DAVID L. REIFMAN
Partner

David Reifman is a partner and is the Chair of Croke Fairchild’s Real Estate Practice.

David brings a depth of sophisticated experience in commercial real estate development, including public-private partnerships, economic development, land use planning, incentives, public financing, infrastructure, as well as historic preservation, sustainability, and market-rate and affordable housing. His work is particularly aligned with large-scale, transit-supportive and community-focused development initiatives.

Prior to joining the firm, David served as President of Clayco’s Chicago Business Unit where he oversaw all enterprise activity for development, design, and construction-related activities in the greater Chicago area. He was also a partner in CRG, Clayco’s real estate and investment arm, and sat on its Investment Committee. In these roles, he collaborated extensively with community, civic and governmental stakeholders, driving projects that supported regional economic recovery, infrastructure investment, and sustainable growth. Experience is directly relevant to coordinating complex, multi-agency initiatives.

David previously served as the City of Chicago’s Commissioner of Planning and Development under Mayor Rahm Emanuel. In this capacity, he led intergovernmental coordination and regulatory approvals for major development and infrastructure projects. He was the architect of the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, an innovative economic development initiative leveraging downtown density to support investment in underserved neighborhoods. He also directed local, state, and federal approvals for the Obama Presidential Center, oversaw the rehabilitation of Chicago’s Old Main Post Office, and led approvals for several large-scale “mega” developments. His tenure included implementing numerous commercial, residential, industrial, and retail developments on Chicago’s South and West sides, including four new full-service grocery stores in food deserts. Additionally, David initiated reforms to enhance minority and women-owned business participation in private development, demonstrating his commitment to inclusive stakeholder engagement.

Before his public service, David was partner at DLA Piper, where he practiced law for over 25 years, focusing on zoning, land use, and public-private development transactions. He has been consistently recognized as “Band 1” by Chambers USA, which describes him as “a leading practitioner in zoning and land use matters who is well-respected and highly regarded… a key partner in a widely recognized practice in public-private development transactions.” Since joining Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres in 2024, David has continued to receive this distinction.

David has served as lead counsel on numerous transformative and infrastructure-related projects, including the restoration, renovation, and expansion of Wrigley Field, the establishment of the Method Factory in Pullman, the redevelopment of Fort Sheridan, and the relocation of The Boeing Company headquarters to Chicago, as well as the national site selection for the 787 Dreamliner airplane assembly. These projects highlight his ability to manage complex regulatory frameworks, coordinate diverse stakeholders, and deliver large-scale developments with significant economic and community impact.