Kara Allen
Get in touch
847-745-6292
kallen@gutnicki.com
Download V-Card
Education
Marquette University Law School, J.D.
Marquette University, B.A.
Admissions
Illinois
Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
Memberships & Associations
Chicago Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
Wisconsin State Bar Association
Community Service
Misericordia Siblings Association
Kara has a diverse background in real estate, municipal law, and civil and commercial litigation. She also has considerable experience in the area of mortgage fraud investigations and claims. In addition, Kara represents a variety of secured and unsecured lenders in workouts, commercial foreclosures, UCC matters and other banking or creditors' rights-related litigation.
Secured and unsecured lenders of all sizes trust Kara to represent their interests in front-end loan documentation and contract negotiation, workouts, receivership responsibilities, commercial foreclosures, mortgage fraud investigations, UCC matters and other banking or creditors' rights litigation. In matters of real estate, she has experience with zoning variances and special use permits, title issues, closings, and receivership responsibilities. Kara also represents lenders and property owners in building code issues at Housing Court, concerning building code issues.
Her firm grasp of commercial real estate was first acquired in law school, where Kara studied land use and development law, and has matured during more than a decade of professional experience. It is her personal experience with real estate, however, that makes her particularly effective. With parents who invested in the Chicago rental market, she grew up in real estate and later gained her own experience as a managing broker. The perspective she has attained from representing both lenders and borrowers gives Kara a ready understanding of all parties in a transaction and informs her knowledge of how to obtain best results for her clients.
With a diverse background that also includes civil and commercial litigation, she enjoys the research that is fundamental to practicing law and takes pleasure in finding arguments to support a client’s position. Identifying key priorities for each case, she is adept at recognizing and addressing hidden issues. Having owned her own business, she understands the value of responsiveness and works hard to respond to clients as quickly as possible. In 2013, Kara co-authored a supplement to “Income Tax Consequences,” a chapter in Mortgage Foreclosure Practice, which was published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education.
A passionate volunteer at Misericordia, where her sister is a long-time resident, Kara served as president of the Misericordia Siblings Association and continues to be deeply involved with its major fundraiser, The Artist in All, held annually at The Art Institute of Chicago. Kara also helps in the gift shop, collects donations during Misericordia Candy Days and serves at the Charity’s Family Fest.
Kara enjoys sailing in the Beneteau 36.7 fleet in Chicago and has completed two Mackinac races. She and her husband are enthusiastic supporters of the Chicago Cubs and first met at Wrigley Field.
Advisories