Stephen B. Bell

Partner

Steve is an established expert in real estate law, with broad experience in structuring and closing middle and upper market transactions. His 40-year legal career has spanned many economic and business cycles, so he is experienced in advising clients in good times and bad.

Steve has handled real estate transactions of all kinds and from all perspectives, representing lenders and borrowers, buyers and sellers, and landlords and tenants, as well as soup-to-nuts developers and syndicators. He has broad foreclosure and workout experience as counsel to both lenders and borrowers and he has taken an active role in litigation arising out of construction, acquisition, leasing and financing of real estate. Because he can draw from a wide range of personal experiences, he is able to facilitate transactions and settlement of disputes by suggesting both proven and novel resolutions to business and legal issues.

Steve has represented clients in a wide variety of businesses, including insurance companies, pension funds, commercial banks and other financial institutions, REITs, governmental entities and real estate companies and entrepreneurs. He prides himself in taking a hands-on role in structuring, negotiating and documenting transactions of all sizes. His broad experience also enables him to contribute to other transactions and real estate litigation being handled by the firm.

Steve has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA. Prior to joining Grady Pilgrim, he was a founding partner of Goldberg Kohn Bell Black Rosenbloom & Moritz, Ltd., where he chaired the Real Estate Group from 1996 to 2007 and served on the Management Committee.

Professional Activities

Education

Harvard University (J.D. cum laude, 1969)
Wheaton College (A.B., high honors, 1966)

Bar Admissions

State of Illinois