Kymn Harp is a famous American lawyer born on July 22, 1953, in Evansville, Indiana. He is known for his work in commercial real estate development, adaptive reuse of urban buildings, vertical mixed-use development, and commercial real estate deals. Harp has made significant advances in the legal and real estate business over several decades. His journey started early when he learned about real estate through his parents, who invested in commercial real estate and built homes. After seeing the business up close, young Harp became interested in real estate. When he was 16, he bought his first rental property with money he earned from performing music in front of live audiences.
Harp got his first degree at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. In 1975, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. After that, he moved to Chicago to continue his law education at The John Marshall Law School, now called the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. In 1978, he earned his Juris Doctor degree there. After graduating from law school, Harp started his legal work at Regas and Frezados, a small law firm in Chicago that mostly helped first- and second-generation Greek American business owners. Harp handled commercial lawsuits, business representation, and real estate deals, mainly in the restaurant and banquet facility industry. His law firm soon became Regas Frezados and Harp and later changed its name to Regas, Frezados, Harp & Dallas. Harp worked for the firm until May 2003, when he moved to Arnstein & Lehr LLP. In March 2008, he joined Robbins Salomon & Patt Ltd., which changed its name to Robbins DiMonte Ltd. in 2022. Harp is on the Executive Committee and chairs the Ethics Committee at Robbins DiMonte. He was the head of the Business and Real Estate Transactions group.
Throughout his career, Harp has left an indelible mark on the real estate landscape with his involvement in numerous high-profile projects. His contributions include the modernization of Marina City in downtown Chicago, the construction of the Sears Centre Arena (now called the Now Arena), the construction of a 22-story highrise in Chicago’s near northside, and the restoration and redevelopment of a microbrewery in Chicago’s Motor Row entertainment district. These projects stand as a testament to Harp’s transformative influence on the real estate market and his unwavering commitment to urban growth and preservation.
Harp is a well-known author who has written two important books about business real estate. “Illinois Commercial Real Estate – Due Diligence to Closing, with Checklists,” which he published in 2016, is a complete guide to commercial real estate deals in Illinois. “Intent to Prosper, Vol. 1,” his first book, came out in 2009. Harp often shares his knowledge through writings and presentations. He has given talks to the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) about things like real estate development and how state and local governments can help rebuild mixed-use projects. He has also written articles about stuff like limiting damages in business lease disputes and making sure that adaptive reuse projects work.
Harp has a lot of work experience. He has licenses to practice law in Illinois, Indiana, and New Mexico. He also has licenses to practice law in several U.S. District Courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He is a member of the State Bar of New Mexico, the Illinois State Bar Association, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and the Real Estate Law Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. These memberships show how much he cares about the legal and real estate community.
Besides his work achievements, Harp has a long and exciting personal history. From 1964 to 1975, he played bass guitar in a few bands that were popular in the Midwest. Harp’s money from playing music helped him start investing in real estate. Harp is married to Rose Harp since 2020. He has been married four times. Ashley Anne Harp and Ryan K. Harp are his two grown children.
Kymn Harp’s work shows how dedicated he is to being both a lawyer and a real estate educator. Because he has a lot of knowledge and has written books and taught others, people see him as a thought leader in commercial real estate law. Harp continues to have an impact on the field by working on important growth projects and striving for professional excellence.
