Gary E. Axelrod

Gary Axelrod, global co-chair of the real estate practice and the hospitality, gaming & leisure industry group at Latham & Watkins, advises clients on many of their most complex and highest-profile real estate transactions. Nationally recognized as a leading real estate lawyer, he delivers creative and strategic counsel to real estate private equity sponsors and funds, institutional investors, operating companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and entrepreneurial developers.  

His experience spans all types of transactions and asset classes, with a particular focus on hotels, resorts, and gaming properties. He also brings substantial experience advising on international projects, including in Canada, China, Dubai, India, Abu Dhabi, and Mexico. 

Axelrod’s practice includes: 

• Complex single-asset acquisitions and dispositions 
• Portfolio acquisitions and dispositions 

• Entity-level mergers and acquisitions 
• Joint ventures, including platform and strategic joint ventures and public-private partnerships 
• Development projects 
• Debt and equity financings 
• Bankruptcies and restructurings, including complex asset-level and corporate-level restructurings 

Axelrod is regularly recognized for his notable legal work by industry publications, including Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, Law360, Leading Lawyers Network, and Super Lawyers Magazine. He is ranked Band 1 for Real Estate and for Leisure and Hospitality in Chambers USA 2021. 

Based in Chicago, Axelrod also supports community causes by serving as a board member for the Anti-Defamation League, Midwest and assisting clients on a pro bono basis, including in connection with community outreach programs. 

These are some of the reasons that we named Axelrod to our National grouping of Lawyers in Real Estate. These are real estate attorneys who have distinguished themselves in both their practice and the larger community.