
Dennis is a senior partner and a founder of Barack Ferrazzano. He concentrates his practice on commercial real estate and business planning matters. Dennis is the primary North American real estate counsel for Bernard Arnault, LVMH, and all the LVMH brands in the Americas.
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 in the School.
Dennis is consistently ranked among the top lawyers in Illinois for his real estate practice. He has been 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.
Representative 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. The hotel is expected to open in 2025 and will be the first US location for the Cheval Blanc brand.
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, for a purchase price of $200,000,000.
Represented LVMH in acquiring a joint venture interest in and financing a retail property at 2181 Kalakaua Avenue in Honolulu, Hawaii.
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 an LVMH affiliate 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.
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.
Primary real estate counsel representing Bulgari Corporation of America in the successful renegotiation of the lease for their North American Flagship store in the Crown Building at 730 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York.
Primary real estate counsel representing LVMH in the successful negotiation and purchase of luxury retail property at 319-323 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California.
Representation of Miami Design District Associates in connection with the preparation of a lease form for its new luxury shopping center development, Design District Center, in Miami, Florida; and in connection with the leasing of several anchor and key tenant leases for the development.
Represented 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 the North American flagship store of Christian Dior
Represented Louis Vuitton in the acquisition of Fifth Avenue parcel in New York and the construction of North American flagship store and office building
Primary real estate counsel for LVMH and related entities, including representation of Fendi North America, Inc. in connection with the negotiation of retail leases at The Mall at Short Hills, Beverly Center, Americana Shopping Center, Shoppes at The Palazzo, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, Bal Harbour Shops and The Crystals at City Center; representation of Louis Vuitton North America, Inc. in connection with the negotiation of retail leases at Charleston Place, Houston Galleria, Westfield Galleria at Roseville, The Shops at The Bravern, The Mall at Short Hills, Westfarms Mall, NorthPark Center and The Crystals at City Center; representation of DFS Group, L.P. in connection with the renegotiation of retail lease for the DFS Galleria luxury department store in Waikiki, Hawaii; and Sephora USA, Inc., in connection with the negotiation of numerous shopping center and free-standing store leases throughout the United States
Represented Groupe Arnault in the acquisition, development and disposition of various properties in North America
Activities & Honors
- Selected, The Best Lawyers in America© (2006-2023)
- Real Estate Law
- Named, Chicago - Real Estate Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2015, 2018, 2020)
- Selected, 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
- Selected, Illinois Super Lawyers (2005-2006, 2008-2023)
- Top Ranked, Illinois Real Estate, Chambers USA (2008-2022)
- Outstanding Adjunct Professor, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (1995-1999)
- Adjunct Professor of Real Estate Law, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (1979-1999)
- William H. Trumbull Lecturer, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (1979-1999)
- Robert Childres Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (1985)
- Notes and Comments Editor, Northwestern University Law Review (1970-1971)
- Order of the Coif
News
Education
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1971
Johns Hopkins University, B.A., 1968
Bar & Court Admissions
- State of Illinois
- State of Wisconsin
- District of Columbia
Representative Clients
- Bernard Arnault
- Bulgari
- Christian Dior
- Fendi
- Louis Vuitton
- LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton