittee, 2011-present
- Real Estate & Land Use Practice, Perkins Coie LLP, Chair, 2005-2011
- Hospitality Industry Bar Association, Founding Board Member, President
- Chicago Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, Steering Committee Member, 2007-present, President, 2013
- CREW Network, Board of Directors, 2001-2002
- CREW Chicago, Board of Directors, 1999-2000
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Real Estate
Real Estate
Represented Les Schwab Tire Centers
Represented Les Schwab Tire Centers, a 68-year old family-owned business and leading tire retailer and service center operator, in its sale to Meritage Group.
Sale of Optima Chicago Center
Represented Optima, Inc. in the sale to an affiliate of New York-based Edge Principal Advisors, LLC of Optima Chicago Center. Optima Chicago Center is a modern 42-floor residential apartment building in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago with unparalleled views of the City and the Lake, and steps away from the Magnificent Mile. Optima Chicago Center was designed and developed by Optima, Inc.
Sale of and Reinvestment in Optima Sonoran Village
Represented Optima, Inc. in a $210,395,000 transaction involving the sale of Optima Sonoran Village to an affiliate of Principal Life Insurance Company, the reinvestment by Optima, Inc. in Optima Sonoran Village through a joint venture with an affiliate of Principal Life Insurance Company, and the development by Optima, Inc. on behalf of the joint venture of a multi-family residential project on the last remaining development parcel in Optima Sonoran Village.
Counsel to LifeStorage
Representation of LifeStorage since its inception through to its sale to major public storage REIT in acquisition and financing of self-storage real estate portfolios across the United States.
Counsel to Foreign Investors
Representation in acquisition, financing and restructuring of various mixed use, hotel and apartment projects.
Representation of Family Office
Representation of Family Office in various real estate investments in the U.S. and Great Britain including investment in programmatic developments, hotels, mezzanine financings, acquisitions and construction.
Hotels & Leisure
The Waldorf Astoria, Chicago, IL
Represented Geller Capital Partners, LLC in the acquisition and financing of the Waldorf Astoria, Chicago, including the restructure of the food and beverage outlets.
Conrad, Chicago, IL
Represented Geller Capital Partners LLC in the redevelopment of the Conrad Chicago, including the negotiation of the construction contracts for the renovations for repurposing the building.
Counsel to DiNapoli Capital Partners
Representation of this real estate fund in the development of standard equity entity documents and the closing of acquisitions, financings and dispositions in its portfolio of hotels, office buildings, apartments and senior housing facilities; including in 2017 the sale of the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai, San Jose Hilton, and Phoenix Hyatt and purchase of Hotel Triton.
Counsel to Broadreach Capital Partners
Representation of Broadreach Capital Partners' sponsored funds and $700 million private REIT in acquisition and disposition of various hospitality assets and restructure of CMBS facility for major resort holding.
Lennox Capital Partners Counsel
Counsel to Lennox Capital Partners in the acquisition, finance and ground lease of Westin St. Louis, MO and refinance of Courtyard, St. Louis, MO.
Counsel to The Hotel Group
Counsel to The Hotel Group in dispositions of the DoubleTree South Bend IN, and Hilton Suites Bentwood, TN.
Fairmont Hotels
Acquisition of Fairmont Hotel Management Company and eight Fairmont Hotels for private equity funds. Merger of Fairmont Hotel Management Company with Canadian Pacific Hotels and Resorts to form Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.
Representation of Hotel Owners
Full service of representation of hotel and casino owners in development and ownership of hotels and casinos including structuring, financing and negotiation of all project agreements including hotel management agreements.
Construction
Counsel to Optima Inc.
Representing the company in all aspects of its Design Build activities in Illinois and Arizona developing innovative residential properties
Public Company Counsel
Representation of public company in its construction build out of new headquarters and renovation of other corporate facilities.