Akin Launches in Chicago With Mayer Brown Real Estate, M&A Group

Akin opened a Chicago office led by a four-partner team from Mayer Brown that services real estate funds and infrastructure M&A.

The office will be led by Wendy Gallegos, who advises real estate private equity firms. She’s joined by partners Jason Wagenmaker, Jessica Pan, and Joshua La Vigne.

“Our opening in Chicago adds elite talent to our growing investment management and M&A teams with the addition of a highly talented real estate funds team and leading infrastructure M&A practice,” Abid Qureshi, Akin’s co-chair, said in a statement.

The move adds a new Big Law presence in the founding city of many of the country’s largest law firms, including Mayer Brown, Kirkland & Ellis, Sidley Austin, Jenner & Block, and Baker McKenzie. Chicago’s pool of talent has helped it remain an attractive city for new entrants. Fish & Richardson opened in the Windy City in June, and its local office is led by a former Jenner partner who also previously practiced at Sidley.

The Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld lawyers staffing the new office joined the firm in May and June.

Pan advises in the real estate funds practice alongside Gallegos. Wagenmaker works on M&A transactions across transportation, social infrastructure, digital infrastructure, energy, real estate, steel, chemicals and technology. La Vigne advises on similar deals.

Akin in 2024 generated nearly $1.5 billion in revenue and had profits per equity partner of roughly $3.9 million, according to data from The American Lawyer.