Overview

Dennis is a senior partner and a founder of BFKN. He concentrates his practice on commercial real estate and business planning matters. Dennis is the primary North American real estate counsel for Bernard Arnault, Groupe Arnault, LVMH, and the LVMH brands in the Americas.

Dennis is consistently ranked among the top lawyers in Illinois for his real estate practice. He has been Band ranked in Chambers USA for more than 20 consecutive years, named by Leading Lawyers as the #1 Real Estate Lawyer in Illinois, and by U.S. News - Best Lawyers® in America as the 2020 Real Estate Law "Lawyer of the Year” in Chicago.

Dennis was the William H. Trumbull lecturer and adjunct professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law from 1979 to 1999, and in 1985 was awarded the Robert Childres Memorial Award as the outstanding professor.

Credentials

Admissions

  • State of Illinois
  • State of Wisconsin
  • District of Columbia

Education

  • Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 1971
  • Johns Hopkins University, B.A., 1968

Experience

  • Primary real estate counsel representing LVMH and Cheval Blanc in the acquisition of over an acre of properties on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $500,000,000; and representation in the process of seeking necessary entitlements and developing the properties into a 115-key Cheval Blanc ultra-luxury hotel, designed by architect Peter Marino.
  • Primary real estate counsel representing LVMH in the successful negotiation and purchase of the Luxe Hotel located at 360 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California, with a purchase price of $200,000,000.
  • Primary real estate counsel representing LVMH in the successful negotiation and purchase of a luxury retail property at 357 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California.
  • Primary real estate counsel representing LVMH in the successful negotiation and purchase of luxury retail property at 420 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California.
  • Primary real estate counsel representing LVMH in connection with the acquisition of a 30-year ground lease and option to purchase a luxury retail property at 313-317 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California; and redevelopment of the property for a Christian Dior flagship store.
  • Primary real estate counsel representing LVMH in the successful negotiation and purchase of a luxury retail property at 319-323 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California; and redevelopment of property for a Christian Dior flagship store.
  • Representation of L Real Estate, an LVMH affiliate, and Miami Design District Associates and related entities, in connection with the development, financing, leasing, and operation of the luxury shopping center development known as Design District Center, Miami, Florida.
  • Representation of LVMH in acquiring a joint venture interest in, financing, and leasing a retail property at 2181 Kalakaua Avenue in Honolulu, Hawaii.
  • Representation of Ecole 42 USA, a non-profit public benefit corporation, and its affiliate in connection with the acquisition of property in Fremont, CA, for use as a tuition-free school for computer programming and coding; and the redevelopment of the property, including negotiation of architect and construction contracts.
  • Representation of LVMH in the acquisition of parcel on 57th Street in New York City and the construction of the LVMH Tower, the North American headquarters of LVMH and affiliated brands, and interconnection of the property with the adjacent property at 598 Madison Avenue for a Christian Dior flagship store.
  • Representation of LVMH and related entities, including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Celine, Sephora, TAG Heuer, Bulgari, Berluti, Fendi, Givenchy, Loro Piana, Tiffany, Hublot, Loewe, and Marc Jacobs, in connection with shopping center leases throughout the U.S., including leases at Bal Harbour Shops, South Coast Plaza, Ala Moana Center, Royal Hawaiian Center, The Crystals at City Center; Scottsdale Fashion Square, Highland Park Village, Forum Shops at Caesars, The Domain, Westfield Topanga, King of Prussia, Copley Place, Phipps Plaza, and Waterside Shops at Pelican Bay.
  • Representation of Louis Vuitton in the acquisition of Fifth Avenue parcel in New York and the construction of its North American flagship store and office building.
  • Representation of LVMH and related entities, including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Celine, Sephora, TAG Heuer, Bulgari, Berluti, Fendi, Givenchy, Loro Piana, Tiffany, Hublot, Loewe, and Marc Jacobs, in connection with the successful negotiation of flagship store leases in New York, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, Las Vegas, Honolulu, Miami, Dallas, and Chicago.
  • Representation of Groupe Arnault in the acquisition, development, and disposition of various properties in North America.

Newsroom

News

Recognitions

  • Top Ranked, Illinois Real Estate, Chambers USA (2002-2023)
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (2006-2024)
    • Real Estate Law
    • Chicago - Real Estate Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2015, 2018, 2020)
  • Leading Lawyers Network (2003-2023)
    • #1 in Top Ten Real Estate (2012-2015)
    • Top Ten Real Estate: Commercial
    • Top Ten Real Estate: Finance
    • Closely & Privately Held Business Law in Illinois
  • Illinois Super Lawyers (2005-2006, 2008-2023)
  • Outstanding Adjunct Professor, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (1995-1999)
  • Robert Childres Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (1985)
  • Notes and Comments Editor, Northwestern University Law Review (1970-1971)
  • Chambers_Ferrazzano_2023

Organizations

  • William H. Trumbull Lecturer and Adjunct Professor of Real Estate Law, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (1979-1999)
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