Frederick F. Richards III
Illinois
Thompson Coburn LLP
55 East Monroe Street
37th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
Tel: (312) 580-2335
Email:
frichards@thompsoncoburn.com
Web:
www.thompsoncoburn.com
Fred Richards is a partner in the Chicago, IL office of Thompson Coburn LLP, where he focuses his practice on reducing real estate tax burdens for developers, property owners, investors, and major financial institutions. His work spans complex office, commercial, industrial, hotel, and multifamily assets, where he advises on the tax implications of acquisitions, dispositions, development projects, and portfolio restructuring.
Fred develops strategic solutions to minimize tax liabilities and leads tax appeals before boards of review, administrative judges, and appellate bodies. His advocacy has resulted in the reduction of taxable valuations totaling billions of dollars and significant savings in real estate tax obligations for his clients. Known for his ability to approach valuations from multiple angles, he frequently advances creative and compelling arguments grounded in deep market and property-specific insight.
Within his practice, Fred often works with national hotel brands and financial institutions, identifying opportunities for assessment reductions through careful portfolio analysis and property-level due diligence. His clients value his candid guidance and determined representation, noting his commitment to ensuring they are never placed in disadvantageous positions and his readiness to pursue every viable path to relief.
Fred’s connection to real estate runs deep. His family helped establish Sag Harbor’s historic Azurest community in 1947, the first subdivision on Long Island developed by African-Americans. He continues this legacy through his service on the firm’s Diversity Committee and the Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship Committee.
Fred earned his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1991 and his B.A. from the University of Southern California in 1988. He is admitted to the Illinois Bar and is also authorized to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Fred Richards has consistently been recognized for professional excellence, earning selection to Illinois Super Lawyers for multiple consecutive years (2013–2020; 2022–2025).
Thompson Coburn’s real estate attorneys serve as trusted partners, dealmakers, and problem-solvers, delivering industry-focused solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs. With a national presence, the team helps clients navigate and capitalize on the continually evolving commercial real estate market, addressing pent-up demand and identifying new opportunities.
The firm advises clients throughout the entire lifecycle of real estate transactions, from initial strategy and negotiation to execution and long-term portfolio management. This collaborative approach prioritizes alignment with client goals, proactive issue-solving, and practical, results-oriented outcomes. As a result, many institutional clients rely on Thompson Coburn to manage all aspects of their real estate holdings.
With experience spanning coast to coast, the practice handles transactions of varying scale and complexity across markets including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, and beyond. The firm’s diverse client base includes real estate lenders, capital equity market providers, Fortune 500 companies, and a wide range of institutional business clients. In the retail sector, the team has represented national fast-food chains, national discount grocery operations, major big-box retailers, retail developers, lenders, and investors.
The practice addresses both the foundational and specialized issues inherent in real estate transactions, including land use regulations, environmental concerns, tax implications, financing, state and federal economic incentives, and green building considerations.
Thompson Coburn’s extensive multidisciplinary capabilities further enhance its real estate services. The team draws on firm-wide experience in public finance, tax credits, environmental matters, corporate law, and tax structuring to deliver timely, cost-effective solutions. Additionally, the real estate group consults with the firm’s litigation attorneys to strategically manage disputes relating to construction contracts, leasing matters, and other business conflicts.
Thompson Coburn LLP is a full-service, AmLaw 200 national law firm known for combining sophisticated legal counsel with a practical, business-focused approach. With hundreds of attorneys across key U.S. markets, the firm represents corporations, financial institutions, emerging companies, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies across a wide range of industries. Its lawyers are recognized for deep experience in corporate law, complex litigation, finance, intellectual property, real estate, regulatory matters, and public policy.
The firm is particularly noted for its strengths in transportation and infrastructure, higher education, financial services, and technology-driven sectors, advising clients on high-stakes transactions and disputes as well as day-to-day operational needs. Thompson Coburn is also known for its collaborative culture and commitment to client service, leveraging cross-disciplinary teams to deliver efficient and effective solutions. With a focus on long-term relationships and practical results, the firm continues to be a trusted legal partner to organizations across the United States and beyond.
“Fred brings a strategic and commercial lens to complex real estate tax matters. He is exceptionally adept at identifying valuation issues others overlook and crafting persuasive arguments that result in meaningful tax savings. Clients highlight his tenacity, clarity of advice and ability to stay several steps ahead in negotiations and appeals.”