Janet M. Johnson concentrates her practice in commercial real estate transactions and general corporate matters, particularly those involving the representation of closely held businesses and nonprofits.
She regularly represents publicly held and closely held corporations, developers, contractors, institutional investors, and nonprofit organizations and institutions, blending the unique requirements of nonprofits with their real estate development projects. She also has worked on the real estate aspects of independent power projects for non-regulated subsidiaries of public utility companies and independent ventures.
Her work frequently involves representing clients in negotiating purchases, sales, leases, and financings (including synthetic leasing and other complex financing transactions) for commercial real estate and land development projects.
Ms. Johnson also:
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Represents developers, users and objectors in Chicago metropolitan area zoning and annexation matters
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Works closely with members of our firm's Construction Group on construction issues related to real estate projects
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Counsels closely held business clients on corporate structuring, corporate governance, general business, real estate and family ownership matters
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Counsels nonprofits on corporate governance and issues associated with unrelated business taxable income from real estate investments and development or redevelopment of unused or underutilized real estate assets
She currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Regents of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and as President of the Board of Directors of LCMS National Housing Support Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri. She served for 12 years as a member (and for six years as Vice Chair) of the Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church Extension Fund — Missouri Synod. This is a $1.3 billion fund which makes loans to congregations, high schools, colleges, universities, seminaries and other service organizations affiliated with The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod (LCMS). She also served for nine years on the Board of Directors of The Northern Illinois District of the LCMS and 12 years on the Board of Trustees of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois.
In addition, Ms. Johnson has represented a community/church-based nonprofit in building and renovating affordable homes in the Chicago North Kenwood Oakland neighborhood for the past 14 years. She also has represented a Chicago-based nonprofit providing services to victims of domestic violence for the past 15 years in acquiring and rehabilitating an apartment building for use as transitional housing for its clients.