Donna J. Pugh is a real estate business lawyer focusing her practice on obtaining land use and zoning entitlements on behalf of her retail, office, residential, health care, and corporate clients. She is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Practice.
With her approach of bridging the gap between client, civic, and municipal needs, Donna has an exceptionally high success rate of securing necessary approvals for land development projects in the Chicago area. A consensus builder, Donna works to unite institutional property owners, elected officials, and community groups to achieve approvals that maximize flexibility of future land use and benefit all involved stakeholders.
Donna’s client list is extensive, including many high-profile land development projects, such as obtaining zoning approvals for the 960,000-square-foot United Center, home to Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, and new practice facilities for both teams. She obtained approvals for Magnificent Mile shopping centers including Water Tower Place 900 North Michigan, and The Shops at North Bridge. She also obtained all zoning approvals for the original redevelopment (1994) and subsequent redevelopments of the 1.6 million square foot legacy mall Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie, IL.
Although Donna focuses her land use practice in Chicago, Cook County, DuPage County, and Will County, she has experience handling and advising on national land use matters.
Donna has extensive experience in securing planned developments, special uses, rezonings, variations, text amendments and other land use approvals.