Mentorship with David Schwartz, Waterton

David Schwartz

Today, David oversees the strategic decisions and leadership of Waterton’s business activities and operations, as well as serving on their leadership and investment committees. Their notable properties in Chicago include Presidential Towers, North Harbor Towers, the Montrose and River North Park. As of September 30, 2019, Waterton’s portfolio includes approximately $5.6 billion in real estate assets.

David is active as the Chairman of the National Multi Housing Council and is involved with the Urban Land Institute and Pension Real Estate Association. He serves on the Advisory Council for the Pritzker School of Medicine and the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Chicago, where he graduated from the Booth School of Business with a Master’s in Business Administration. He also has chaired fundraising efforts for the Jewish Federation and the US Holocaust Museum.

Mr. Schwartz co-founded Waterton with Peter Vilim in 1995 and serves as CEO and Chairman. Mr. Schwartz is responsible for strategic decisions and leadership of the firm’s business activities and operations, and participates on the Management and Investment Committees.

Prior to co-founding Waterton in 1995, Mr. Schwartz was a vice president of acquisitions for Equity Residential Properties Trust (EQR-NYSE) and from 1985 through 1989 was with AMLI Realty Co.

Mr. Schwartz oversees the strategic decisions and leadership of Waterton’s business activities and operations, as well as serving on their leadership and investment committees. Their notable properties in Chicago include Presidential Towers, North Harbor Towers, the Montrose and River North Park. As of September 30, 2019, Waterton’s portfolio includes approximately $5.6 billion in real estate assets.
Mr. Schwartz holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. He is a member of the executive committee, a senior officer and chairman of the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC). He is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and is previous chairman of the ULI Multifamily Blue Council and a member of the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA). Mr. Schwartz is a member of the Advisory Council for the Pritzker School of Medicine and the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Chicago, and serves on the Strategic Advancement Committee for the US Holocaust Museum and Memorial in Washington D.C.

Gene Leone is the Global Head of White & Case's Real Estate Industry Group and the Executive Partner of the Chicago office of the Firm. Based in the Chicago and New York offices, Gene is also a Partner in the Global M&A Practice Group. Gene represents some of the most recognizable names in real estate and has a track record of leading, structuring and executing complicated deal transactions for a broad universe of investors, including private equity, entrepreneurs and public companies. His practice focuses on all aspects of commercial real estate, including joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, financings and workouts. A highly rated lawyer and sought-after speaker, Gene is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and the Real Estate Roundtable and frequently speaks on a variety of real estate topics at conferences around the country.