OVERVIEW

Jeffrey P. Gray

Partner

Chicago

One N. Wacker Drive
Suite 4400
Chicago, IL 60606-2833

F 312-759-5646

Corporate attorney and co-chair of the firm’s Entrepreneurial and Emerging Companies group, Jeff Gray represents domestic and international clients — ranging from Fortune 100 companies, middle market businesses and privately held entities to banking and financial institutions to entrepreneurs, emerging and fast-growth ventures — in the full array of corporate, securities, real estate and financing matters.

OVERVIEW
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
INSIGHTS & EVENTS

OVERVIEW

At the center of Jeff’s practice is a commitment to partnering with clients, which is supported by the breadth and depth of experience that decades of advising businesses of all kinds and at virtually every stage of development brings. Jeff has maintained a reputation for approaching each matter with creativity and passion.

Jeff’s business and legal perspective, personal drive, commitment to creating long-standing relationships, and seemingly innate ability to anticipate even the most unique client needs has earned him the title of trusted adviser. Startup businesses represented by Jeff include fulfillment and logistics, blogs, men’s care products, fitness equipment, and cannabis cultivation, dispensing, research and development.

Jeff advises businesses and individuals on virtually all aspects of their asset, stock, merger and reorganization transactions. He ably guides clients through the acquisition, development and divestiture of commercial, industrial, retail and residential subdivision properties, including finance, title, survey and environmental issues.

In addition, Jeff negotiates and closes construction, architectural, acquisition, lease, joint venture and divestiture agreements for real estate development and investment transactions. He drafts private placement offering materials for equity and debt securities and advises clients on general compliance, contract, commercial and corporate matters, including supply contracts, software and other licensing agreements. Jeff also represents national and state banks and individuals in asset-based, real estate, secured and unsecured loans, loan sales and workouts.

Regardless of the client or the complexity of the matter at hand, Jeff is valued for his candor and straightforward, actionable solutions for businesses of all sizes. An analytical problem-solver, Jeff is appreciated for his reliability and skill in helping his clients grow and expand their market share, and helping them find practical paths to realizing their full potential.

Jeff has a long-standing commitment to pro bono activities, including representing the Chicago Community Loan Funds and Chapin Hall Institute for Children for over 20 years.

Professional and Community Involvement

Member, American Bar Association

Member, Illinois State Bar Association

Volunteer, Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Volunteer, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services

Board member, Forest Preserve Foundation

EXPERIENCE

Represented ShipBob, Inc. in Series A and Series A-1 capital rounds.
Represented Dude Products, Inc. in seed round funding from Mark Cuban Companies.
Represented affiliated cannabis companies in a $30,000,000 capital raise.
Sale of The Talbott Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, for $51,500,000 to Sterling Bay.
Represented Toda America Incorporated in a strategic alliance with BASF Corporation for the production and sale in Battle Creek, Michigan, and Elyria, Ohio, of nickel cobalt manganese and nickel cobalt aluminum oxide cathode active materials for e-mobility applications.
Sale of the Coastal Club student housing development in Conway, South Carolina, for $40,850,000.
Acquisition by Rexel USA Holdings of Munro Distributing for $150,000,000 to reinforce Rexel’s position as a premier provider of energy efficiency solutions.
Acquisition by Rexel USA Holdings of the assets of Brohl & Appel to strengthen Rexel’s position in industrial automation.
Multi-disciplinary representation of Sparkplug Capital and its affiliates in the acquisition of over 100 self-storage facilities across the country and the financing of acquisitions, as well as commercial law and leasing counselling.
Represented a client in a joint venture for the redevelopment and $16,000,000 financing of a Chicago property for self-storage.
Sale of the Hunters Run Apartment complex in Indianapolis for $10,850,000.
Represented a national bank in an $18,000,000 asset based loan.
Represented a native American tribe in the acquisition of 77 acres of vacant land for $17,000,000.
Represented the seller of Los Angeles industrial properties for $31,700,000.
Represented client in Chicago area transactions involving the acquisition of 250 unit townhouse development for $71,000,000 with $53,750,000 in financing for tenants in common and 200 unit apartment $57,500,000 with $45,000,000 in financing and the sale of multiple apartment buildings for $18,750,000.
Represented client in acquisition, financing and development of student housing project at Coastal Carolina University, permanent financing and sale of project for $40,850,000.
Represented client in acquisition, financing and development of multi-family project near Raleigh, North Carolina, permanent financing and sale of project for $40,500,000.