40 Under Forty 2025

2025 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

PETER ZAGOTTA

AGE 38

FIRM Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP

LAW SCHOOL Creighton University School of Law

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AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Business transactions

His tireless work ethic, intellect and down-to-earth demeanor inspire those around him.

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O ne of Peter Zagotta's greatest strengths is his ability to emphasize with his clients. As his peers say, Zagotta un- derstands the challenges that his clients face, knows the stress they are under and does whatever he can to earn them a win- ning resolution. . Others say that no situation is "too big" for Zagotta. That's one way in which this young attorney earns the respect and trust of his clients. "The client will walk away impressed with his command of the facts, the ramifications of the situation and the legal land- scape impacting the question at hand," said Michael Mendolera, principal with the Pepper Pike Group. "The depth and breadth of Peter's knowledge instantly legitimizes him when tackling a new opportunity." Zagotta has built a reputation as an attorney who can instant- ly understand all sides of an issue, synthesize the key perspec- tives and clearly present his findings to his clients. He has the knack of distilling complex issues so that his clients can quickly understand the keys to their business matters. The lenders, developers and entrepreneurs with whom

Zagotta works refer to him as a trusted partner. Nathan Howze, partner with Honigman, said that Zagotta is also a business generator, one with a deft ability to build rela- tionships that elevate his firm's profile and revenue. "His tireless work ethic, intellect and down-to-earth demean- or inspire those around him to elevate their own performance, creating a positive ripple effect that benefits colleagues, clients and the broader firm," Howze said. In one example of Zagotta's work, he served as lender's coun- sel on a loan transaction of more than $50 million to reallocate and modify a tenant's lease termination funds into a reserve account. This matter also included a sell transaction by the bor- rower that required multiple-site and multi-state complex title and survey issues and a partial release of collateral implications. Zagotta shepherded the transaction smoothly, ensuring that the deal reached the finish line with no hiccups. "Peter is a phenomenal client advocate with a demeanor and approach that endears trust from his clients and coworkers," said Ethan Crooks, vice president of business development with PLUSnxt.

40 Under Forty 2025

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