Born and raised in Chicago, Melissa Tannehill has witnessed the city’s ever-evolving landscape and bears an intimate understanding of the local market. Tannehill, the managing attorney of Tannehill Law LLC, began her career in real estate 16 years ago as a mortgage banker before graduating from law school and turning her attention to real estate law. Representing buyers, sellers and investors in residential and commercial transactions, Tannehill is never afraid to go to bat and negotiate on her clients’ behalf.

As a real estate investor herself, Tannehill boasts a 360-degree view of the market, having been on all sides of the closing table. “Understanding all aspects of the transaction and all types of transactions helps when servicing my clients and communicating with agents, lenders and other attorneys,” she says, noting that she strives to continuously learn the ever-changing real estate environment in order to navigate any new challenges that come her way. “It is part of my responsibility to figure out how to get each deal from contract to close.”

Despite the pandemic, this year Tannehill Law LLC added a paralegal and an associate attorney to the team while continuing to provide clients with around-the-clock accessibility and individualized attention. “I make sure to set reasonable expectations from the start and to keep all parties informed of our progress throughout the process,” Tannehill remarks.

She was just nominated as the communications and marketing officer of the Women’s Bar Association and participates in the Association’s mentorship program, mentoring new attorneys. She is also an affiliate sponsor of the Women’s Council of Realtors and an affiliate member of the Chicago Association of Realtors.

For the past year, Tannehill has made a conscious effort to meditate and practice gratitude every day, which has allowed her to discover a new sense of perspective. Once the pandemic is over, she looks forward to traveling again and staying involved in the legal and real estate communities.