Liz Darke is an experienced transactional lawyer, concentrating her practice in real estate lending, leasing, and acquisitions and dispositions. Ms. Darke represents institutional lenders nationwide in complex lending transactions, including construction loans, term loans and mezzanine financings. In addition to commercial lending transactions, Ms. Darke has extensive experience in office, retail and industrial lease transactions for landlords and tenants.

Ms. Darke is also experienced in drafting and negotiating exchange agreements among railroads, railroad trackage rights agreements and other related matters on behalf of railroads.

Ms. Darke serves as the Firm’s Professional Personnel Committee Chairperson and has served as an active member of the Firm's Recruiting Committee for many years. She also is the former leader of the real estate practice group and former hiring partner in Chicago.

Before moving to Chicago, Ms. Darke practiced as an associate at an AmLaw 100 firm in New York City where she where she represented developers in connection with the securitized financings of shopping malls, retail centers and other commercial properties on a national basis.

Bar Admissions

Illinois, 2002

Education
State University of New York at Buffalo, J.D., cum laude

• Law Review, Articles Editor

Syracuse University, B.A., summa cum laude

• Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Associations

• Chicago Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Chicago Mortgage Attorneys Association

Professional Activities and Experience
Before moving to Chicago, Ms. Darke practiced in New York City for more than four years, where she represented developers in connection with the securitized financings of shopping malls, retail centers and other commercial properties located in New York, Massachusetts, California, Florida and other areas of the country.