Tim Hammersmith, Chair of the firm's Real Estate Group, represents sellers and purchasers of industrial, retail, multi-family dwelling and general commercial properties, and manages lease matters related thereto. Mr. Hammersmith also has extensive experience in real estate taxation, including contesting real estate tax assessments on commercial, industrial and multi-family investment grade properties, as well as representing not-for-profit entities in the area of real estate tax exemptions and real estate tax incentives, as well as advising on real estate tax leasehold issues.
Mr. Hammersmith is a frequent author and lecturer on real estate issues such as taxation, site selection and real estate development incentives. He co-authored the "Real Estate Tax and Government Incentives" and "Site Selection" chapters for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education's 2004 edition of Commercial Real Estate. He served as part of the Civic Federation Task Force II to assist in reshaping the Illinois real estate tax assessment appeal process. He has served on the Illinois State Bar Association's State and Local Taxation Section Council, and he was Chair of the Section Council from 1997 to 1998. For three years, he also served as an adjunct professor for the John Marshall Law School in Chicago.
Represented numerous companies in the leasing and build out of office use property in the states of Illinois, Ohio, New York and California, among others, ranging in size from 5,000 to 40,000 sq. ft.
Represented numerous sellers of industrial use property throughout the U.S.
Represented the seller of 40 acres of land encumbered with a long term ground lease and used in connection with a nationally recognized amusement facility.
Represented numerous manufacturing and warehouse/distribution companies in the purchase, development and leasing of facilities ranging in size from 10,000 to 500,000 sq. ft.
Represented a major international corporation in the sale of a 275,000 sq. ft. office building in California.
Represented nationwide food processing company in the acquisition of a 25,000 sq. ft. cold storage facility in New Jersey.
Procured economic development assistance, job training assistance and real and personal property tax abatements in Indiana and Illinois for industrial manufacturing and wholesale distribution companies.
Represented owners of commercial, industrial and multi-unit residential properties in real estate tax assessment reduction matters throughout Illinois.
Assisted an industrial user in obtaining bulk-restriction and height zoning variances for a major manufacturing facility in Illinois.
Handled numerous real estate-related litigation matters, including, but not limited to, title disputes, landlord-tenant disputes and condemnation.