John J. Kobus Jr.

Partner

• Corporate Law
• Real Estate Law

Mr. Kobus concentrates his practice in corporate and real estate law. He counsels clients on private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, commercial and industrial leasing, sale and disposition of commercial property, purchase of distressed debt and commercial real estate loans, and other corporate and real estate transactional matters. He also serves as general corporate counsel to privately held businesses including middle market manufacturers and distributors, start-up entities, and service providers.

Some of Mr. Kobus’ recent transactions are described below:

• Represented Larsen Manufacturing with its acquisition of an industrial building in Mundelein, Illinois, its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Wand Tool Company, the negotiation of supply and warranty agreements with Navistar and Visteon, and other general contract review and corporate counseling matters.
• Represented Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas, Inc. with its acquisition of commercial real estate in Norcross, Georgia.
• Represented Dennis Garberg & Associates, Inc. dba The Sunflower Group with its acquisition of a Canadian marketing service organization and other general corporate matters.
• Represented ML Realty Partners in a variety of industrial leasing and real estate transactions.
• Represented Arthur Hill & Co. in a variety of corporate, real estate and restructuring transactions.
• Represented Classified Ventures with its acquisitions of substantially all of the assets of ApartmentHomeLiving.com and NewCars.com, and its investment in RentWiki, Inc.
• Represented Kingsway America, Inc. in a variety of general contract review and corporate counseling matters.
• Represented Treehouse Foods, Inc. in its acquisition of commercial real estate in San Antonio, Texas.
• Represented Talent Drive, LLC in multiple capital raises and other general contract review and corporate counseling matters.
• Represented Activ Financial Services, Inc. with the sale of Preferred Shores to Bessemer Venture Partners.
• Represented the Chicago Park District with the negotiation of its concession management agreement with joint venture owned by U.S. Equities Realty and Levy Restaurants and its beverage agreement with Pepsi.
• Represented real estate investment funds in their investments in a variety of commercial real estate developments in Illinois and Arizona.
• Represented a financial institution in the purchase of distressed debt and commercial real estate loans. 

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Kobus practiced in the corporate and real estate group of a boutique Chicago business law firm and prior to that in the mergers & acquisitions and venture capital groups at Kirkland & Ellis.

Mr. Kobus graduated from Augustana College with degrees in Accounting and Finance in 1992. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1995. Mr. Kobus is admitted to practice in Illinois and Indiana.

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