Do you need a commercial real estate lawyer for your lease transaction?
Choosing your commercial real estate lawyer before the transaction is the key to success.
Choosing the right commercial real estate lawyer for your transaction involves a lot of factors. A wise client will ask about the lawyer’s commercial real estate transaction experience and the costs of the lawyer’s services. This should be done BEFORE the commercial real estate lease contract has been signed. The time to negotiate and ask questions about the commercial lease terms and agreement is before you sign!
Commercial Real Estate Transaction Experience
The commercial real estate lawyer should have lots of experience and focus on your particular business space, so he or she can advocate for you and protect your interests. The lawyer needs to be familiar with the type of property (the “asset”) class and the client base. A retail client will have different needs than someone purchasing raw land or leasing an office or industrial space.
Ask what kind of experience the attorney has in reviewing and drafting documentation, like commercial office leases or triple net leases. Find out what percentage of their practice is commercial real estate leasing. You don’t want someone who lists this as one bullet point among many- commercial real estate is complex and evolving, and a general practice law firm won’t have the experience necessary to negotiate in your best interest.
How many commercial real estate leases has the attorney negotiated? You want someone with enough experience to make sure you’re not leaving anything on the table at negotiation, and who can give you an unbiased view of the deal. The deal must be evaluated for risk appetite from a financial and legal perspective.
Commercial Real Estate Lawyer Costs
Contact your commercial real estate lawyer BEFORE you sign!!
Don’t try to save money by using a family or friend’s lawyer or Google to help you negotiate your lease. The intricacies of commercial real estate leasing and negotiations are not taught in law school. Only a commercial real estate lawyer, practice and experience, will be advocate for your interests. A web search will not substitute for a lack of knowledge. Commercial real estate is a complex and expensive transaction, and it’s worth it to invest in a knowledgeable lawyer.
Hopefully, the commercial lease transaction goes smoothly. The real estate lawyer will be working behind the scenes with Landlord’s representatives and brokers to secure your legal assets and your peace of mind. A real estate broker can’t provide legal advice, and the more complex the deal, the more legal items there will be. The broker is only paid if the transaction is completed, but the commercial real estate lawyer will advocate for your interests first.
Your Commercial Lease Transaction Is Unique
The commercial lease agreement is Landlord’s first offer, not an agreement uniquely tailored to your specific business. The commercial lease terms need to reflect the exact agreement between the Landlord and the Tenant. A good commercial real estate lawyer will take you through the lease document and explain the risk and reward of the negotiated lease agreement to you.
