C. Elizabeth Darke
Member

Liz Darke is a seasoned real estate and finance attorney who intuitively understands her critical role in shepherding complex transactions from proposal to consummation.
Knowing how much is at stake for her clients when consequential deals are on the table, Liz relentlessly focuses on crafting creative, win-win solutions tailored to achieving her clients' goals and protecting their interests.
With extensive and varied experience in real estate lending, leasing, and acquisitions and dispositions, Liz represents institutional lenders nationwide in complex lending transactions, including construction loans, term loans, and mezzanine financings.
Former leader of the firm's real estate practice, she begins every engagement by ensuring she has a comprehensive appreciation of her client's objectives. She then tailors her approach and drafts documents best suited to achieving them. Once Liz sets a course, she leverages her organizational skills and collaborative nature to guide transactions to efficient, trouble-free conclusions.
“ The matters I handle involve multiple parties, each with their own interests and objectives. It is immensely satisfying to get everyone pulling in the same direction and close the deal in a timely fashion. Often we handle multiple transactions for the same parties—the process is organized and efficient and everyone is happy with the end result. ”
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- State University of New York at Buffalo, J.D., cum laude, Law Review, Articles Editor
- Syracuse University, B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
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Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 2002
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Recognized on Crain's Chicago Business' Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting & Law list, 2022
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Recognized in Crain's Chicago Business 2018 and 2020 list of Notable Women Lawyers in Chicago
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Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for Real Estate Law, 2013-2023
- Named an Illinois Leading Lawyer in the area of Real Estate Law: Commercial, Real Estate Law: Finance, by the Leading Lawyers Network, 2014-2017. Law Bulletin Publishing Company
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- Chicago Mortgage Attorneys Association
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Building Owners and Managers Association of Suburban Chicago (BOMA/Suburban Chicago)
Areas of client focus
Practices
Commercial LeasingReal EstateReal Estate Acquisitions, Dispositions, and DevelopmentsReal Estate Lending, Finance, and WorkoutsIndustries
Financial Services
Liz Darke and Andrew Scott Named to Crain’s Chicago Business “Notable Gen X Leaders” List
Dykema, a leading national law firm, is proud to announce that Liz Darke and Andrew Scott were each…

180 Dykema Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 and Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch”
Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 180 of its attorneys, in multiple practice…

Dykema’s Diversity and Mansfield Certification Update
Last July, Dykema announced it would join more than 160 large law firms from the U.S. and Canada in…