Michael D. Rechtin, Jr. is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Group. His practice focuses on commercial real estate, specializing in office, data center, headquarters, industrial and retail leasing, build-to-suit transactions, acquisitions, dispositions, financings, joint ventures and development. Mr. Rechtin has worked extensively in the data center field and understands its many unique features. Mr. Rechtin represents on a local and national basis publicly-traded companies, pension funds and pension fund advisors, investment advisory groups, local and national commercial developers, real estate entrepreneurs and professional services firms.

Mr. Rechtin’s recent experience includes:

Recent major data center tenant representations with a value well in excess of $1,000,000,000:
- National data center counsel for a Fortune 50 media conglomerate including a 9.6 megawatt Hillsboro, Oregon data center ($450,000,000 value) and a 8.4 megawatt Northern Virginia data center ($300,000,000 value)
- Fortune 35 company in a 6.3 megawatt Northlake, Illinois data center ($250,000,000 value)
- Nationally-recognized website and domain name provider in a 3 megawatt Northern Virginia data center ($100,000,000 value)
- National financial services firm in a 1.4 megawatt Chandler, Arizona data center ($60,000,000 value)
Currently representing the owners of the following downtown Chicago and suburban office buildings in their leasing and management work: John Hancock Building, 55 W. Monroe, 100 N. LaSalle, 200 S. Wacker, 150 N. Michigan, 191 N. Wacker, 200 W. Jackson, Schaumburg Corporate Center and One Oakbrook Terrace.
In the largest suburban Chicago office lease of 2012, represented a tenant leasing an entire Class A building (300,000 square feet) in Schaumburg, Illinois for its world headquarters. Transaction won the 2013 NAIOP Chicago "Suburban Office Transaction" of the year.
Represented the largest tenant at 330 N. Wabash in Chicago (former IBM Building) in a 273,000 square foot headquarters office lease. Transaction won the Crain’s Chicago Commercial Real Estate “Innovative Deal of the Year.”
Represent numerous companies (financial services, high tech and manufacturing) as tenants and licensees in retail/colocationdata center facilities ranging from 250 kilowatts to 2 megawatts.
Represent several landlords, developers and private equity firms in their data center development, leasing, ownership and operation strategy.
Represent numerous publicly traded companies and large professional services firms nationally on their real estate holdings.
Outside general counsel to one of the nation's leading triathlon and cycling training and coaching providers (Mr. Rechtin is also an avid triathlete).

Education and Honors

University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business (Certificate, 2013)Certificate of Executive Management.
University of Notre Dame Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1992)Dean’s List.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S., 1989)

Bar Admissions

Illinois, 1994

Michigan (inactive), 1992

Professional Recognition

Listed in Chambers USA^® (2013-2014: Real Estate).

Illinois Leading Lawyer (Commercial Real Estate, 2005-2014).

Professional and Civic Activities

Adjunct Professor, Northwestern University Graduate School of Engineering, Evanston, Illinois.
American Bar Association (Member; Real Property, Estate and Trust Law and Business Law Sections).
Illinois Bar Association (Member).
North Branch Works (Secretary and Member of the Board of Directors).

Selected Presentations/Publications

Mr. Rechtin is highly regarded for his expertise and is well known throughout the Chicago brokerage and legal communities. Mr. Rechtin has lectured on the following topics:

Presenter, “Commercial Leasing: Changing Lease Forms and Negotiating Tactics in the New Improving Economy,” PLI-Negotiating Commercial Leases, November 18, 2013.
Presenter, “Acquisition and Dispositions, Journey Through the PSA, and More,” PLI 15th Annual Commercial Real Estate Institute, October 28, 2013.
Presenter, Bisnow Media presents the Second Annual Data Center Investment Conference & Expo, Washington, D.C., June 19-20, 2013.
Presenter, “Leasing: Data Center Leases and Other Current Trends and Issues,” 7th Annual Specialized CLE for In-House Counsel, Phoenix, Arizona, June 13, 2013.
Panel Moderator, “Data Center Boom,” Bisnow Real Estate Chicago, January 29, 2013.
Presenter, “Changing Lease Forms and Negotiating Tactics in the New Improving Economy,” PLI Negotiating Commercial Leases: How Owners and Corporate Occupants Can Avoid Costly Errors, November 16, 2012.
Presenter, “Commercial Leasing,” PLI 14th Annual Commercial Real Estate Institute, October 29, 2012.
Panel Moderator, “Data Center Boom,” Bisnow Real Estate Chicago, December 8, 2011.
Presenter, “Commercial Leasing,” PLI 13th Annual Commercial Real Estate Institute, October 31, 2011.
“How Safe Is Your Client’s Data Storage?: Issues and Expertise in Data Center Leasing,” Quarles & Brady LLP Real Estate Law Training and Continuing Legal Education, June 23, 2011.
“Safeguarding Leasing Broker Commissions,” presented to each of Jones, Lang, LaSalle, The John Buck Company and Transwestern in 2009 and 2010.
“News Trends in Lease Agreements from a Landlord’s and Tenant’s Perspective,” Grubb & Ellis Company 2007 National Conference, January 2007.
“Review of Leasing Issues,” Leasing for Facilities Manager (IFMA), April and September 2006.
“Negotiating Office Lease Letters of Intent,” TCN Worldwide, April 2006.
“Tenant Improvement Work Letters,” Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the Practicing Law Institute.

Publications:

Co-Author, “Crowdfunded Real Estate — Possibilities And Pitfalls,” Law360, March 10, 2014.
Author, “The ABCs Of Data Center Leasing,” Law360, May 2013.
Co-author, “Landlord's Guide to Tenant's Audit Rights,” The Commercial Lease Law Insider, June 2001.