David P. Vallas

David Vallas is a trusted litigator and advisor with over two decades of experience focusing his practice on real estate and commercial matters. He represents key stakeholders across 30 states, including owners, operators, and managers of some of the nation’s largest shopping center groups, as well as regional and national retailers.

David supports clients across all facets of their operations, addressing complex legal and operational challenges while managing entire real estate portfolios. His practice covers a broad range of industry issues, including commercial lease enforcement, tenant bankruptcies, and ownership transitions, as well as representing financial institutions, borrowers and court appointed receivers in connection with real estate loan, ensuring each solution aligns with the client’s strategic objectives and the evolving demands of the real estate market.

Prior to joining Honigman, David served as a Vice Chair of Commercial Litigation and Chair of Real Estate Litigation at an Am Law 100 firm.

Practice Areas

Representative Matters

• Represents more than 60 regional and super-regional shopping centers across in the country in connection with lease enforcement and operational issues.
• Defended a shopping center owner against claims for rescission of a commercial lease based on a tenant’s allegations that the shopping center owner misrepresented plans for the redevelopment of the center.
• Defended a grocery store developer against claims for an injunction, nuisance, and trespass brought by neighboring property owners based on allegations that storm water runoff from the development would irreparably harm their properties.
• Counseled a lender in connection with the workout of $120 million loan secured by a shopping center, including advising on mechanics lien issues and using the mortgage foreclosure process to maximize the value of the property through alternative sale procedures.
• Defended a home developer in the foreclosure of a partially constructed 200-plus home development, including successfully limiting the lender’s and the court-appointed receiver’s attempts to complete construction and conduct invasive environmental testing.
• Counseled a big-box retailer on reorganizing its debt through an assignment for the benefit of creditors and defended the officers and directors in related litigation.
• Represented a developer of a high-rise condominium project to defeat an improper multi-million-dollar broker’s lien and quieted title to the project free of the lien.
• Defended a court-appointed receiver of partially developed condominium projects on issues of building code violations, completing construction, and selling individual units.

Prior Experience

• Polsinelli PC, Shareholder, 2011 - 2024
• Latimer LeVay Fyock LLC, Partner, 2011
• Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon LLP, Partner, 2003 - 2011
• Williams Montgomery & John, Associate, 2000 – 2003

Education

Admissions

Court Admissions

Awards

• Illinois Super Lawyer, Recognized as Rising Star,2010-2013
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rated

Professional & Community Involvement

• International Council of Shopping Centers

Press Releases