With a recent Wall Street Journal report estimating that more than 20% of small businesses will be shuttering throughout this pandemic,...

Part 9: A tenant’s first task in planning the build out of its premises is identifying its team.  This team can consist of one or a...

The landlord and tenant relationship should be based on the idea that both parties want to profit and succeed. In fact, the California...

Part 8: Building Out the Tenant’s Space. Though it is not uncommon to have “turn-key” situations when leasing commercial space (i.e.,...

Part 7:  Additional Rent – Common Area Maintenance Costs. Common Area Maintenance costs (generally known as “CAM”), should be one of the...

Larger retail projects are developed with anchor tenants or big boxes in mind.  Assume for the moment that you have plans for a grocery...

Part 6:  Additional Rent – Insurance. Insurance is one of the three major categories of Additional Rent in commercial leases which are...

During my career as a commercial real estate attorney, I have been amazed at the changes that have happened in the shopping center...

Part 5:  Additional Rent – Taxes. Substantially all the amounts that make up “Additional Rent” fall into three major categories: Taxes,...

Many people I know dream of owning that waterfront property that benefits from a beautiful sunset over the ocean, lake or river.  In...

Part 4:  Additional Rent. Additional Rent is a collection of all the various costs of operating a building and its surrounding property...

Clients always hope that the attorney will document the deal perfectly and provide full and absolute protection.  Unfortunately, clients...

For someone excited about opening a new business, he or she may want to stop and consider the hidden costs of leasing that do not appear...

Part III: The Letter of Intent. A letter of intent (“LOI”) is generally considered a nonbinding acknowledgement between the parties that...

Part II: It Starts With A Good Team: Do’s and Don’ts of Picking Brokers and Attorneys. If you need new space for your business and know...

Part I: The Premise: Commercial Tenants Do Not Negotiate Their Best Deal. After over 30 years of negotiating leases representing both...

Disability access is an issue that challenges many small businesses, especially when aggressive lawyers have developed practices around...