Commercial

  • July 11, 2024

    2nd Circ. Backs Disbarred Atty's Prison Term For Fraud Plea

    A disbarred California attorney can't reverse a Manhattan federal court's 5½-year prison sentence and $5.5 million restitution order that followed his guilty plea to wire fraud for a real estate and venture fraud scheme, the Second Circuit ruled Thursday.

  • July 11, 2024

    All Grand Jury Witnesses Get Civil Immunity, Colo. Panel Says

    A Colorado state appeals court held for the first time Thursday that all types of grand jury witnesses have absolute immunity for their testimony, though they don't have sweeping protection for statements made before the proceedings start. 

  • July 11, 2024

    Ross Steps Down At Related Cos. To Run Florida-Based Firm

    Stephen M. Ross, a giant in the real estate development world, is stepping away from his leadership role as chairman of Related Cos., which he founded in 1972, to focus on the South Florida market as the head of a new firm.

  • July 11, 2024

    Pa. Condo Owner Group Takes Inner-Tower Conflict To Court

    The residents association of a downtown Pittsburgh condo building sued the building's commercial association in state court, alleging they have been improperly denied access to commercial sections of the building needed to complete HVAC repair work.

  • July 11, 2024

    CLO Holder Can't Duck Portfolio Manager's Feud Just Yet

    A New York federal court has refused to finalize a February decision dismissing all claims against an investment scheme created to hold collateralized loan obligations whose liquidation is at the center of a sprawling dispute.

  • July 11, 2024

    'Bridgegate' Defense Offers Road Map For NJ RICO Case

    Counsel for the powerful New Jersey mogul and Democratic operatives facing explosive racketeering charges are likely to justify their actions as just business, experts told Law360, describing defense tactics similar to the ones that absolved defendants in "Bridgegate," New Jersey's most notorious politics-fueled crime in recent history.

  • July 11, 2024

    Golf Club Investment Co. Buys Up NJ Golf Club And Mansion

    Golf club-focused investment company Concert Golf Partners purchased a private 222-acre golf club and mansion located in Princeton, New Jersey, near Princeton University, the Florida-based company announced.

  • July 11, 2024

    Bilzin Sumberg Advises $70M Refi On Luxury Miami Office

    Miami-based developer CMC Group has taken out a $70 million loan to refinance its 4000 Ponce nine-story, Class A office and retail building in a transaction advised by Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP.

  • July 10, 2024

    Washington Justices To Tackle CARES Act Eviction Split

    Washington's Supreme Court has agreed to review whether the CARES Act eviction notice only applies to tenants who are late on rent, and not to violent tenants targeted by landlords for quick removal.

  • July 10, 2024

    NJ Panel Says Tax Amendment Challenge Had No Real Claim

    A New Jersey state appeals court on Wednesday tossed a challenge to an amendment blocking certain appeals from being litigated in the state's tax court, reasoning that parties can still fight tax matters in trial court.

  • July 10, 2024

    Co. Wants 'Duplicative' $18.8M Theft Coverage Suit Tossed

    A Georgia shopping center owner involved in coverage disputes with its insurer after suffering an $18.8 million theft and vandalism loss asked a Georgia federal court to dismiss or stay its insurer's case until its own prior Texas state loss coverage action against the carrier is decided.

  • July 10, 2024

    Federal Claims Tossed In Colo. Short-Term Rental Row

    A Colorado federal judge partially dismissed and remanded a suit filed by a nonprofit representing vacation rental owners who claim that a resort town's laws governing short-term rental licenses are overly restrictive.

  • July 10, 2024

    Developers Nab Va. Warehouse Financing, Break Ground

    Real estate investment firm Turnbridge Equities announced that it and development partner Manekin LLC have secured funding for the construction of a logistics center in Hampton, Virginia under the guidance of McDermott Will & Emergy LLP, and have broken ground on the project. 

  • July 10, 2024

    Move-Ins Up, Vacancies Down For South Florida, JLL Says

    JLL said in a set of updates released Wednesday on South Florida's office market that Miami-Dade and Fort Lauderdale saw positive net absorption and falling vacancies, while exclusive Palm Beach island boasted a vacancy rate of just 4.2% in the second quarter.

  • July 10, 2024

    McDermott-Led H.I.G. Secures $1.3B For 3rd Real Estate Fund

    Private equity shop H.I.G. Capital, advised by McDermott Will & Emery LLP, on Wednesday announced that it closed its third European real estate-focused fund after raising roughly $1.3 billion of capital commitments.

  • July 10, 2024

    Ohio Board Boosts Value Of Wendy's Property To $2.1M

    An Ohio city and school board proved that a property housing a newly constructed Wendy's restaurant was undervalued based on comparable properties in the area and that its value should be increased to $2.1 million, the state's Board of Tax Appeals ruled.

  • July 10, 2024

    Mass. Justices Say Intent Not Factor In Boston Appeal Bonds

    Boston's zoning law does not require that courts make a finding of bad faith before ordering a challenger to post a bond, Massachusetts' highest court concluded on Wednesday in a case involving the appeal of the issuance of a cannabis dispensary permit.

  • July 10, 2024

    The Real Estate Bankruptcies Making Headlines This Year

    The real estate industry is no stranger to distress, but recent market headwinds have made it even harder for certain companies to chart the course to calmer seas. Catch up on the major real estate bankruptcy developments that have made headlines so far this year.

  • July 10, 2024

    Tarter Krinsky Advises $178M NYC Office Tower Buy

    Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP guided Sovereign Partners' $178 million purchase of a 50-story office building at 780 Third Ave. in Manhattan.

  • July 10, 2024

    Pa. Developer's Heirs, Foundation Can't Appeal Fee Denial

    The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania won't take up a fee dispute stemming from a disagreement over the control of a foundation established by Pittsburgh developer Jack Buncher.

  • July 10, 2024

    Sheppard Mullin Adds Winston & Strawn Real Estate Duo

    Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP has strengthened its real estate, energy, land use and environmental practice with two partners in Houston who joined from Winston & Strawn LLP.

  • July 10, 2024

    5 Airport Building Projects That Scored Federal Grants

    Five U.S. airports are receiving federal funding for building projects as airports look to upgrade their terminals and baggage systems.

  • July 09, 2024

    NY Judge In Trump Case OKs Narrow Subpoena For Atty

    An attorney who told reporters he held an impromptu hallway conversation with a New York state judge in the lead-up to February's $464.6 million civil fraud judgment against Donald Trump must turn over any communications he had with the court regarding the underlying action, according to a Tuesday ruling.

  • July 09, 2024

    Indicted Ex-Conn. Official Drops Greece Vacation Plan

    Ex-Connecticut budget official Konstantinos "Kosta" Diamantis on Tuesday dropped his request for a federal judge's permission to travel to Greece while he is under indictment, withdrawing his motion one day after prosecutors objected.

  • July 09, 2024

    Philly EB-5 Investors Can Seek Visa Outside Court, Panel Says

    The D.C. Circuit on Tuesday found three Chinese EB-5 investors who sought to fast-track a visa by putting their money into a Philadelphia transit project can still do so without litigation in a decision backing a trial court ruling dismissing their case.

Expert Analysis

  • Criminal Enforcement Considerations For Gov't Contractors

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    Government contractors increasingly exposed to criminal liability risks should establish programs that enable detection and remediation of employee misconduct, consider voluntary disclosure, and be aware of the potentially disastrous consequences of failing to make a mandatory disclosure where the government concludes it was required, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • Solving Puzzles Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Tackling daily puzzles — like Wordle, KenKen and Connections — has bolstered my intellectual property litigation practice by helping me to exercise different mental skills, acknowledge minor but important details, and build and reinforce good habits, says Roy Wepner at Kaplan Breyer.

  • Boxing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Boxing has influenced my legal work by enabling me to confidently hone the skills I've learned from the sport, like the ability to remain calm under pressure, evaluate an opponent's weaknesses and recognize when to seize an important opportunity, says Kirsten Soto at Clyde & Co.

  • The Often Overlooked NY Foreclosure Notice Requirements

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    As multifamily real estate defaults mount, New York foreclosing parties should be aware of pitfalls and perils that can await the litigant who is not prepared to ensure adherence with tenant notice requirements under the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law, say Christopher Gorman and John Muldoon at Rosenberg & Estis.

  • A Case Study For Calif. Cities In Water Utility Takeovers

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    With growing water scarcity and drier weather looming, some local governments in California have sought to acquire investor-owned water utilities by eminent domain — but the 2016 case of Claremont v. Golden State Water is a reminder that such municipalization attempts must meet certain statutory requirements, say attorneys at Nossaman.

  • Skiing And Surfing Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I’ve learned while riding waves in the ocean and slopes in the mountains have translated to my legal career — developing strong mentor relationships, remaining calm in difficult situations, and being prepared and able to move to a backup plan when needed, says Brian Claassen at Knobbe Martens.

  • Lower Courts May Finally Be Getting The Memo After Ciminelli

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    A year after the U.S. Supreme Court again limited prosecutors' overbroad theories of fraud in Ciminelli v. U.S., early returns suggest that the message has at least partially landed with the lower courts, spotlighting lessons for defense counsel moving forward, says Kenneth Notter at MoloLamken.

  • A Framework For Investigating Commercial Loan Fraud

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    As commercial loan transactions are increasingly subject to sophisticated fraud schemes, lenders must adopt dynamic strategies to detect, investigate and mitigate these schemes, say attorneys at Baker Donelson.

  • Glassblowing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    I never expected that glassblowing would strongly influence my work as an attorney, but it has taught me the importance of building a solid foundation for your work, learning from others and committing to a lifetime of practice, says Margaret House at Kalijarvi Chuzi.

  • Yellow Corp. Lease Assumption Shows Landlord Protections

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    Yellow Corp.’s recent filing of a motion to assume unexpired leases is a helpful reminder to practitioners to maintain a long-term approach about what is most beneficial for an estate and to not let a debtor's short-term cash position dictate business decisions, says Kyle Arendsen at Squire Patton.

  • How A Bumblebee Got Under Calif. Wildlife Regulator's Bonnet

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    A California bumblebee's listing as an endangered species could lead to a regulatory quagmire as California Department of Fish and Wildlife permits now routinely include survey requirements for the bee, but the regulator has yet to determine what the species needs for conservation, says David Smith at Manatt.

  • The Clock Is Ticking For Fla. Construction Defect Claims

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    Ahead of the fast-approaching July 1 deadline for filing construction defect claims in Florida, Sean Ravenel at Foran Glennon discusses how the state's new statute of repose has changed the timeline, and highlights several related issues that property owners should be aware of.

  • Playing Chess Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    There are many ways that chess skills translate directly into lawyer skills, but for me, the bigger career lessons go beyond the direct parallels — playing chess has shown me the value of seeing gradual improvement in and focusing deep concentration on a nonwork endeavor, says attorney Steven Fink.