what does a commercial leasing lawyer do

by Mr. Ian Hagenes 7 min read

Commercial lease lawyers serve as advisors to landlords and tenants who negotiate commercial lease agreements. They specialize in drafting, analyzing, redlining, and understanding these agreements with a high level of skill.

Full Answer

What does a commercial lawyer do?

Commercial lawyers are those that deal with commercial and business legal matters. They assist heavily with transactions, documentation and paperwork, but they may also help in other company issues that require motions, actions and issues with the courts.

What is a commercial lease and how does it work?

What Is a Commercial Lease? A commercial lease agreement is a contract for a business to rent an office space or other business property from a landlord. The term 'commercial' simply means that the lease is for business activities rather than housing.

What are the rights of a commercial lease seeker?

A residential lessee might be able to rely on local housing laws and consumer protections to help protect tenants' rights. On the other hand, a commercial lessee generally has no rights other than what is explicitly stated in the lease agreement. Some states do have a limited list of landlord disclosures or other required lease terms.

Who is responsible for cleaning services in a commercial lease?

In a commercial lease, the landlord is generally responsible for routine maintenance such as HVAC repairs or outside landscaping. However, the lease may place all or part of this responsibility on the tenant. One important thing to consider is cleaning services.

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What are the defenses against eviction?

In the event of an eviction, a commercial tenant should also review the laws of their jurisdiction and their lease agreement to find out whether there are any defenses that they might be able to raise. Some standard defenses that commercial tenants may be able to raise against an eviction include: 1 Lack of proper notice; 2 Retaliatory eviction; 3 Landlord breach; 4 Improper eviction; and/or 5 Landlord discrimination.

Why do commercial leases have less rights than residential leases?

Thus, commercial leases offer a lot more flexibility and opportunities for negotiations. For example, conditions, such as rent payment amounts, security deposit amounts, ...

What is a covenant to pay rent?

A covenant to pay rent: A commercial lease should state how much rent is, when the rent is due, and whether the business tenant will be subject to rent increases. In the event there are rent increases, the tenant may want to negotiate a limit on the percentage of them. The duration of the lease: The duration of the lease, or the lease term, ...

What is commercial lease?

A commercial lease is a type of contract that is used for when a commercial tenant rents space from a landlord. Similar to all leases, a commercial lease gives a commercial tenant the right to occupy the space and conduct business activities for a certain amount of time in exchange for making monthly rent payments to the landlord. The lease also serves as a guide for both parties regarding their legal rights and responsibilities.

What is a non-compete clause?

Non-compete clauses: Such clauses forbid a commercial landlord from renting space either within the same building or near the rental property to potential competitors of the business.

What is the option to sublet in a commercial lease?

This optional term is usually referred to as “assigning the commercial lease.”.

How long does a commercial lease last?

For example, residential leases are usually created for one-year or less, whereas commercial leases are typically entered into for several years. This is so that the business does not have to interrupt its operations and move to a new location every year.

What is a Commercial Lease?

A commercial lease pertains to a lease or a contract on the rental and use of a building in the commercial sense. Say you have a building that you want to rent to use for your business. This lease will outline what you can do in the space, what is expected of you, rent, rent due dates and more.

What Does a Commercial Lease Lawyer Do?

Commercial lease lawyers help to create the leases that are going to be used to bind a tenant to a building. They help to write the leases, make them legal and they can also help handle times when those leases are broken and when lawsuits must be started.

What to do if Your Commercial Lease is Broken?

If you are a lease holder and you feel that your lease was broken or that your landlord went against the lease that you originally signed, you do need to take the time to call them out and to get your lawyer to take up the case.

What does a lawyer do for a business?

These regulations apply to the company even if the owner is not aware of altered previous stipulations. This means the lawyer is obligated to keep the business from violating various laws and rules. He or she may also need to edit commercial reports, contact other professionals and communicate with various officials. Local laws must be extensively understood to prevent conflicts and legal complications from becomes a problem.

Why is it important to hire a commercial lawyer?

It is important to obtain these persons as soon as possible to ensure that many transactions are protected and documentation is valid and legitimate. With the use of one of these individuals, it may be possible to prevent disaster and avoid litigation.

What are the responsibilities of a commercial lawyer?

Duties and Responsibilities of a Commercial Lawyer. Lawyers that have specialized in business law have responsibilities to commercial endeavors. This means that they are obligated to assisting with business transactions and ensuring that deals and arrangements are valid and legal. Many of these duties revolve around contract drafting ...

What is a commercial lawyer?

Commercial lawyers are those that deal with commercial and business legal matters. They assist heavily with transactions, documentation and paperwork, but they may also help in other company issues that require motions, actions and issues with the courts. When hiring a commercial lawyer, the person usually owns a business or is a manager of one.

First, what is a commercial leasing lawyer?

It’s a big step to enter into a commercial lease, and one which hundreds of Australian businesses take every day. Whether you’re opening a café, a retail shop, an office, a shopping precinct or industrial premises, you’ll need to do so under the terms of a commercial lease.

What services do commercial leasing lawyers provide?

Commercial leasing lawyers provide a specialised range of essential services for both landlords and tenants entering into a commercial lease agreement.

How much do commercial leasing lawyers cost?

The cost will vary depending on the experience and expertise of your chosen lawyer, so it’s wise to contact your lawyer to determine the likely cost. Keep in mind however, that good lawyers pay for themselves, in terms of maximising your investment and saving you money over the years.

Is Commercial Real Estate Law Different from Residential Real Estate Law?

Commercial and residential real estate attorneys handle similar cases, working on real estate transactions between buyers and sellers, reviewing contracts, handling title issues and liens, and negotiating deals with lenders.

What Does a Commercial Real Estate Lawyer Do?

Commercial real estate lawyers work on a variety of cases, all intended to help protect the rights of their clients, as they pertain to commercial properties, commercial lease disputes, title insurance, estate planning and more. The goals are usually the same.

How to Hire a Commercial Real Estate Attorney

To hire a commercial real estate attorney, you first need to know what type of case you want that attorney to work on.

How to Become a Commercial Real Estate Attorney

To become a commercial real estate attorney, you only need to be admitted to the bar as an attorney, Marzullo said, aside from a few states that might require additional specialization certificates.

What Does a Commercial Real Estate Lawyer Do? FAQs

The salary for a commercial real estate attorney varies widely, depending on the type of cases you take, your location, the firm you work for, and the number of years of experience. However, the national average in the United States is $133,045 per year.

Find a Commercial Real Estate Lawyer to Suit Your Specific Needs

If you’re buying or selling commercial property, then you should begin your search for a commercial real estate lawyer right away. Ensure that you’re getting the best possible deal and that all of your bases are covered.

What is a lawyer in real estate?

A lawyer in this field oversees your purchasing or leasing agreements, closing information, mortgage information, and even zoning ordinances. They are with you from start to finish in the real estate process, guiding you through a complicated legal field.

What does it mean to hire a commercial real estate lawyer?

Hiring a commercial real estate lawyer, in the beginning, means they’ll be aware of that zoning law and will help you find a different plot of land or an alternative to work with the zoning laws.

Is it good to have a lawyer in a real estate negotiation?

Even the simplest negotiations can be stressful and emotionally taxing but getting emotional during a negotiation isn’t a good thing. Having your commercial real estate lawyer with you means you have someone who isn’t emotionally attached to your business and can navigate the negotiations without emotions getting in the way; this will help you get the best possible resolution to your negotiations .

Do you need a lawyer to buy commercial real estate?

The laws for commercial real estate are usually pretty complex, and they tend to vary from area to area. They can even vary in the same city in some cases. If you’re seeking to purchase or lease commercial real estate, calling a lawyer beforehand can make everything go much smoother for you, and you’ll have access to someone who can answer your questions quickly.

Is it easy to buy commercial property?

Buying commercial property is not a quick, straightforward thing. There are a lot of problems and challenges that can arise including leaseholds, corporate ownership, and environmental issues. None of these things are easy to resolve, so hiring a real estate lawyer, in the beginning, can make things less of a headache for you, because they’re trained to navigate these fields and deal with any other issues that arise during your real estate purchase.

Office Leases, Store Leases, and Other Commercial Leases

We represent business clients in reviewing, negotiating and drafting commercial leases, including office leases and store leases. We believe that our extensive experience in real estate lease and contract negotiating and drafting gives our clients a clear advantage in dealing with landlords and leasing agents for commercial properties.

Legal Fees for Reviewing, Negotiating and Drafting Commercial Leases

Our legal fees are eminently fair for the professional legal services we provide to our clients. Lease review and negotiation are usually provided on an hourly fee basis, although in some circumstances, a “flat fee” may be provided.

What happens if a tenant doesn't pay rent?

If the tenant does not pay rent or pays late, the landlord will generally be able to take collections action or begin eviction proceedings. Tenants should be aware that commercial evictions are often much faster and have fewer protections than residential leases. In addition, the landlord may have the right to change the locks prior to going to court if the tenant has not paid rent.

What are the different types of commercial leases?

What Are the Common Types of Commercial Leases? 1 Net lease – The tenant pays all or part of taxes, insurance, or maintenance costs that would otherwise be incurred by the landlord in addition to the stated rent. 2 Double net lease – The tenant pays taxes, insurance, and rent. 3 Triple net lease – The tenant pays taxes, insurance, maintenance, and rent. 4 Percentage lease – The rent is based on a specified percentage of the tenant's sales or profits. 5 Fully-serviced lease – The rent includes utilities and other services that the tenant would generally pay for separately (common in office buildings with multiple tenants).

What is the difference between commercial and residential leases?

On the other hand, a commercial lessee generally has no rights other than what is explicitly stated in the lease agreement .

What is commercial lease?

A commercial lease agreement is a contract for a business to rent an office space or other business property from a landlord. The term 'commercial' simply means that the lease is for business activities rather than housing. A commercial tenant can be anyone from a sole proprietor with a small, growing business to a major multinational corporation.

What is permitted use?

Permitted use – The lease is only for specified commercial activities. The tenant may not engage in other types of business activities without permission of the landlord. Exclusive use – The tenant gets the exclusive rights to perform certain activities within a larger property with many tenants.

What should a lease agreement state?

The lease agreement should state the type of lease and the basis for calculating rent. The above terms are standard arrangements but, like other parts of a commercial lease, are subject to negotiation.

What is arbitration clause in commercial lease?

Many commercial leases include an arbitration clause for resolving these types of disputes. An arbitration clause requires the parties to use and accept the decision of an arbitrator rather than filing court proceedings.

What is a commercial lease lawyer?

To even the playing field, tenants or landlords can hire a commercial lease lawyer. This is because commercial lease lawyers are responsible for representing your interests and outlining contracts that benefit either the property owner or the renter. PCL Lawyers in Melbourne is a great example of a reputable firm that handles commercial lease laws.

Are there different types of commercial leases?

Yes, there are different types of leases to consider: single net leases, double net leases, and triple net leases. When a tenant has a single net lease, they are required to pay for property taxes on top of the rent and utilities. While these aren’t typically common, it puts tenants at a higher risk.

What do you do if your commercial lease is broken?

When there’s a breach of lease, it’s important to consider the assistance of a lawyer. When there is a legal dispute, it’s best to have representation for either side of the fence. If you’re a commercial landlord, you will need help with terminating the agreement depending on whether there are sufficient grounds.

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