

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
Since 2008, we have built a nationally-recognized leasing practice representing landlords and tenants on a national basis. We handle office, retail, restaurant, MOB, manufacturing, industrial, rural, and other commercial properties.
Our firm has developed long-term relationships with several national retail brands, international corporations, institutional and private equity investors, and all types of entrepreneurial and smaller business ventures.
LAND USE & ZONING
Our firm provides legal counsel and representation in matters related to land use and zoning regulations.
We have experience with special uses, variances, subdivisions, planned development, and virtually all other aspects of land use and zoning.
Jamie Moorhead serves on the City of Lake Forest's Plan Commission and completed 6.5 years on its Zoning Board of Appeals. He also served on the City's Central Business District Comprehensive Plan Update Group.
GENERAL COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
We have extensive experience with all types of commercial real estate matters. We handle purchases, due diligence, certain environmental matters, development and construction, financing, and sales.
Executives, general counsels, and business owners of local, regional, and national companies hire us for their needs.
CONSERVATION & NATURAL RESOURCE
Our firm has represented land trusts in the establishment of conservation easements, particularly on St. Simons Island and Sea Island, Georgia.
We also have experience and provide guidance to clients in the areas of natural resource, water, and environmental law.
“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 VISION
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 focus in four areas: real estate leasing, general commercial real estate, land use and zoning, and conservation. Our focus allows us to excel in these areas and better counsel our clients with a cost-effective approach to achieve their goals. Since 2008, we've built a nationally-recognized leasing practice in our firm for retail, restaurant, office, MOB, and warehouse/manufacturing 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 have won the “Best of the Best Law Firm" by Midwest Real Estate News each year from 2018-2025.
We succeed by listening to our clients and helping them achieve their business goals. With a common sense approach, we will do the same for you.
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"The better legal counsel compared to the party on the other side of the transaction."
--40 Illinois Attorneys under Forty to Watch in 2011 Award

OUR
ATTORNEYS

JAMES "JAMIE" MOORHEAD
FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL
Tel: (773) 750-2179
jmoorhead@moorhead-law.com
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.
1000+ leases and 350+ 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 $2.5+ 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, restaurant, office, MOB, and warehouse leasing practice within my firm for tenants and landlords, assisting clients grow into national, multi-million dollar operations. I have extensive experience representing private equity backed tenants in national expansions.
Award-Winning Attorney
I won the “40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys” in 2011. I serve on Lake Forest's Plan Commission, and served on its Zoning Board for 6.5 years. I assisted the City in updating its Central Business District comprehensive plan and speak and write nationally on leasing and real estate. In 2014, I published Tenant Leasing 101, for sale on Amazon.
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 (2018-2025).
Lake Forest Central Business District Comprehensive Plan Update Working Group (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; 2020-2025
(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
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