Joselynne Gardner

With a business background and a long career in public service, Joselynne Gardner is uniquely qualified to represent both public and corporate sector clients in commercial real estate and supply chain transactions. Mindful of both the need for efficiency in a high-volume work environment and the important ethical and regulatory considerations of clients, Joselynne takes a steady, solution-focused approach to her work.

Clients value Joselynne’s creative and collaborative style, which helps them find unique solutions to the complex challenges they face in negotiating contracts and navigating complex real estate transactions, including leasing and development projects. Her broad experience across multiple areas of law informs an empathetic perspective that focuses on closing deals and achieving goals without being adversarial.

Her experiences and skills have been sharpened in the crucibles of Cook County and City of Chicago Government – with responsibility and oversight on a range of corporate and municipal matters, and prior to becoming a lawyer, Joselynne had a career in management consulting. In these roles, Joselynne provided legal and business counsel to a host of corporate executives, elected officials, and government bodies relating to regulatory compliance, risk analysis, procurement, contracting, real estate, and finance.

She is passionate about her community service and has spent over 15 years working with law students while they prepare to take the bar exam in Illinois and California, as well as, created pipeline programs that prepare first generation and diverse law students for successful legal careers by teaching them tools for academic and employment goals during their time in law school.

Experience

Clerkships

Judicial Extern, Hon. E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., Presiding Judge, 1st Municipal District, Circuit Court of Cook County (2004)

Representative Engagements

• Tenant’s counsel for national restaurant chain for complex commercial real estate transaction.
• Owner’s counsel negotiated master property management contract for public education facilities.
• Landlord’s counsel for long-term lease agreement with national telecommunications company.
• Lender’s counsel for multi-family real estate development deal.

Credentials

Education

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, J.D., 2006 

• Editor, Adelphia Law Journal
• ABA Moot Court Competition Quarter-Finalist, 2nd Best Advocate
• National Trial Advocacy Competition Quarter-Finalist

University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.A., French and Pre-Medicine, 1996

• Powers-Knapp Scholar, 1992-1996
• Outstanding Student Leader, 1996
• Study Abroad, Université de Sorbonne Paris, France, Spring 1995

Bar Admissions

Illinois

Teaching Appointments

Adjunct Professor of Law, Professional Responsibility, Loyola University School of Law (2020-present)

Adjunct Professor of Law, Moot Court Honors Program, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (2007-2015)

Community Service

Civic Leadership Academy, University of Chicago Center for Effective Government (2019)

Minority Legal Education Resources, Inc.

• Treasurer, Board of Directors
• California Bar Process Management Program, Co-Coordinator

Loyola University School of Law, Pugh-Kaufman Scholars Coordinator

Glass Slipper Project, Volunteer

Reading in Motion, Former Auxiliary Board Member

Practice Areas

• Business Transactions