About Aaron
Aaron T. May: Experienced Real Estate Attorney in Chicago
Aaron T. May is a highly regarded real estate attorney in Chicago, Illinois, recognized for his expertise and commitment to guiding clients through complex commercial real estate transactions with clarity and practicality. Known for distilling high-stakes issues into actionable strategies, Aaron brings both breadth and depth to his practice across multiple asset classes and deal types.
Practice Areas
- Acquisition and sale of office, retail and industrial properties
- Financing transactions
- Office and retail leasing
- Telecommunications site transactions
- Land use and development
Educational Background & Bar Admissions
- Universities: University of Illinois - Chicago, University of Illinois College of Law
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Illinois College of Law
- Bar Admissions: Illinois, United States Supreme Court
Awards & Recognitions
Aaron May has been recognized by industry peers and organizations including ULI Chicago for his contributions to real estate law. He is also recognized as a notable Real Estate Law practitioner in Best Attorney USA.
Professional Affiliations
- Serve on the Finance Committee of Saint Viator High School
- A member of both the American and Chicago Bar Associations
In his extensive career, Aaron May has represented some of Chicago’s most iconic commercial buildings such as the Old Post Office and Aon Center. He frequently advises high-net-worth real estate investors on sophisticated tax-sensitive transactions.
Professional Experience & Highlights
- Represented investors in a $100 million multi-property portfolio contribution to a publicly traded REIT via 'Down REIT' transaction
- Served as counsel for the sellers in the sale of multi-property, triple-net leased real estate assets valued at over $64 million
- Represented a telecommunications company in a multi-site, sale-leaseback transaction including drafting and negotiating lease documents
- Successfully represented multiple clients in acquisition and financing transactions for medical office buildings totaling approximately $18 million
- Served as counsel in numerous 1031 'like-kind' exchanges and related acquisitions, sales, and financings, including a $23 million office building sale through a like-kind exchange resulting in the acquisition of an industrial property
- Provided legal counsel to mid-sized lenders on over twenty commercial term and construction loan transactions
Aaron T. May is an active member of ULI Chicago, where he serves as Vice Chair of the Real Estate Practice team, lending his expertise to a wide range of clients in all aspects of real estate transactions nationwide. His experience encompasses both transactional and advisory roles across diverse property sectors, including office, industrial, retail, mixed-use, and residential properties.
Outside of work, Aaron enjoys playing basketball and golf. This balanced lifestyle allows him to maintain a healthy work-life balance while continuing his commitment to providing exceptional legal counsel to his clients.
