About Ted

Meeting the industry-specific needs of real estate clients

Theodore Yi prides himself on understanding not just the salient laws but the many technical aspects of the commercial real estate transactions on which he works. Ted crafts a wide range of complex, large-scale transactions, with particular experience in commercial leasing, including leases for:

  • Corporate headquarters offices
  • Anchor retail stores
  • Retail stores in complex mixed-use settings
  • Medical facilities
  • Industrial and warehouse buildings

With decades of experience, Ted is a voracious learner and loves his profession because it requires the constant acquisition of new skill sets and industry experience. He views each transaction in the context of the industry that will make use of the space, does his homework on how that industry uses space and tailors the language of the transaction to align with the specific needs of the owner or tenant. He works to meet the objectives of all parties to the agreement while upholding his responsibility to be a trustworthy advocate for his clients.

Experience in Action

  • Negotiating and drafting commercial lease transactions representing both owners and tenants of office, retail and industrial properties.
  • Representing institutional landlords, such as insurance companies, pension funds and real estate investment trusts (REIT).
  • Representing users of properties, including users of technically complex space such as trading floors and data centers.
  • Putting together major anchor tenant leases, serving clients in the office, retail, industrial, hospital and professional services sectors.

Successes

  • Represented multiple Fortune 250 corporations in connection with relocations of their corporate headquarters.

Professional Recognitions

  • Lawdragon “500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers” (2024)
  • Crain's Chicago Business "Notable Minorities in Accounting, Consulting and Law in Chicago"(2019)
  • Crain's Chicago Business" Most Influential Minority Lawyer" (2017)
  • Law Bulletin Media, "Illinois Leading Lawyer," Real Estate: Commercial & Finance (2017-present)
  • Chicago's Top Rated Lawyers (2013)
  • Illinois Super Lawyers® "Top 100 Lawyers" (2012–2014)
  • Chambers USA® (2011-present: Real Estate)
  • Chicago United "Business Leader of Color" (2011)
  • Illinois Super Lawyers® (2005-2013, 2015-present: Real Estate)
  • Best Lawyers in America® (2024, 2025: Real Estate Law)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Peer Review Rated

Professional & Civic Activities

  • Chicago Architecture Foundation, board member
  • Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, life trustee
  • American College of Real Estate Lawyers, fellow
  • Lambda Alpha International, Ely chapter, member
  • Asian-American Bar Association of Greater Chicago, member, former officer, board member
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, member, former officer, board member
  • Chicago Bar Foundation, former board member
  • Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms, former board member
  • Cook County State's Attorney's Asian-American Advisory, former council member
  • Harvard Law Society of Illinois, former president
  • The John Marshall Law School, Real Estate Law LL.M. program, former adjunct professor

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