Stephen H. Malato practices in the area of real estate law, with extensive experience in project development, commercial lending, construction litigation, corporate organization and governance, and contracts and environmental compliance.
Transactions that Mr. Malato has handled include:
- Representation of American National Bank in connection with the Westridge Court Shopping Center, including acting as lead counsel for the three banks that provided the $41million loan; acquiring the shopping center in a deed in lien of foreclosure transaction; working through lease issues with Phar-Mor Pharmacy, Spiegel and K-mart.
- Representation of Bekins Van Lines in connection with the leasing of a distribution center in Ohio and a distribution center in Utah.
- Representation of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America/Hiffman Shaffer Associates, Inc. joint ventures, including the negotiation and preparation of leases with tenants such as DHL, Bally and Airborne Express.
- Representation of Travelers Insurance Company in connection with leasing of office space, retail space and industrial space in buildings in Traveler’s Equity Portfolio.
- Representation of American National Bank in bond financing involving the Bensenville Home Society, a Lutheran Charitable Organization that provides elderly care.
- Representation of LaSalle Bank in various loan transactions.
- Representation of GE-related insurance companies in mortgage lending transactions.
Mr. Malato joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in July 1986. He is a past leader of the firm’s national Real Estate & Construction Practice Group.
Mr. Malato was elected as a Fellow by the American College of Mortgage Attorneys in 2004.
His professional memberships also include the Chicago Bar Association, the Legal Club of Chicago, the Union League Club of Chicago, the Chicago Area Mortgage Attorneys Association, the Real Estate Financing Forum and the Chicago Real Estate Council.
In 2005 and 2006, Mr. Malato was included on the
Super Lawyer list in the area of Real Estate Transactions by
Illinois Super Lawyers magazine. Since 2007 he has been included annually in the area of Real Estate.
Mr. Malato has also been recognized by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in the category of Real Estate Law: Commercial, and in 2010 he was included in
Leading Lawyers Network Magazine Real Estate, Construction & Environmental Edition’s list of the Top 100 Real Estate-Related Lawyers in Illinois.
In addition, he holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability.
Mr. Malato was a guest lecturer at Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management Real Estate Law Course, May 1991 through 1993, speaking on the subject of troubled real estate loans.
Mr. Malato has worked with the Chicago Volunteer Legal Assistance program for many years and received the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation's 2003 Distinguished Service Award for his work with its panel program.