Practice Areas

Education

  • Michigan State University College of Law, J.D., 2013
  • University of Michigan, B.A., 2009

Bar Admissions & Licenses

  • Illinois
  • Michigan
  • U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan

Nick Standiford is a real estate development, local government, and litigation attorney at Schain Banks. As a local government attorney, Nick handles a variety of disputes and counsels municipal staff and elected officials. Nick also represents private developers in land-use, zoning, real estate, hospitality, and energy matters. As a litigator, he handles all aspects of litigation in state and federal court from complaint through appeal.

Nick’s legal experience includes clerkships with the Honorable Judge Paul J. Denenfeld, the Lansing prosecutor’s office, and the Federal Public Defender’s office. Nick was the Editor-in-Chief of the Michigan State International Law Review and won a national mock trial competition in law school.

Prior to joining the firm, Nick worked in real estate in Chicago as a closing manager for one of Chicago’s top brokers. In this role, Nick wrote and helped negotiate offers and counteroffers, as well as managed contract contingencies, attorney reviews, closings, and foreclosures.

  • Past Chair, CBA YLS Real Estate Committee
  • Past Editor-in-Chief, CBA Record
  • Past Executive Member, U of M Dean's Young Alumni Council (DYAC)
  • Member, Chicago Bar Association
  • Member, Lake County Bar Association
  • Member, DuPage County Bar Association
  • Member, Illinois Municipal League (IML) - Home Rule Attorneys Committee, Land Use Policy Committee
  • Past Member, Business Network International (BNI) – Referral Loop Chapter
  • Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2023-2024
  • Emerging Lawyer, Leading Lawyers, 2017-2024
  • Special use for cannabis dispensaries in Chicago, Schaumburg, Elmwood Park, Morton Grove, Highland Park, Franklin Park, Waukegan, and Grant Park.
  • Special use for cannabis craft grow and infuser facilities in Chicago (2) and Wheeling (2).
  • Special use for car wash facility in Wheeling.
  • Planned development, special use, and variations for sport facility use in industrial district in Northbrook.
  • Removal of planned development in Highland Park.
  • Text amendment and special use for senior living facility and special education school in Waukegan.
  • Special use for dermatology clinic in Lake Forest.
  • Text amendments, special uses, and variations for community and utility scale solar energy projects throughout Illinois and Michigan.
  • Variations for various projects throughout Illinois and Michigan.
  • Subdivisions in Schaumburg.
  • Fire sprinkler exemption and variation in Lake Bluff.
  • Extension and redevelopment agreement in Villa Park.
  • Successfully prosecuted prisoner's rights dispute in the Northern District Federal Court of Illinois
  • Former Adjunct Professor (Moot Court), Loyola University Chicago School of Law