McGuireWoods Expands Global Real Estate Practice With Chicago Partner Phillip Coover

February 3, 2025

McGuireWoods continues to grow its global real estate practice with the arrival of partner Phillip Coover, who has been tapped to lead the firm’s real estate initiatives in Chicago and the Midwest and enhance its capabilities nationwide.

Coover handles sophisticated real estate transactions and financings and provides strategic guidance for developers, investors, syndicators, and other industry clients. He has closed billions of dollars in commercial property acquisitions, financings, leasings and dispositions for commercial real estate investment companies and developers as well as private equity lenders, investors and business owners. He comes to McGuireWoods from Ice Miller.

Coover, a licensed real estate managing broker, is the founder and host of the “Real Estate for Breakfast” podcast. The Chicago-centric commercial real estate podcast features interviews with executives, CEOs, brokers, founders, owners, developers, financiers and other real estate professionals about trends, issues and developments in the industry.

“Phillip is a skilled deal lawyer who understands his clients’ business objectives and excels at helping them maximize the value of their real estate assets,” said Richard W. Viola, deputy managing partner of McGuireWoods’ corporate practice.

Dennis Mensi, chair of the firm’s Real Estate & Land Use Department, added: “Phillip’s industry knowledge, business acumen and reputation strengthen McGuireWoods’ practice in the Midwest and nationwide.”

McGuireWoods’ Real Estate & Land Use Department handles matters across the United States and abroad, and represents real estate investors and developers, financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies and other businesses. The firm earned Tier 1 national rankings for real estate law and real estate litigation in the 2025 U.S. News-Best Lawyers’ “Best Law Firms” report.

“McGuireWoods is one of the most prestigious law firms in the country. This is a once-in-a-career opportunity to bring my existing client base to a top-tier global professional platform and enhance the firm’s innovative and entrepreneurial team,” Coover said. “I look forward to greatly expanding our Chicago presence and building on our culture of excellence.”

Yuan-Ying Hsu, managing partner of McGuireWoods’ Chicago office, said: “Phillip adds an important dimension to our client service offerings in Chicago and we are delighted to welcome him.”