Neal & Leroy

RichardF. Friedman

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Biography

Richard F. Friedman is experienced in municipal law, real estate law, public finance, litigation, eminent domain, historic preservation, employment law and appellate practice. Prior to joining Neal & Leroy, LLC, Mr. Friedman was a member of the City of Chicago Law Department’s Appeals and Review and Finance Divisions. Mr. Friedman represents clients in appeals at all state and federal levels. Mr. Friedman was awarded a diversity and inclusion grant for his teaching at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Mr. Friedman was named a 2019 Leading Lawyer in Land Use, Zoning, and Condemnation Law.

Representative Matters

  • Represented municipal transit agency in Federal District Court and Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in proceedings where railroad questioned the municipality’s authority to acquire railroad property subject to the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act.

  • Represented public university in acquisition of 100+ properties for major campus expansion project; structured TIF financing for the development; defended university in Federal court against alleged violation of National Historic Preservation Act.

  • Represents major retail mall owner in circuit court litigation against the State involving the extent of the State’s constitutional powers of contract.

  • Represented county in structuring deal to allow private development to rehab historic landmark hospital building.

  • Defended non-profit community medical services agency against injunction and damage claim brought by neighboring property owner claiming zoning and restrictive covenant violations.

  • Represents owner of historic commercial building seeking permission from landmark commission to rehabilitate the property; represents owner in application for real estate assessment tax reduction, historic tax credit and tax increment financing.

  • Called as expert witness in trial concerning eminent domain procedures exercised by public body.

  • Represented public building agency in a jury trial to acquire the site for teachers’ academy school.

Education & Admissions

Education

  • University of Chicago Law SchoolJD
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignBS

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois

Courts

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Member of Trial Bar
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Honors & Awards

Leading Lawyer in Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law – 2019 and 2018​

Mr. Friedman was selected to serve on the Advisory Board of the National Preservation Lawyers Network. The Advisory Board meets throughout the year and will gather at the National Historic Preservation Law Conference in Washington, DC in October, 2026. The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States established a national network of preservation lawyers to help people identify and access lawyers who may be able to assist them when the historic places in their communities are threatened or in need of rehabilitation, and to support these lawyers in this work. The purpose of the National Preservation Lawyers Network will be to identify and solicit lawyers throughout the United States who practice in the area of preservation to represent clients on preservation legal matters.

Professional Activities

Civic, Educational and Professional Activities

  • Chicago Bar Association

  • Appellate Lawyers Association

  • Director of Chicago Art Deco Society

  • Director of docomomo-us/Chicago

  • Former Director and General Counsel of Landmark Illinois

  • Teaches Historic Preservation Law at University of Chicago Law School, and in the Master’s Degree program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

  • Lecturer on Land Use, Eminent Domain, Urban Development, and Historic Preservation Law at attorney continuing education seminars

Publications

  • Eminent Domain to Promote Economic Development (Outline) Eminent Domain to Promote Economic Development (Supplement), published by Neal & Leroy, LLC, 2009, and presented at the Illinois Institute For Continuing Legal Education: 2009 Eminent Domain Update
  • “Initial Procedures and Pleadings of the State and Other Condemning Bodies”, a chapter in Illinois Eminent Domain Practice published by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1995 – 2016 Editions
  • “Historic Preservation Law,” Chapter in Land Use Special Cases published by Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2017 Edition

Speaking Engagements

  • April 21, 2018, Chicago, IL, “Special Legal Problems Confronting Designation of Modernist Structures,” Illinois Institute of Technology, College of Architecture – Synposium
  • May 2017 Illinois MCLE Presentation”Historic Preservation Law”
  • June 23-25, 2015 Carbondale, IL“Legal Issues Update for Commissions and Preservation Advocates” and moderated a session on “Taxing Districts Alphabet Soup: BIDs, SSAs, TIFs” at the Illinois Historic Main Street Preservation Conference in Carbondale, Illinois June 23-25, 2015
  • August 14, 2012, Chicago, ILTestimony at the Hearing Before Joint Committee of the Committee on Finance and Committee on Housing and Real Estate of the City Council of the City of Chicago
  • March 26, 2012, Chicago, ILNeal & Leroy, LLC’s In-House Seminar Series
  • March 1, 2012, Chicago, ILLaw Seminars International
    Fairness Hearings, Citizen Participation Act
    Real Estate and Land Use Litigation
  • February 2011, Chicago, ILApexCLE
    “Historic Preservation Law”

Practice Areas