CWS Governmental Relations, Ltd.





Real Estate & Land Use Practice Co-Chair

James J. Chester, Partner
614.334.6103
jimchester@cwslaw.com

Add Contact Information to Outlook Address Book

Practice Concentration
Services include representing clients in all aspects of real estate, general business and corporate law. Advises clients in connection with the organization, finance, control, acquisition and disposition of businesses, including corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, general business and commercial transactions, as well as providing representation in related litigation.  Practice  also includes representing clients in all aspects of commercial real estate law including the purchase, finance, development, construction and leasing of apartments, office buildings, shopping centers, residential developments, commercial and manufacturing facilities. Represents owners, developers, tenants and financial institutions.

Special focus area in motor vehicle auction, dealer and title law.  Advises businesses in the motor vehicle industry, including motor vehicle auto auctions, dealers and floor plan finance companies.

Serves as outside general counsel to closely held businesses.


Representative Experience 
General counsel to Columbus-based shopping center and apartment developer in purchase, development, finance and leasing of portfolio comprising 30 plus commercial strip centers and apartment complexes
Assist clients in the purchase and sale of land, office buildings, shopping centers, apartment complexes, commercial and manufacturing facilities throughout Ohio and the United States, including the purchase of a 636 unit apartment complex in Dallas, Texas for an institutional pension fund client
Assist client with the sale of 151 acres of land in Phoenix, Arizona and purchase of a mixed portfolio consisting of Walgreen’s and medical office condominiums in Phoenix and Denver pursuant to a 1031 exchange of property
Assist clients in finance of office buildings, shopping centers and apartment complexes, including the financing of a new academic building at an independent college preparatory day school, and the refinancing of an Ohio shopping center portfolio with Prudential Insurance Company
Assist office building and shopping center landlords and tenants with leasing, including the leasing of office space in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas and Denver for international architectural and engineering firm
Assist clients with stock and asset purchase and sale transactions including the sale of a locally based, national specialty foods manufacturer, an employee purchase of a custom plastics manufacturer, and an investor group's purchase of 39 restaurants from corporate franchisor
Assist physician medical practice with restructuring of multi-practice medical billing company including the buyout of shareholders and refinancing company loans
Assist clients in day to day business and commercial transactions in various industry sectors, including preparation of agreements and commercial terms and conditions for coal fired electric generation plant in Marietta, Ohio, specialty foods producer, international architectural and engineering firm, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and Federal Department of Homeland Security grant recipient
General counsel to largest motor vehicle auction in Ohio, auctioning several thousand motor vehicles per week with over $1B in annual revenue; assist with floor plan financing, motor vehicle title and secured transaction issues, litigation, legislative representation, commercial and real property transactions

Achievements and Awards

AV® Peer Review Rated*   Martindale-Hubbell Rating Explanation, 1984)

Listed in Best Lawyers in America - Corporate Law & Real Estate Law

Education
Amherst College (B.A., cum laude, 1984)
Case Western Reserve University (J.D., 1987)

Bar Admissions
Ohio
Wyoming
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

Professional Memberships and Community Service
Columbus Bar Association
Ohio Bar Association
American Bar Association
Columbus Zoological Park Association, Board of Trustees              (2002-present)
The Columbus Zoo Youth Leadership, Board of Trustees              (1997-2002)
The Wellington School , Board of Trustees (2002-present)
Charity Newsies, Member and voluntary general counsel               (1997-present)
Upper Arlington Community Foundation, Board of Trustees              (2003-present)
City of Columbus Board of License Appeals, Chairman              (1990–present)

Speeches & Publications 
"Tenancy-in-Common Investments Offer Another Option to Defer Gain" Columbus Business First, May 5, 2006
*CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies