TOP 50 WOMEN IN LAW HONOREE
K athryn Kovitz Arnold became a partner at Taft Law when Shefsky & Froelich merged with the firm in 2014. Over the past seven years, the firm has grown from 400 attorneys to 625 attorneys spanning 12 Midwest offices. Kathryn continued to be firm-wide chair of two practice groups: the real estate group and the condominium group. She oversees attorney hiring, workload, and billable hours. In addition to her practice group management, Kathryn was elected to serve on the firm’s executive committee, the governing body of Taft Law. Through her legal practice, Kathryn plays a key role in shaping the landscape of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods and business communities. She handles all aspects of commercial real estate, such as real estate development, mixed-use projects, restaurants, leasing, mixed-use high-rise development, vertical subdivisions and separations, and commercial financing. Kathryn is a recognized expert in condominium law and condominium de-conversions, the process of selling an entire condominium property to use the property as rental apartments. Kathryn led the Gold Coast condominium tower de-conversion at 1400 Lake Shore Drive, which was the largest de-conversion in Chicago history. She also led the condominium de-conversions for Kennelly Square, 2 East Oak, and numerous others in the city of Chicago and its suburbs. Her experience in real estate matters also includes the negotiation of lease agreements, the acquisition and disposition of commercial properties, and negotiation of financing documentation for financial institutions and businesses, including representation of securitized lenders. She also serves as local counsel with respect to Illinois law matters. For the past 10 years, Kathryn has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law, as well as Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers in Business for Real Estate Law. She was also designated by Connect Media as a 2018 “Women in Real Estate” honoree. She was also inducted to the Midwest Real Estate News Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame in 2017. For many years, Kathryn has been an invited speaker, panelist, and moderator for commercial real estate programs hosted by professional organizations and media journals. She has also drafted and consulted on new legislation and local ordinances regarding condominium law and administration. Kathryn lives in Glenview with her husband and has two daughters. She is an avid runner through the very neighborhoods she has enhanced through her legal practice.
KATHRYN KOVITZ ARNOLD
PARTNER TAFT STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER LLP Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
“She’s an icon for our younger women attorneys, who can model their careers upon her success.”
CHICAGO LAWYER JUNE/JULY 2021 • 43
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