Demetrius E. Carney

Demetrius E. Carney is a Partner at Perkins Coie with more than 35 years of experience in public finance, business, and real estate government relations.  Mr. Carney began his career as a public finance lawyer representing issuers, underwriters and credit enhancers in tax and tax exempt transactions ranging from private development, school districts and airport development projects.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Carney has represented local and national developers involved with land acquisition, zoning and financing for commercial real estate developments.  He has also counseled publicly and private corporate clients on merger and acquisition transactions as well as structured financing projects. 

A current focus of Mr. Carney's practice is creating public/private partnerships between local government agencies and private sector clients for the purpose of stimulating mutual economic development.

Mr. Carney is co-chair of the firm's public-private partnership and privatization practice and chair of the Airport Concession Industry Practice, with emphasis on 1) structuring legal joint venture agreements for ownership and operation of an airport concession; 2) negotiating license agreements for specific use of a company name and trademark with specialty retailers and food and beverage concession operators; 3) representing airport authorities auditing concession operations and airport improvement programs; 4) negotiating concession lease and sublease agreements with local airport authority; 5) providing counsel to joint venture concession operators under audit investigation by local government authorities; 6) representing concession operators on ACDBE certification and recertification issues; 7) representing concession operators on ACDBE certification and DOT joint venture guideline issues 8) representing ACDBE certified companies in appeals process after being denied renewal certification; 9) representing concession operators in structuring supply chain model to achieve ACDBE participation consistent with federal regulations; 10) structuring the investment of private funds into ACDBE certified companies; 11) representing concession operators in negotiating and documenting Letters of Intent and Memorandums of Understandings for their business dealings; and 12) representing concession operators in disputes under a National Development Agreement.

Mr. Carney has a strong commitment to public service and currently holds leadership positions with several organizations, including the Chicago Board of Education (Real Men Read Program), the Economic Club of Chicago, the Chicago Cultural Center Foundation, and the Chicago Police Board (President). He currently serves on the Bipartisan Screening Committee for the Northern District of Illinois that advises U.S. Senator Richard Durbin on the selection of candidates for recommendation to the President for appointment as Federal Judges, U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals.

Clients

Mr. Carney's current clients include Ariel Investments LLC, Baldwin Richardson Foods, Inc., Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Board of Education, City of Chicago, Chicago Housing Authority, Cook County (Illinois) Board of Commissioners, Lance Armstrong Foundation, PhaseNext Hospitality LLC, Robinson-Hill Hospitality Group LLC,  Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and general airport concession operators.

Professional Recognition

• Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
  (AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America

Professional Leadership

• Bipartisan Screening Panel for the Northern District of Illinois
• The Economic Club of Chicago, Membership and Nomination Committee
• Mercy Hospital, Finance and Corporate Governance Committee; Former Board of Director 
• Chicago Culture Center Foundation, Board of Directors
• Plan Commission for the City of Chicago, Former Commissioner
• Chicago Police Board, President
• St. Ignatius College, Former Board of Trustees
• American Bar Association, Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, Former Commissioner
• Airport Revenue News
• Airport Council International
• Airport Minority Advisory Council
• National Bar Association, Commercial Law Section
• Cook County Bar Association
• The Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs, Inc., Founding Member

Related Employment

• Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon, Chicago, IL, Partner 
• Carney & Brothers, Founding Member