Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
PeopleServices

Menu

  • People
  • Services
  • Resources
  • Locations
  • Careers
  • About
  • Contact
New Hampshire Joins Data Protection Trend, Passes Comprehensive Data Protection Law
  1. People

Norman W. Gutmacher

Retired Partner
Cleveland
T.
216.236.9627
liamE
"Good enough isn't."
"Good enough isn't."

Norm focuses his practice on commercial real estate matters, particularly commercial leasing, commercial development, acquisitions and divestitures, property acquisitions and real estate financing. His practice is national in scope, often representing national chains and franchisees.

He began his practice with Benesch in 1971 and became a partner in 1979. During his career, Norm has served in multiple leadership roles such as being on Benesch's Management Committee and Chair of Benesch's Real Estate Practice Group, among others. 

Norm is an active Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and is a current member of its Leasing Committee, Insurance Committee, Innovation and Practice Committee, Acquisitions Committee, and Senior Counselors Working Group. He is a past member of ACREL's Board of Governors, as well as a past member and past Secretary of its Executive Committee. Norm is the former Chair of ACREL’s Leasing Committee and the former Co-Chair of its Innovation and Practice Committee.  Norm also is a member of the Real Estate Sections of the American and Ohio State Bar Associations. Since 1987, Mr. Gutmacher has been an active member of the Michigan and Northern Ohio Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has previously served as an officer and director in the organization.

Representative Experience

  • Advised an energy company in the lease of real estate for the construction of a manufacturing facility anticipated to cost over $200 million.
  • Advised multiple borrowers in negotiating new loans and loan refinancings.
  • Negotiated the sale-leaseback of an 180,000 square foot office/warehouse facility.
  • Served as local counsel to borrowers and lenders regarding Ohio loans.
  • Advised clients on purchase and sale of shopping centers and commercial buildings ranging in size from $1 million to $30 million.
  • Advised a large multinational public company on multi-state property acquisitions and divestitures, bringing in local counsel, as appropriate, to ascertain local laws and customs.
  • Negotiated leases for national tenants for retail, restaurant, office and industrial uses in both free standing and in-line projects.
  • Negotiated leases for real estate developers with "big box" tenants, national chains, and local and small tenants.
  • Advised a public company on the sale of more than $100 million in assets.
  • Advised a non-profit company in the $20 million expansion and renovation of its facilities, including negotiating architectural and construction contracts, bond financing and related matters.

  • Real Estate
  • Construction Financing
  • Leasing
  • Mortgage Financing
  • Purchase & Sale
  • Loan Workouts
  • Loan Maintenance & Modifications
  • DIP Financing
  • Energy/Real Estate
  • Not-for-Profit/Real Estate
  • Retail & E-Commerce
  • Not-for-Profit
  • University of Cincinnati College of Law, 1971, J.D.
    • Order of the Coif
    • Note Editor, Law Review
  • The Ohio State University, 1968, B.S.
  • Ohio
  • Listed, The Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law, 2011-2025 (listed for over 20 years); and named Best Lawyers’ 2012 Cleveland Real Estate Law Lawyer of the Year
  • Listed, Chambers USA Leading Lawyers, Real Estate (2005-2014)
  • Listed, One of the Top 50 Ohio Super Lawyers in Cleveland and one of the Top 100 in Ohio 2007; Ohio Super Lawyers 2004-2018
  • Listed, Who's Who Legal USA: Real Estate
  • Listed, International Who's Who Business Lawyers: Real Estate
  • AV®Rated, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
  • Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL)
    • Member and Past Chair, Leasing Committee
    • Member and Past Co-Chair, Innovation & Practice Committee
    • Member, Acquisitions Committee
    • Member, Insurance Committee
    • Member, Senior Counselors Working Group  
    • Past Member and Past Secretary, Executive Committee 
    • Past Member, Board of Governors
  • Member, Michigan and Northern Ohio Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
  • Member, American Bar Association; Real Estate Section
  • Member, Ohio State Bar Association; Real Estate Section

Highlights

Martindale AV Rating
Martindale AV Rating
Martindale AV Rating
Articles and Presentations
March 24-26, 2022
Machines and People Working Together - Impacts of Emerging and Converging Technology | Norman W. Gutmacher
January 31, 2022
My Benesch My Team - SPIRE
March 6, 2019
Technology for Real Estate Lawyers

View all

News
August 15, 2024
132 Benesch Attorneys Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers® Rankings
August 17, 2023
Best Lawyers in America® Rankings 2024
August 18, 2022
U.S. News & World Report - Best Lawyers Rankings 2023

View all

Beyond the Office
Hobbies
Working out, reading, and technology
Favorite Restaurant
Pranzo
Favorite Quote(s)

“We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.” - Sir Winston Churchill

  • 2025 Benesch
  • Disclaimers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Related Sites
  • GDPR Statement
  • Terms
  • Client Payment Portal
  • Careers
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn