Large Firm Experience. Business Common Sense. Cost Effective Service.
Specializing in Real Estate Leasing, General Commercial Real Estate & Land Use Law
PRACTICE
AREAS
REAL ESTATE LEASING
We focus on representing tenants and some landlords in commercial leases, on a national basis.
Moorhead Law Group, LLC manages a nationally-recognized commercial real estate practice involving office, retail, manufacturing, industrial, and other commercial properties.
LAND USE & ZONING
Our firm provides legal counsel and representation in matters related to land use and zoning regulations.
The Moorhead Law Group has worked on special uses, variances, subdivisions, planned development, and many other aspects of land use and zoning.
We have worked on urban, suburban, small city, and rural properties in many states and jurisdictions.
GENERAL COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Our team has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting various types of contracts to protect our clients' interests.
CONSERVATION
We assist clients in navigating complex regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
Since 1996, we have worked, studied, written, and
spoken in the areas of land use, conservation, natural resource, water, and environmental law.
The Moorhead Law Group has handled several conservation easements, water law matters, and natural resource issues.
SPORTS LAW
We are dedicated to resolving disputes efficiently and effectively, with a focus on achieving favorable outcomes for our clients.
OUR VISION
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Moorhead Law Group, LLC is a law firm built with 25 years of experience in some of the most well-respected law firms in the United States. We combine our experience and skills with a cost-effective approach to achieve the goals of our clients. Since 2008, we've built a nationally-recognized leasing practice in our firm for retail, restaurant, office and warehouse/manufacturing uses. Our focus allows us to excel in these areas and better counsel our clients. We are based in Lake Forest, Illinois, with a practice national in scope. We earned our "Forty Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch" and multiple "Best of the Best" awards by listening to our clients and helping them achieve their business goals. With 25 years of experience and a common sense approach, we will do the same for you.
The middle of five kids, my dad worked in a high school and my mom is a Colorado native. We'd pack into the station wagon on summer breaks to live in a Colorado cabin without phone or heat. Water came from a stream. My banker grandfather in Greeley would visit, full of stories about helping ranchers and cattlemen grow their businesses and find profit in unforgiving land. These memories stuck. My passion was born.
After studying Classics & English in college and 2 years in pro cycling, I jumped eagerly into real estate and land use in law school.
Like my grandfather, I've dedicated 26 years to helping clients grow. From start-ups to Fortune Top 10s, I handle letters of intent, contracts, land use and zoning, financing, acquisition, development, leasing & disposition. I refer tax appeals to trusted lawyers.
I'm equally comfortable with start-ups and executives, negotiating in cafes and board rooms. I was a partner in a large U.S. law firm and often am across deal tables with big firms. I win respect and many favorable deal points through reasonableness and simple hard work.
After thirteen years of working in some of the most prestigious U.S. law firms, I founded the Moorhead Law Group, LLC in 2012 as a Chicago firm with a national practice. I believe clients should receive a fair price for high quality legal services. Clients note the firm’s fair approach, sound advice, responsiveness & ability to get matters done on time, on budget and without surprises.
Our firm has won the “Best of the Best Law Firm" by Midwest Real Estate News each year from 2018-2024.
“Hard-working, diligent, creative, and smart; but most importantly, reasonable and practical. Earned a reputation for pushing deals through to the finish line.”
--Chicago Lawyer Magazine
OUR
ATTORNEYS
JAMES "JAMIE" MOORHEAD
FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL
Tel: (773) 750-2179
jmoorhead@moorhead-law.com
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The middle of five kids, my dad worked in a high school and my mom is a Colorado native. We'd pack into the station wagon on summer breaks to live in a Colorado cabin without phone or heat. Water came from a stream. My banker grandfather in Greeley would visit, full of stories about helping ranchers and cattlemen grow their businesses and find profit in unforgiving land. These memories stuck. My passion was born.
After studying Classics & English in college and 2 years in pro cycling, I jumped eagerly into real estate and land use in law school.
Experience
Like my grandfather, I've dedicated 26 years to helping clients grow. From start-ups to Fortune Top 10s, I handle letters of intent, contracts, land use and zoning, financing, acquisition, development, leasing & disposition. I refer tax appeals to trusted lawyers.
I'm equally comfortable with start-ups and executives, negotiating in cafes and board rooms. I was a partner in a large U.S. law firm and often am across deal tables with big firms. I win respect and many favorable deal points through reasonableness and simple hard work. Tenants, landlords, owners, buyers, sellers, developers & land trusts ask me for help.
800+ leases and 300+ property deals later, my focus is office, retail, restaurant, fitness, sports & entertainment, multi-family, rural, industrial & warehouse. I also do conservation, water & natural resource law. I've worked in all 50 states, with deal value of $2+ billion.
A Newer, More Nimble Firm
After thirteen years of working in some of the most prestigious U.S. law firms, I founded the Moorhead Law Group, LLC in 2012 as a Chicago firm with a national practice. I believe clients should receive a fair price for high quality legal services. Clients note the firm’s fair approach, sound advice, responsiveness & ability to get matters done on time, on budget and without surprises.
National Leasing Focus
Since 2008, I've built a nationally-recognized retail and restaurant leasing practice within my firm, assisting clients grow into national, multi-million dollar operations.
Award-Winning Attorney
I won the “40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys” in 2011. Our firm has won the “Best of the Best Law Firm" by Midwest Real Estate News each year from 2018-2024. I serve on Lake Forest's Plan Commission and its Zoning Board & am assisting the City in updating its Central Business District comprehensive plan. I speak nationally and published Tenant Leasing 101 in 2014.
My wife, from coastal Georgia, and I reside north of Chicago with our two children. Hobbies are cycling, trail running, history, skiing, & the mountains.
If you would like legal help, please give me a call.
Education
Dartmouth College, Tuck School of Business,
Bridge Executive Education Program; 2013
Vermont Law School,
Environmental Intensive Summer Session; 1997
Loyola University Chicago School of Law,
JD; 1999
Georgetown University,
BA (English and Classics); 1994
Loyola Academy, 1990.
Bar Admissions
Illinois, Maryland, and District of Columbia
Work Experience
Motorola Cycling Team, Communications Manager (1994-1996)
Civic Involvement
Plan Commission, City of Lake Forest, Illinois (2019-).
Zoning Board of Appeals, City of Lake Forest, Illinois (2018-).
Lake Forest Central Business District Comprehensive Plan Update Working Group (2022-2023).
First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest Co-Pastor Nominating Committee (2022-2023).
Cub Scout Pack 46 Treasurer, Lake Forest, Illinois (2018-2021).
United States Olympic Committee Athlete Ombudsman Office, Athlete Attorney Representative (2012-2020).
Misericordia Home, Sibs Board Member (2001-2008, 2013-2015), Sibs Member and Volunteer (1991-).
Publications
Tenant Leasing 101, published in 2014 and for sale on Amazon.
‘Sports, Business, and the Law’ column, published monthly in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2014-2019.
Honors and Awards
Selected as "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch"; 2011 (1,200 attorneys nominated)
Illinois Rising Star, SuperLawyer Magazine; 2008-2012
Illinois Super Lawyers, SuperLawyer Magazine; 2020-2024
(top 2.5% of attorneys)
Editor-in-Chief, Public Interest Law Reporter; 1998-1999
CALI Award for highest grade in Constitutional Law; 1998
Presentations
Presenter on retail leasing at International Council of Shopping Centers Law Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, 2015.
Seminar Presenter on retail leasing at Outdoor University, Outdoor Retailer Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2010-2015.
GET IN
TOUCH
CONTACT US
230 Northgate Street, #571
Lake Forest, IL 60045
Email: info@moorhead-law.com
Tel: 773-750-2179
Click Here to Find Us
For any inquiries or to schedule a consultation, please fill in the following contact form:
No attorney-client relationship will arise before a Moorhead Law Group, LLC attorney has specifically advised you that the firm is accepting an engagement on your behalf, after apprpriate conflicts checks and inquiries have been conducted and an executed engagement letter has been executed and returned to the firm by you.
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