Robert Walner Biography

Robert Walner
Principal, Robert Walner & Associates Law Offices

Robert J. Walner is a senior legal and business executive who specializes in general counsel practice; real estate transactions, leasing and syndications; real estate brokerage, management and consulting; corporate and securities law; business acquisitions and sales; corporate governance; human resources and employment matters; litigation management; and risk management. He is an effective counsel to the CEO, the Board of Directors and its committees and senior executives. He has structured drafted, negotiated and closed agreements for acquisitions, strategic alliances, divestitures, financings, joint ventures and vendor contracts. 

During his career, Bob has been a transaction attorney and a litigator in private practice and as inside counsel. He has been the Chief Legal Officer/Chief Compliance Officer/Corporate Secretary of four companies in the real estate, financial services and retail industries, three of which were public, and has been the Chief Administrative Officer of a NYSE listed real estate brokerage, management and consulting company. He has been the President and Treasurer of an NASD registered securities broker/dealer. 

Bob’s articles have been published in a variety of major magazines and journals such as The Counselor, Pension World, The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, the Illinois Real Estate Journal, Real Estate Securities and Capital Markets Journal, RESSI Review, The Real Estate Syndicator, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and The DePaul Law Review. 

He received his MBA degree, with distinction, from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He received his J.D. degree from DePaul University School of Law where he was Law Review Associate Editor. He received a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana. 

Bob is a certified mediator and is a member of the Board of Arbitrators of FINRA, the American Arbitration Association and The Counselors of Real Estate. He was the 2006-2007 President of the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals (Chicago Chapter) and is a member of the Advisory Committee. He is the National Chairman of the Tax, Regulatory and Legislative Committee of The Counselors of Real Estate. He is a co-founder and a Board member of the Real Estate Investment Association. He is a member of the North Shore General Counsel Association. He is designated as a Specialist in Real Estate Investment (SRI), a Specialist in Real Estate Securities (SRS) and a Counselor of Real Estate (CRE). He is a member of the State Bar of Illinois and the State Bar of Florida.