Kitty Kohn Email & Phone Number

Palatine, IL, US

Chicago, IL

• Manage all aspects of commercial landlord-tenant litigation, bankruptcy and condemnations
• Hire outside counsel when appropriate, assist with resolution of dispute
• Respond to 3rd party subpoena requests
• Analyze lease violations, draft appropriate notices to tenants
• Create processes in connection to legal operational issues
• Effectively work with remote colleagues

Chicago, IL

• Worked with a high degree of initiative and handle multiple high-priority tasks
• Managed all aspects of litigation and bankruptcy issues
• Independently performed a variety of complex litigation tasks
• Analyzed and reviewed issues involving warehouse tenants and escalated matters as needed
• Retained local counsel when appropriate and provided instruction regarding direction and resolution of litigation matters
• Directed and organized all aspects of discovery: gathered relevant documents, conducted interviews with clients, reviewed documents for privilege and worked with local counsel to finalize responses

Chicago, IL

• Responsible for 35 shopping centers in 12 states to work with retail tenants in resolving delinquent account balances.
• Advise asset management, mall managers and leasing representatives of best practices to resolve accounts.
• Retain local counsel when appropriate to initiate eviction/collection suits.
• Provide instruction regarding direction and resolution of litigation matters; work closely with outside counsel during the litigation process including responding to discovery requests and participating in settlement.
• Act as liaison between local counsel and mall teams.
• Review tenant financial documents to determine next best steps to recover amounts due.

• Managed and monitored an ongoing docket of over 100 bankruptcy and litigation matters
• Prepared and filed proofs of claims; reviewed and responded to pleadings and maintained litigation database for internal reporting to senior management
• Directed and organized all aspects of discovery, gathered relevant documents, conducted interviews with clients, reviewed documents for privilege and worked with local counsel to finalize responses
• Responded to 3rd party subpoena requests for documents and information
• Established procedures for debt recovery and coordinated recovery and possession issues; working closely with tenants, property managers and property accountants to resolve outstanding account issues and participated.
• Investigated and resolved day-to-day landlord/tenant issues, conducted litigation due diligence and audit reviews and prepared response letters for attorneys

• Conducted nationwide evaluation of premises security issues; assessed criminal incidents, landlord fair housing obligations and liability aspects of uses of the property
• Investigated claims of discrimination and prepared and submitted written response to fair housing complaints filed with state and federal agencies
• Negotiated settlement of disputes with vendors, service providers and residents to avoid formal litigation
• Analyzed documents of record affecting use, management and improvement of real estate assets. Investigate allegations of small claims suits, prepared written answers when needed and improvement of real estate assets
• Investigate allegations of small claims suits, prepared written answers when needed and prepared property representative for court appearance

• Maintained corporate records of parent company and 225 subsidiaries
• Maintained corporate records database (Secretariat)
• Prepared and filed annual reports
• Assisted field offices with obtaining and maintaining real estate and mortgage brokerage licenses
• Researched real estate licensing issues
• Reviewed complaints and completed preliminary investigation of allegations

• Investigated claims made against surety bonds; determined payment due to obligee
• Pursued principals for collection of payments made under the bond
• Tracked and maintained monthly report of payments made and collections recovered

• Reviewed pleadings, drafted answers to complaints
• Monitored approximately 120 pending cases involving insured litigation (i.e., personal injury, property damage and criminal incidents)
• Met with business managers, insurance carriers and outside counsel regarding recommendations on settlement strategies to prevent/minimize lawsuits
• Interacted with field personnel to obtain information to prepare answers to discovery requests for outside counsel review
• Directly responsible for the implementation, organization and training on litigation software system used to track status of all pending matters in preparation of quarterly report to senior management