REJournals.com - Commercial Real Estate Property News for Chicago and the Midwest

This December, Midwest Real Estate News will debut its first Hall of Fame feature, profiling more than 60 of the commercial real estate industry’s most important figures. In the days leading up to this issue, we’ll present a sample of the types of names that we’ll be featuring this December. We start with Jerry Slusky, one of the most important practitioners of commercial real estate law in Nebraska.

Jerry M. Slusky
Position: Partner
Company: Smith Gardner Slusky Law
Location: Omaha

Jerry Slusky

Those who want to know about the health of the Omaha commercial real estate market know whom to call: Jerry Slusky.

Slusky, a partner with Omaha’s Smith Gardner Slusky Law, has become a bit of a local celebrity for his in-depth knowledge of local real estate matters.

This shouldn’t surprise anyone: Knowing the ins and outs of the local commercial real estate market is Slusky’s job, one at which he excels.

Slusky specializes in real estate planning, zoning, development and financing. He’s studied these fields extensively. And he’s well known for his ability to steer his clients through the often choppy waters of the commercial real estate industry.

Slusky’s expertise has become even more invaluable as the commercial real estate market struggles though its deepest slump in decades.

Commercial real estate pros today need advice on how to acquire financing for their projects. They need strategies for  disposing of distressed assets. And, because municipal work is one of the few areas of commercial real estate that is still doing well, they need to understand the often strict rules involved in working with public agencies.

None of these challenges are simple ones to overcome. Fortunately, Slusky is known for providing in-depth solutions to clients who are struggling to meet the challenges of today’s dismal economy.

One nominator summed it up perfectly: “Whenever I have any question, Jerry’s the one I call,” the nominator said. “He always offers sound, reasoned advice. And he always looks at a question from all the angles. He truly knows his subject matter. It’s why he’s so sought-after.”

Commercial real estate has long been an important part of Slusky’s life. It’s why he hasn’t hesitated to share his passion for the field with others. He’s a former adjunct professor at Omaha’s Creighton University, where he taught real estate planning, development and taxation. He’s a busy speaker, too, and a published author on real estate matters.

Slusky isn’t content with his thriving law practice and his educational outreach. He’s also a trained and certified mediator, receiving his certification from the Nebraska Office of Dispute Resolution and an advanced degree in dispute resolution from the University of Notre Dame/University of Windsor, Toronto.

This training has paid off. Slusky has worked with warring parties to resolve disputes involving more than $100 million from 2006 through 2010. Slusky’s successful mediations include a $25-million real estate partnership dispute and a $15-million joint-venture dispute.

But Slusky’s greatest contribution to the field of commercial real estate is arguably the Midwest’s CREW. Slusky founded the Commercial Real Estate Workshop, better known by its acronym, in 1990. Today, this workshop attracts more than 400 real estate professionals from Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas each year to discuss the most important real estate issues of the day. The workshop is held every year, and is a Midwest highlight.

“Jerry is truly committed to this industry,” said one nominator. “He’s worked tirelessly for his clients and commercial real estate in general.”

Tags | company news, Nebraska, Omaha, Smith Gardner Slusky Law

© 2012 Real Estate Communications Group. Duplication or reproduction of this article not permitted without authorization from the Real Estate Publishing Group. For information on reprint or electronic pdf of this article contact Mark Menzies at 312-644-4610 or menzies@rejournals.com