We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our friend and partner Michael Kuhn on April 15, 2025. Michael was a cherished member of our team and a beloved friend to many. His contributions to our firm and the legal community were immense, and his presence will be profoundly missed.
“Michael was such an intelligent, energetic, curious, funny, and kind man who lived a life full of activity, exploration and adventure,” said S. Priya Coffey, managing partner of the Houston office. “More importantly, Michael was a loving and devoted family man – to his wife, Kathleen, and daughter, Kate, both of whom I am lucky to know because of him. I am terribly sad to have lost a mentor and dear friend. We worked together for 25 years and it’s hard to imagine practicing without him. He will be greatly missed.”
“Michael was such an intelligent, energetic, curious, funny, and kind man who lived a life full of activity, exploration and adventure.”
Mentorship and Friendship
“Since day one as a first-year associate at Jackson Walker fresh out of law school, Michael Kuhn was one of the most dedicated and steadfast mentors at the firm,” said associate Mahira Khan. “Michael’s compassion and wit could be witnessed in the hand-written notes he left on my desk attached to articles he thought were a ‘must read’ (translation: homework) or in our quarterly lunches where he would open the floor to debate real estate issues and to personally opine on my progress as a young associate.”
Mahira added, “We joked that he should be known as ‘Professor Kuhn’ thanks to his innate teaching ability and his colorful suit collection. I know I am not alone when I say that Michael was a steadily influential and kind guide in my professional development, always encouraging learning, curiosity, and growth. He is a testament to what a great difference one person can make to those around them. We are so lucky and will forever be grateful to have called him a friend.”
“He is a testament to what a great difference one person can make to those around them. We are so lucky and will forever be grateful to have called him a friend.”
“I am going to miss Michael,” said Delisa Percy, his legal administrative assistant. “He was not just my boss; he was my friend. We worked well together, and I’m grateful to him for being one of the team that hired me. I enjoyed hearing stories about his running, travel adventures, and family.”
A Consummate Professional
Michael made a memorable impact on his colleagues with his upbeat attitude and calm demeanor. “Michael’s positive energy and even-keel nature is something I will always remember,” said partner Robert W. Harlow. “He could turn even the most challenging situation into a positive one. His depth of knowledge about all sorts of topics/issues and professionalism was unmatched. And I will miss that smile and laugh.”
Partner Kurt D. Nondorf highlighted Michael’s professional attributes. “Michael was there when you needed someone professional, practical, pragmatic, and patient. He helped us retain many important clients over the years with his ability to do excellent work, while making it all about the deal and not Michael. He was a shrewd negotiator, knowing when to use silence, skepticism, humor, and reason. He worked tirelessly when that was what was required and maintained his work life balance when that was what was needed. Modest to a fault, he never complained, always caring to those who were coming behind him, respectful to all his clients, and always willing to take on one more thing – he was a consummate team player.”
“Modest to a fault, he never complained, always caring to those who were coming behind him, respectful to all his clients, and always willing to take on one more thing – he was a consummate team player.”
Kurt added, “Personally, he bailed me out of many situations when the workload was taking me under. Michael rarely talked about himself, preferring to brag on Kathleen and Kate. He loved and respected his wife as much as any man. And it seems like he talked more about Kate than anyone or anything else. I was surprised when I found out that he was running marathons and that he would bike all the time. He was in better shape than most of us, but you wouldn’t hear him talking about it unless you asked him. He was never the person seeking credit, but the Houston skyline would not be what it is today without his contribution.”
Partner Alfred M. Meyerson recalled the difference Michael made as a friend and partner. “I consider myself lucky to have had Michael as both a law partner and friend. As a real estate lawyer, he was second to none. He was at the top of my list to call when I needed true expert advice. His intellect and quick wit always made the work more interesting and fun – a rare combination.”
Alfie continued, “As a friend, I’ll never forget when I was working on the biggest transaction of my career and had to step aside for health reasons, and Michael jumped into a very stressful situation to save the day for our client. I recall him telling me, ‘Don’t worry about this – I’ve got it – you just take care of yourself.’ That was Michael – the epitome of a partner.”
A Skilled Leader and Teacher
Partner April Vasquez Leibman shared, “Michael was not just an incredibly skilled lawyer; he was a patient and skilled teacher. Michael spent countless hours teaching and mentoring young people how to be real estate lawyers. It is hard to find lawyers who possess the specialized knowledge that Michael had, and it is even harder to find that same type of lawyer offers a lot of his time to teach young lawyers. Michael embodied all these qualities, and practiced and taught with laughter, stories and smiles.”
“Michael was not just an incredibly skilled lawyer; he was a patient and skilled teacher.”
Partner David W. Parker said, “Michael was one of the best real estate attorneys I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He was a quiet leader in our Houston real estate group and his presence will be missed. His ability to advocate for his clients in a respectful and professional manner was a lesson that a lot of younger attorneys have benefited from. More than anything, though, I’ll miss seeing Michael in the office and the endless times we spent talking about work, family, traveling, and running. Michael Kuhn was 1 of 1.”
Professional Achievements
Michael was Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and was a recognized authority in office and retail leasing. Over his career, Michael handled the office leasing for as many as six Class “A” downtown office buildings in Houston, Texas. He managed negotiations involving Union Investment Real Estate GmbH’s 1000 Main, Hines’ Texas Tower, Brookfield Properties’ The Shops at Houston Center, Moody National’s Village Towers, Radom Capital and JPMorgan’s Montrose Collective, and the Rice Village Shopping Center. Beyond Houston, Michael routinely handled office leases across the country, from the Jenner & Block law firm lease renewal in Washington, D.C. to the Seattle Housing Authority full-building office lease in Seattle, Washington.
Michael also developed a particular niche for negotiating restaurant leases on behalf of landlords. Among the high-profile restaurant leases that Michael handled are Tony Vallone’s restaurant Tony’s; Pappas Bros Steakhouse downtown at Houston Center; Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille’s original location on Bay Area Boulevard in Clear Lake; Masraff’s relocation to Moody National’s Hedwig Village project; fellow Moody National projects Texadelphia and Treebeards; Hopdoddy’s Rice Village location; and the new Politan Row food hall at Rice Village. Aside from practicing real estate in the Houston area, Michael was routinely involved with restaurant leases across the country, from Seattle, Washington to Charlotte, North Carolina.
Michael is survived by his wife Kathleen and daughter Kate. His legacy of professionalism, mentorship, and friendship will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him. Michael Kuhn’s impact on the legal community and the lives he touched will be remembered for years to come.
