Service Areas
Education
- Northwestern University, M.S., Communications, 1996, Managerial Speech Communication ("MSC") Program
The University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 1972
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A., 1969, Political Science Major
Illinois Valley Community College, A.A., 1967
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1972
Virginia Harding has been a member of Gould & Ratner's Real Estate Group since 1975. She was the first woman associate and then its first woman partner. She has practiced as Of Counsel since 1995. As a real estate attorney she has enjoyed long term relationships with clients and their properties having worked with one large development since 1975. Handling multiple transactions for the same clients gives her an overview and understanding of clients' needs, concerns and properties.
She has in-depth experience representing the developers of master planned communities beginning with site acquisition through sell-out. In the course of her career she handled transitions with many of the national builders and developers in the Chicago metropolitan market. As a land developer's attorney, she is familiar with the annexation, zoning, and land planning processes. She has handled innovative financing transactions for water, waste water, and other infrastructure improvement projects. Known for her ability to draft complicated land agreements including Reciprocal Easement Agreements (REA's) and Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions ( CC&R's). Experienced in the purchase, sale and financing of properties developed on ground leases and over air rights.
Presentations
- A Look at 1031 Like-Kind Exchange Transactions (Moderator), co-sponsored by the Center for Real Estate Law and the Center for Tax Law & Employee Benefits at The John Marshall Law School, February 2008
Approval and Funding of Infrastructure in Illinois (Speaker and Panel Moderator), Lorman Education Services, February 2008
Public Finance Transactions for Commercial & Industrial Properties (Panel Moderator), Law Bulletin Seminars, October 2007
Commercial Lease Transactions (Panel Member), The John Marshall Law School Kratovil Conference on Real Estate Law and Practice, October 2007
Access Issues and Real Estate Transacations, National Business Institute, September 2007
Financing New Streets and Roads, National Business Institute, September 2007
Closing the Transaction, Chicago Community Outreach Program of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Section, American Bar Association, June 2007
Marketable v. Insurable Title, National Business Institute, April 2007
Identifying and Resolving Title Issues: A Case Study, National Business Institute, April 2007
The Takings Clause Clarified by The U.S. Supreme Court (Panel Moderator), The John Marshall Law School Kratovil Conference on Real Estate Law & Practice, September, 2006
Common Ownership: Condominiums and More (Program Moderator), Professional Education Broadcast Network, September, 2006
The Development Approval Process in Illinois - Overview of the Development Approval Process, Lorman Education Services, August, 2006
Drafting, Terminating, Modifying and Amending Easements, Lorman Education Services, March, 2006
Bulk Sales -- A Trap for the Unwary, Chicago Mortgage Attorneys Association in Fall of 2005
Law of Nonconforming Uses, National Business Institute's Land Use Law Update, 2005
Drafting, Terminating, Modifying and Amending Easements, Lorman Education Services, 2003
Due Diligence in Commercial Real Estate Transactions, Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Seminar, 2001
Closing Documents, Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Seminar, 2000
Real Estate Law in the 21st Century (moderator), The John Marshall Law School Kratovil Program, 1998
Negotiations from the Developer's Perspective, Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Seminar, 1998
Potential Risks Dry Cleaners Pose for Property Owners, Chicago Bar Association Real Property Committee Seminar, 1994
Professional and Civic Affiliations
- Adjunct Professor, The John Marshall Law School - Real Estate Transactions (J.D. Program) and Drafting and Negotiating Skills Workshop (LL.M and M.S. Programs in Real Estate Law)
Member: International Council of Shopping Centers
Member: Chicago Real Estate Council
Phi Beta Kappa
Past President, Chicago Mortgage Attorneys Association
Member: Ely Chapter - Lambda Alpha International - The Land Economics Society
Member: Northwestern University Council of One Hundred
Member: Advisory Committee: Center for Real Estate Law, The John Marshall Law School
Founding Member: Illinois Real Estate Alumni Forum
Class Correspondent: University of Chicago Law School Class of 1972