Professional Expertise

Marty Festenstein joined Savills Chicago in 2021 as Senior Managing Director and as a leader in the Workplace Practice Group focused on the legal industry. In his role, Marty collaborates with both his Workplace colleagues and the members of Savills Legal Tenant Practice Group to offer integrated real estate and workplace solutions to law firms designed to clarify location strategies, attract and retain talent, adopt hybrid work practices, optimize operations and client service, and meet sustainability goals.

Marty brings over 25 years of design experience, specializing in providing workplace and facilities solutions for major law firms across the country. He joined the firm from Nelson Worldwide, where he served as Principal and Co-Chair of the global design firm’s Legal Workplace Practice, and his projects ranged from 18,000 SF to over 500,000 SF. His previous roles include serving as Principal/Legal Practice Area Co-Chair for international architecture, planning and design leader Gensler.

Awards, Achievements and Activities

An award-winning designer, Marty has earned honors from the Chicago Building Congress, Interior Design Magazine and the International Interior Design Association recognizing project work for Jones Day, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Husch Blackwell LLP and Seyfarth Shaw LLP, among others. In addition, he is an industry thought leader, contributing articles and white papers for publications including American Lawyer, Law Firm, Inc., Chicago Lawyer, and the American Bar Association. His articles range from the evolution of law firm office design, and well-being and workplace design strategies, to bridging the workplace efficiency gap, and the democratization of office sizes and open workplace design. He is also a frequent industry speaker on law firm design and discusses how COVID’s remote work practices have impacted space use and workplace practices.

A dedicated industry and community volunteer and fundraiser, he has served on the Development Committee for the American Cancer Society, Illinois Division, and as Co-Chair of the Fundraising Committee for Dining by Design Events hosted by DIFFA - Design Industry Foundation Fighting Aids. Marty currently serves on the Board of Partners for Progress NFP, an organization that provides equine therapy to residents in Northeastern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.