Real Estate Transactions, Land Use and Environmental Representation

In addition to advising clients in the business arena, we provide a range of legal services needed to purchase, develop, finance, lease, and sell commercial properties. We are widely experienced in navigating today’s challenging development climate, from land acquisition through entitlements, leasing, development, and disposition.

We advise our real estate clients regarding acquisition contract negotiations and detailed due diligence review. As a transaction proceeds, our team can take the lead in negotiating sophisticated financing arrangements with institutional lenders, joint venture partners, private equity investors, and equity partners. During the design phase, we negotiate consulting agreements, covenants, easements, and development agreements. For project lease-up, our expertise in commercial retail and ground leasing provides owners with needed protections and detailed documentation. We can prepare the construction and construction management agreements required for vertical development and property management agreements for project operations.

The firm’s areas of practice in financial, business, and real estate transactions include the following:

  • Real estate acquisition and structuring of investment entities.
  • Real estate leasing representation of landlords and tenants, including complex regional shopping center leasing with national big box retailers, supermarkets, department stores, drug store chains, office supply stores, banks, restaurants, merchandise retailers, and office space tenants.
  • Office lease preparation and negotiation.
  • Conventional and vertical real estate development projects, including multi-use projects, office and hotel complexes, shopping centers, residential projects, marinas and celebration venues.
  • Loan transactions, including construction, mezzanine, and permanent financing.
  • Closing representation of sellers and purchasers in complex real estate transactions.
  • Agreements concerning shopping centers, industrial parks, mixed use developments, and residential projects, including ground leases, reciprocal easement agreements, covenants, and cost sharing mechanisms.
  • Business entity formation and consultation with tax advisors, including preparation of organizational documents for limited liability companies, corporations, and partnerships.
  • Joint venture agreements and private equity investments through private offering memoranda.
  • Employment, non-compete, brokerage, and consulting agreements.

Real Estate Sales, Acquisition, and Development

  • Commercial and residential project development and redevelopment
  • Due diligence review for real estate and business acquisition
  • Site development, including joint venture agreements, development agreements, ground leases, and easements
  • Contract documentation for professional services, including contracts for engineering, environmental studies, construction, property management, brokerage, development, and architecture
  • Real estate closing consultation and financing documentation for sellers and purchasers

Leasing

  • Transactions for landlords, tenants and property managers
  • Retail leasing, including big box, anchor, in-line, and pad site tenants
  • Office building leasing and management
  • Industrial leasing

Business Transactions

  • Business structure and entity formation
  • Contract and lease negotiation
  • Business and real estate financing
  • Closing representation
  • Asset sales and purchases

Financing

  • Acquisition, construction, permanent, mezzanine, and private equity financing consultation
  • Workouts and debt restructuring
  • Documentation for institutional loans and private investors
  • Seller take-back financing

Entity Formation  & Business Planning

  • Entity choice, business structure, and entity formation
  • Organizational documents for corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies
  • Business dispute resolution
  • Stock, asset, and business transfers

To discuss your immediate or long-term needs and legal options, contact us.

Attorneys Focusing on this Practice Area

Relevant Cases

108 Severn Avenue

$2,000,000 sale of office building located at 108 Severn Avenue, Annapolis, MD.

Pastore’s Plaza

$3,000,000.00 Sale of Pastore’s Plaza, Pasadena, MD.

148 Unit Victoria Park Apartments

Sale of The Manor at Victoria Park 148 unit apartments, Temple Hills, MD, representing the Parks Companies.

7671 Quarterfield Road

$15,500,000 sale of office building located at 7671 Quarterfield Road, Glen Burnie, MD, representing seller entity including Reliable Contracting Company, Inc.

In re: Chesapeake Row Homes, LLC and related entities

Debtors’ counsel for nine real estate ventures; negotiated successful settlement that resulted in a dismissal of Chapter 11 proceedings.

In re: Dorsey Builders, Inc.

Debtors’ counsel for real estate developer resulting in confirmed Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.

Swinson v. Lords Landing Village Condominium, 360 Md. 462 (2000)

Action by condominium against unit purchaser for unpaid special assessment for repairs to building pursuant to a housing code violation.  Condominium not required under statute to provide notice to buyer of housing code violation. Learn more by clicking here.

In re: Lake Marlton Limited Partnership 

Counsel to debtor in Chapter 11 of 2,500 lot residential housing development. Debtor’s plan was approved.

In re: Baltimore & Charles Associates, LLC

Debtor’s counsel in mixed use office, retail and hotel building owner liquidation in Chapter 11 in Maryland. Building was converted into condominiums and sold in three distinct use pieces to different buyers per confirmed plan.

In re: Fairfax Crossing LLC and Fairfax Crossing II LLC

Debtors’ counsel in Chapter 11 bankruptcy case for commercial and residential real estate development in the Northern District of West Virginia. Case resulted in successful reorganization pursuant to a confirmed plan.