Katten is representing a recently failed major bank   in its sale of debt, and a real estate equity capital firm in the disposition of its $1 billion portfolio. David B. says transactions during this recession are more complicated than the last, but since they helped put together some of these complicated deals, it's easier to know how to take them apart. (Isn't that also the plot of The Rock, just substitute Alcatraz  for distressed asset?) With colleagues from other practice groups—eg, tax— they're able to untangle the mess. Co-department head Andy Small  wasn't available for this photo, presumably working on his Sean Connery impression in anticipation of our Rock analogy.

Chicagoland makes up about 30% of the group's business. They tell us the next two to five years will include repositioning for an economic upturn; until then, David D. is busy going to his children?s sporting events, Marcia is biking all over the world (she left for Argentina just after we interviewed her), and David B. is an avid downhill skier and golfer. (He's taken part in a helicopter skiing venture to Canada with other Chicago real estate pros.)