Andrew W. Lapin

Having built his own successful business from the ground up, Andrew Lapin understands the daily pressures, shifting priorities, and long-term challenges business owners face. And after 45 years of handling complex and consequential matters and transactions for a diverse range of clients, he knows the approaches and strategies best suited to help them grow and scale, seize opportunities, and sidestep avoidable risks.

With an entrepreneurial spirit and the insights that can only come from vast and varied experience, Andy focuses his practice on real estate (including Section 1031 exchange transactions), business franchises, business transactions, banking and finance, and labor and employment matters. His clients include early-stage and established companies, franchise owners/operators, real estate investors, developers, and syndicators, and lenders.

Andy helps clients structure or restructure their businesses so that they are in a healthier position to utilize financial leverage. For some clients, that may mean diversification into new enterprises that capitalize on the business owner’s strengths. For franchisees, Andy’s efforts are designed to help them get to the top of their brands, and in transactions of all sizes and complexity, he strives to get his clients across the finish line expeditiously and without unnecessary cost or delay.

Andy also works extensively with banks and other financial institutions in lending and loan workouts and restructurings, as well as in syndicated, single bank, secured, unsecured, structured finance, real estate, commercial and industrial, private bank, and asset-based lending transactions.

When not serving his clients, Andy likes to spend his time long-distance auto racing, building his own botanic garden, riding his motorcycle, and, most of all, spending time with his family.

Education

• University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, J.D., 1978
• Indiana University Bloomington, B.S., Economics, 1975

Admissions

• Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Professional Affiliations

• Chicago Bar Association – Real Property Committee
• Leading Lawyers
• Super Lawyers