Real Estate

  • July 08, 2025

    Insurer Fights Coverage For $13M Townhome Arbitration Row

    An insurer told a Washington federal court it has no duty to defend or indemnify a developer facing a nearly $13 million arbitration demand from a construction lender, which claims the developer misrepresented the completion of underground facilities at a Seattle townhome project while requesting funds for the work.

  • July 08, 2025

    NC Atty Says Mistrial Order Puts Career At Risk In Appeal Bid

    A property restoration company and its trial attorney told the North Carolina Court of Appeals that the attorney did not engage in "serious misconduct," and urged it to toss components of a lower court's mistrial order.

  • July 08, 2025

    Okla. City Illegally Prosecutes Natives On Rez, Tribe Says

    The Muscogee (Creek) Nation sued the city of Henryetta in Oklahoma federal court Tuesday accusing it of violating federal laws and its sovereign rights by prosecuting Native Americans for conduct within the tribe's Creek Reservation, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision restricting the state and its political subdivisions' ability to do so.  

  • July 08, 2025

    Tax Court Says IRS Offer In $57M Easement Case Isn't Binding

    A settlement offer the Internal Revenue Service said it mistakenly made to a partnership after rejecting its $57 million conservation easement deduction is not binding, the U.S. Tax Court said Tuesday, declining the partnership's request to enforce the deal.

  • July 08, 2025

    Everglades Plan Won't Spoil Buddhist Temple, Fla. Court Told

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urged a Florida federal court Tuesday to toss a Buddhist temple's claims alleging that an Everglades restoration project is disrupting members' ability to peacefully meditate, arguing that the complaint came too late and that construction isn't coercing a change in their religious practices.

  • July 08, 2025

    4 Firms Guide BlackRock's ElmTree Acquisition Deal

    BlackRock Inc. will acquire net lease real estate investment firm ElmTree Funds, which oversees $7.3 billion worth of assets as of March 31, in a deal guided by Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Sidley Austin LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, BlackRock announced.

  • July 08, 2025

    Fla. Probes Internet Figures, REIT And Suspect Ponzi Scheme

    Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Tuesday announced his office has subpoenaed two internet personalities and their real estate investment trust based on allegations that they pocketed money intended for property purchases in what authorities say appears to be a Ponzi scheme.

  • July 08, 2025

    NY Developer Accuses Atty, Others Of $3M Investment Fraud

    A New York developer and his business have filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing several companies, a law firm and others of defrauding him out of more than $3 million in an investment fraud scheme, saying they made false promises of "extraordinary returns" from purportedly monetizing certain letters of credit.

  • July 08, 2025

    NYC Seeks To Keep Broker Fee Ban Over Injunction Ask

    New York City told a federal judge that a group of real estate interests, landlords and brokers failed to present a compelling case for blocking a law preventing landlords from passing on broker fees to tenants less than a month after the provision took effect.

  • July 08, 2025

    Michigan Halts Construction Code Rollout Amid Builders' Suit

    Michigan has paused the implementation of a new residential construction code after homebuilders filed lawsuits claiming the adoption of the code violated state law and would drive up the price of homes. 

  • July 07, 2025

    Fla. Panel Upholds Tossing Suit To Unseat Miami Official

    A Florida state appellate court on Monday declined to reinstate a lawsuit two property developers filed in their effort to forcibly remove a Miami commissioner via the city's charter after a federal jury ruled he was liable for violating civil rights, saying the developers lacked standing. 

  • July 07, 2025

    Conn. Can't Pause Tribal Land Acquisitions, Court Told

    The U.S. Department of the Interior and its Bureau of Indian Affairs on Monday urged a Connecticut federal judge not to renew a stay on the acquisition of state land into trust for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, arguing that the state has not met the bar for blocking agency action.

  • July 07, 2025

    Biggest Illinois Decisions Of 2025 So Far: A Midyear Report

    State and federal courts have handed down rulings in Illinois cases so far this year that have clarified standing for data breach actions in the state's courts, affirmed coverage for attorney fees and costs paid as part of a settlement, and deemed insufficient a jury instruction frequently given in Illinois personal injury cases. Here's a breakdown of some of the biggest decisions courts have handed down in Illinois cases so far in 2025.

  • July 07, 2025

    4th Circ. Revives SC Builder's Bid For Condo Repair Coverage

    A Charleston builder will get a second chance at recouping the money it spent repairing a condo complex that flooded after the Fourth Circuit on Monday partially vacated a pretrial win favoring its insurer, finding there are still unanswered questions about whether certain costs might be covered under its policy.

  • July 07, 2025

    Colo. Church, Town Settle Zoning Dispute Over Homeless Aid

    Castle Rock, Colorado, and a church located within the town have agreed to dismiss a suit that challenged the use of zoning regulations to prevent the church from allowing homeless families to park RVs and trailers in its parking lot.

  • July 07, 2025

    Alaskan Tribe's Immunity Upheld In Anchorage Casino Fight

    A federal court judge on Monday denied a bid by a group of Anchorage, Alaska, residents to reconsider a ruling that found the Native Village of Eklutna is immune from the residents' lawsuit seeking to block a casino development, saying their arguments are no more than a disagreement with the court's analysis.

  • July 07, 2025

    Mich. Wineries Win Nearly $50M In Zoning Dispute

    A Michigan federal judge awarded more than $49.2 million in damages Monday to a group of wineries that challenged local zoning restrictions but declined to block the township from enforcing its current ordinances.

  • July 07, 2025

    Malaysia Info Demand Gets Green Light In $14.9B Dispute

    A Delaware judge has declined to nix an order allowing units of Malaysia's national energy company to seek discovery relating to a third-party funding deal that led to a $14.9 billion arbitral award issued against Kuala Lumpur following a territorial dispute stemming from a 19th-century land deal.

  • July 07, 2025

    Texas Appeals Court Finds $50M Dubai Judgment Was Unfair

    A Texas appeals court has found that a $50 million judgment issued by a United Arab Emirates court system against executives who allegedly fled the country after committing fraud could not stand under state law, saying the UAE court system never provided the executives adequate notice.

  • July 07, 2025

    Newark Property Buyer Wins Appeal Over Axed $32.8M Sale

    A New Jersey appellate panel on Monday upheld a trial court's ruling that a real estate investment firm properly terminated its $32.8 million purchase agreement for a mixed-use building in Newark after receiving a noncompliant estoppel certificate from one of the tenants, rejecting the seller's argument that the certificate's deficiencies were immaterial.

  • July 07, 2025

    AIG Pays $6M For Fire In Chinese Exile Guo's NYC Apartment

    AIG Property Casualty Co. has paid more than $6 million to a company once owned by Chinese exile and since-convicted fraudster Miles Guo after a fire damaged his former residence in New York City's Sherry-Netherland Hotel, an exclusive co-op across the street from Central Park, a court filing indicates.

  • July 07, 2025

    PHH Mortgage Loan Officers Urge NJ Court To Halt Calif. Deal

    A California state court's decision to preliminarily approve a settlement in a case against PHH Mortgage would prevent California mortgage loan officers from pursuing their claims in their New Jersey federal court proceedings, two California workers told the New Jersey court.

  • July 07, 2025

    Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

    In Delaware in the past week, a vice chancellor awarded just $1 in damages to a China-tied company looking to secure a $50 million stake in SpaceX while also slamming the fund's manager for acting "insincerely," Tyson Foods won $55 million in damages in a suit claiming the owner of two poultry rendering plants Tyson acquired hid that it relied on a "disfavored" practice of recovering "unappetizing remnants of butchered chickens," and a suit over a one-site bank's 11-aircraft fleet was moved into the discovery phase.

  • July 07, 2025

    Cozen O'Connor Adds Real Estate Pro From Ropes & Gray

    An attorney specializing in real estate transactions has moved his practice from Ropes & Gray LLP to Cozen O'Connor, where he will split his time between two offices.

  • July 07, 2025

    Maine Authorizes Task Force To Explore Property Tax Changes

    Maine authorized the creation of a task force to explore the need for legislation and constitutional amendments to provide more effective property tax relief for residents under a bill signed by the governor.

Expert Analysis

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Note 3 Simple Types Of Legal Complexity

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    Cases can appear complex for several reasons — due to the number of issues, the volume of factual and evidentiary sources, and the sophistication of those sources — but the same basic technique can help lawyers tame their arguments into a simple and persuasive message, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Corporate Liability Issues To Watch In High Court TM Case

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    The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a trademark dispute between Dewberry Group and Dewberry Engineers next week, presenting an opportunity for the court to drastically alter the fundamental approach to piercing the corporate veil, or adopt a more limited approach and preserve existing norms, say attorneys at Bracewell.

  • Plugging Gov't Leaks Is Challenging, But Not A Pipe Dream

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    As shown by ongoing legal battles involving New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Sean “Diddy” Combs, it’s challenging for defendants to obtain relief when they believe the government leaked sensitive information to the media, but defense counsel can take certain steps to mitigate the harm, says Kenneth Notter at MoloLamken.

  • Series

    Gardening Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Beyond its practical and therapeutic benefits, gardening has bolstered important attributes that also apply to my litigation practice, including persistence, patience, grit and authenticity, says Christopher Viceconte at Gibbons.

  • Takeaways From DOJ's Intervention On Pricing Algorithm Use

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    A recent U.S. Justice Department amicus brief arguing that a Nevada federal judge wrongly focused on the nonbinding aspect of software company Cendyn Group's pricing algorithm underscores the growing challenge of determining when, if ever, pricing algorithms are legal, say attorneys at Rule Garza.

  • Litigation Inspiration: Reframing Document Review

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    For attorneys — new ones especially — there is much fulfillment to find in document review by reflecting on how important, interesting and pleasant it can be, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.

  • A Legal Perspective On NYC's Retail Real Estate Evolution

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    As New York City's retail market begins to show signs of resilience after the challenges of recent years, landlords must be cognizant of legal implications from shifting trends toward shorter-term leases and pop-up stores, says Andrea Gendel at Pryor Cashman.

  • What Interest Rate Cuts Mean For Housing Markets

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    The Federal Reserve's recent reduction of interest rates may provide limited immediate relief for real estate sectors, but offers potential opportunities for commercial real estate investors and construction firms, which now face an environment ripe for new projects, say attorneys at Cozen O'Connor.

  • California Supreme Court's Year In Review

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    Attorneys at Horvitz & Levy highlight notable decisions on major questions from the California Supreme Court's last term, including voter initiatives, hostile work environment and the economic loss rule.

  • How CFIUS' Updated Framework Affects Global Investors

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    The recent change to the monitoring and enforcement regulations governing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States will broaden administrative practices around nonnotified transaction investigations, increase the scope of information demands from the committee and accelerate its ability to impose mitigation on parties, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.

  • Contract Disputes Recap: Perils Of Perfunctory Interpretation

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    Attorneys at Seyfarth examine three recent decisions in which the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals and the Federal Circuit ruthlessly dismantled arguments that rely on superficial understandings of different contract terms.

  • Series

    Flying Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Achieving my childhood dream of flying airplanes made me a better lawyer — and a better person — because it taught me I can conquer difficult goals when I leave my comfort zone, focus on the demands of the moment and commit to honing my skills, says Ivy Cadle at Baker Donelson.

  • 'Reverse Redlining' Suit Reveals Language Risks For Lenders

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    The Justice Department's case against consumer finance provider Colony Ridge highlights the government's focus on lending to consumers with limited English proficiency and the risks of generating marketing materials in other languages while conducting actual transactions in English, say attorneys at Goodwin.

  • Series

    Circus Arts Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    Performing circus arts has strengthened my ability to be more thoughtful, confident and grounded, all of which has enhanced my legal practice and allowed me to serve clients in a more meaningful way, says Bailey McGowan at Stinson.

  • 3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less

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    Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.

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