Commercial

  • May 09, 2025

    NY Developer Cops To Stealing $13M From Investors

    A real estate developer pled guilty in New York federal court Friday to using sham projects to solicit $13 million from investors to make up for a downturn in legitimate business.

  • May 09, 2025

    Lucosky Brookman Faces Malpractice Suit Over NYC Site Sale

    Lucosky Brookman LLP, a boutique corporate finance and securities firm, was hit with a malpractice suit in New Jersey state court by a former client alleging the firm failed to warn it about a decades-old agreement that would restrict its ability to build on a New York City site.

  • May 09, 2025

    Shutts & Bowen Eyes Sanctions Over Country Club Sale Suit

    Florida firm Shutts & Bowen LLP is continuing its pushback against a real estate corporation's malpractice lawsuit alleging it sank the sale of a country club, this time serving a motion for sanctions in the state court.

  • May 09, 2025

    Condo Counsel Disqualified In Suit Against Miami Hotel Owner

    A Miami judge disqualified a law firm from representing a condo association in claims against a hotel owned by Spanish billionaire Amancio Ortega due to the firm's work for the hotel on an unrelated case.

  • May 09, 2025

    Minn. Court Increases Prior Valuation Of Parking Lot By $900K

    The Minnesota Tax Court increased the market valuation of a parking lot by $900,000 after reopening the record and adjusting the reversion rate to reflect the record, resulting in a slightly higher valuation. 

  • May 09, 2025

    CoStar To Buy Australian PropTech Co. In $1.9B Deal

    Commercial real estate analytics provider CoStar Group announced its plans to buy Australian proptech company Domain Holdings Australia Ltd., wrapping up a deal that values the company at nearly 3 billion Australian dollars ($1.9 billion) in total.

  • May 08, 2025

    Ex-Brookfield Leader Says He Was Fired For Whistleblowing

    A former managing partner at Brookfield Asset Management lobbed wrongful termination and defamation claims at his former employer Thursday, claiming that he was fired for refusing to accept a bribe and for filing a whistleblower complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

  • May 08, 2025

    CEO Stole Funds To Fuel 'Gambling Habit', Investor Says

    An investor in a cybersecurity company has claimed in a new suit that the company's CEO defrauded the investor out of more than $2.8 million through falsified budgets and other means, all to support a "lavish" lifestyle and "severe gambling habit."

  • May 08, 2025

    Pa. Diner Can't Get Tax Sale Axed Over Price Hike, Panel Says

    A diner in a resort in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains can't duck a tax sale over the final sale price of the diner property being higher than originally advertised, a state appellate panel said in a precedential ruling Thursday.

  • May 08, 2025

    Bain, Oliver Street Pick Up $208M Industrial Portfolio

    A joint venture between Bain Capital Real Estate and Oliver Street Capital completed a $208 million "private, off-market" deal to acquire a portfolio of Northern New Jersey industrial properties, according to a Thursday announcement.

  • May 08, 2025

    Miami Atty Joins Arbitration Place After US Expansion

    A Miami attorney has joined the roster of decision-makers at Arbitration Place tasked with helping settle international legal disputes out of court following the company's recent expansion to the U.S.

  • May 08, 2025

    Coverage Uncertain For LA Fire Soil Remediation, Pros Say 

    Dangerous toxins are being detected in the soil around homes affected by the Los Angeles fires, but experts say that insurance coverage for soil remediation would likely be limited, even if certain policies or provisions could offer some compensation.

  • May 08, 2025

    NC Ophthalmologist Owes Ex-Partner Office Building Cash

    The North Carolina Business Court has ruled that an ophthalmologist who agreed to buy out his former business partner's share of their practice must pay the former partner 36% of the value of their office building under the terms of their confidential settlement agreement.

  • May 08, 2025

    11th Circ. Judge Frowns On New Arguments In Easement Case

    An Eleventh Circuit judge disapproved of a Georgia partnership raising new arguments on appeal as it pursues a tax deduction for a conservation easement donation, saying Thursday that perhaps "we wouldn't be here" if the partnership had argued the points before the lower court.

  • May 08, 2025

    11th Circ. Says Developer's I-20 Truck Stop Suit Out Of Gas

    The Eleventh Circuit has backed a district court's dismissal of a property owner's suit challenging a metro Atlanta county ordinance that for years blocked him from developing his land into a QuikTrip gas station, ruling the county had a "rational basis" for its effective ban on new truck stops.

  • May 08, 2025

    Industrial Vacancies Expected To Peak In 2025, Colliers Says

    Vacancies for U.S. industrial properties are anticipated to hit their peak by the end of the year due to "a significantly reduced construction pipeline," according to a new report from Colliers.

  • May 08, 2025

    Katten Adds CMBS Pro From Cadwalader

    Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP announced that a new partner has joined the firm's structured finance and securitization practice from Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP, noting that she will expand the firm's commercial mortgage-backed securities capabilities.

  • May 08, 2025

    2nd Circ. Revives Arbitration In Hurricane Damage Suit

    The Second Circuit on Thursday revived a bid by surplus insurers seeking to arbitrate claims over hurricane-related property damage in Louisiana, in a ruling that overturns its own precedent on the interpretation of a treaty governing international arbitration.

  • May 08, 2025

    Morgan Lewis Guides $320M Neighborhood Retail Fund

    Investment manager Nuveen Real Estate said on Thursday it has raised $320 million in a fund advised by Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP aimed at grocery-anchored, necessity-based neighborhood retail properties.

  • May 08, 2025

    Tenn. Hotel Operators To Stop Collecting Tax After 30 Days

    Tennessee will require hotel operators to stop collecting occupancy taxes from people who stay for more than 30 days under a bill signed by the governor.

  • May 07, 2025

    Sidley-Led Insurer Aspen Leads 2 IPOs Raising $508M Total

    Private equity-backed specialty insurer Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd., represented by Sidley Austin LLP, on Wednesday raised $397.5 million after pricing an upsized initial public offering, leading one of two insurance listings that netted $507.5 million combined as more companies tiptoe back into the IPO market. 

  • May 07, 2025

    Fla. Lawmakers Tackle Real Estate Issues, But Is It Enough?

    Real estate matters were once again top of mind during the Florida Legislature's 2025 session, but in a year marked by political tensions, it remains to be seen how successfully lawmakers resolved some major questions.

  • May 07, 2025

    'Preposterous' SEC Rule For Real Estate Could Be Dropped

    A proposed rule to make the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's custodial requirements for investment advisers apply to all assets, including real estate, could die under current Republican leadership. Some attorneys say the proposal lacked sense to begin with.

  • May 07, 2025

    Global Hotel Investment Rebounds, But Dips In The Americas

    Global hotel investment in the Americas dropped a significant 17.1% in 2024, in marked contrast with cross-border investment in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, which jumped 112% last year, per a CBRE report.

  • May 07, 2025

    Venable Adds Construction Pro As Partner In Chicago

    Venable LLP hired veteran construction attorney Charles "Cully" H. Wahtola III as a partner for the firm's construction law group in its Chicago office, the firm announced.

Expert Analysis

  • Negotiating Triparty Hotel Agreements To Withstand Risk

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    Brewing economic uncertainty in the hospitality industry underscores the importance of subordination, nondisturbance and attornment agreements, and hotel managers should tightly negotiate these agreements to ensure remedies will not disturb key rights, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • CRE Challenges Demand New Lease And Development Plans

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    As developers and landlords face declining occupancy of commercial, industrial and office space post-pandemic, a combination of business and lease considerations may better position stakeholders to protect the value and profitability of their commercial real estate, says Geoffrey Leskie at Segal McCambridge.

  • Ch. 11 Free-And-Clear Sale Ruling Takes Pragmatic Approach

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    A recent ruling from a New York bankruptcy court in which the debtors were allowed to sell interests free and clear regardless of a lienholder's objection signals a practical approach and a recalibration of the balance between debtor flexibility and creditor protections, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.

  • What's At Stake As 9th Circ. Eyes Cultural Resource Damages

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    In Pakootas v. Teck Cominco, the Ninth Circuit is faced with the long-unresolved question of whether cultural resource damages are recoverable as part of natural resource damages under the Superfund law — and the answer will have enormous implications for companies, natural resource trustees and Native American tribes, says Sarah Bell at Farella Braun.

  • 5 Insurance Types For Mitigating Tariff-Related Trade Losses

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    The potential for significant trade-related losses as a result of increased tariffs may cause companies to consider which of their insurance policies, including marine, builders risk, trade credit, and directors and officers, could provide coverage to alleviate the financial impact, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

  • Avoiding Pitfalls Around New Calif. Commercial Lease Law

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    A California law that became effective this year requires commercial landlords to extend certain protections previously afforded to residential tenancies, and a few key provisions of the law especially warrant reexamination of leasing and operational processes, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • Measuring And Mitigating Harm From Discriminatory Taxes

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    In response to new tariffs and other recent "America First Trade Policy" pronouncements, corporations should assess and take steps to minimize their potential exposure to discriminatory and reciprocal tax measures that are likely to come, say economists at Charles River Associates.

  • Addressing Tariff Price Escalation In Construction Contracts

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    As construction projects across the U.S. face uncertainty surrounding material price increases driven by government-imposed tariffs, owners and developers should draft strong contracts to protect themselves from tariff-related cost overruns and delays, say attorneys at Akerman.

  • How The CRE Industry Is Adapting To Tariff Uncertainty

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    Amid uncertainty about pending tariffs and their potential ripple effects, including higher material costs, supply chain delays and tighter margins, commercial real estate industry players are focusing on strategic planning and risk mitigation, says Daniel Diaz Leyva at Day Pitney.

  • Reconciling 2 Smoke Coverage Cases From California

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    As highlighted by a California Department of Insurance bulletin clarifying the effect of two recent decisions on insurance coverage, the February state appellate ruling denying coverage for property damage from smoke, ash and soot should be viewed as an outlier, say attorneys at Reed Smith.

  • Contractor Remedies Amid Overhaul Of Federal Spending

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    Now that the period for federal agencies to review their spending has ended, companies holding procurement contracts or grants should evaluate whether their agreements align with administration policies and get a plan ready to implement if their contracts or grants are modified or terminated, say attorneys at DLA Piper.

  • Contract Disputes Recap: Terminations Galore

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    Attorneys at Seyfarth examine three recent decisions in which the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals provide valuable insights into contract terminations, modifications and the jurisdictional requirements for claims.

  • Making The Opportunity Zones Program Great At Last

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    As the opportunity zone program approaches its expiration, the Republican-led government could take specific steps to extend and improve the program, address its structural flaws, encourage broader participation and enable it to live up to its promised outcomes, say attorneys at Pillsbury.