Commercial
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June 24, 2024
Ill. Landowners Challenge FERC Moves On $7B Power Line
Illinois residents, farmers and landowners launched a fresh challenge to the $7 billion Grain Belt Express high-voltage power line, telling the D.C. Circuit that when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved an amended negotiated rate authority, it ignored clean energy giant Invenergy's unsanctioned purchase of the project in 2020.
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June 24, 2024
La. To Provide Sales Tax Rebates For Data Center Purchases
Louisiana will provide state and local sales and use tax rebates for taxes paid on the lease or purchase of eligible data center equipment and the development, acquisition or repair of qualified data centers under a bill signed by the governor.
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June 24, 2024
Ex-Chicago Alderman Gets Two Years For Boosting Law Firm
An Illinois federal judge on Monday sentenced former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke to two years in prison and fined him $2 million for using his official position to steer tax business to his personal law firm, closing what prosecutors called "another sordid chapter" in the city's history of public corruption.
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June 24, 2024
IRS Finalizes Limits To Partnership Conservation Easements
The Internal Revenue Service finalized rules Monday that curb the conservation easement tax deduction claimed by certain partnerships, with some changes to last year's proposed version, such as limiting the opportunity for entities to adjust their tax returns to avoid the new restrictions.
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June 24, 2024
Real Estate Co. Fights Back Against $315M Loan Default Suit
An RXR entity mostly denied loan default claims lodged in New York federal court by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., which sued to foreclose on a midtown Manhattan building after the maturity date on a $315 million loan passed with the debt unpaid.
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June 24, 2024
NYC Real Estate Week In Review
DGW Kramer and Chaves Perlowitz were among the law firms that guided the largest New York City real estate deals that hit public records last week, a busy period that saw eight transactions north of $20 million become public.
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June 24, 2024
Red Roof Ignored Years Of Trafficking, Victim Tells Ga. Jurors
The corporate owners of two metro Atlanta Red Roof Inn locations knew about and ignored trafficking at the hotels, a woman who said she had been trafficked at the two hotels and others in the surrounding area for six years told Georgia federal jurors Monday.
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June 24, 2024
Morris Manning Elevates Tech Team Leader To Co-Chair
Morris Manning & Martin LLP has appointed its corporate technology practice founder and leader as the firm's co-chairman, turning to a longtime Atlanta-based partner who has led the practice in closing more than 950 venture capital, growth equity and merger and acquisition deals in the past three years, the firm announced Monday.
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June 24, 2024
JV's Self-Storage Portfolio Nets $185M Loan
Global alternative investment firm Värde Partners provided $185 million in refinancing for a joint venture's portfolio that comprises 20 Class A self-storage facilities, the firm said on Monday.
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June 24, 2024
NM Sued Over Sustainable Building Credit Award Process
A New Mexico apartment complex alleges that the state violated its due process rights after it was denied sustainable building tax credits for most of its units, according to a complaint filed in federal court.
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June 21, 2024
Financial Advice Guru Says Timeshare Suit Must Be Arbitrated
A famous financial advice guru and his company have urged a Washington federal court to pause a proposed timeshare exit fraud class action and send it into arbitration, arguing that several of the named plaintiffs signed related agreements that include arbitration clauses.
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June 21, 2024
Feds, Enviros Spar Over Power Line Crossing Through Refuge
The federal government and sparring environmental groups both called on a Wisconsin federal court to grant them judgment in litigation seeking to upend a land exchange that would allow a high-voltage transmission line to cross part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
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June 21, 2024
Property Plays: The Mark Hotel, Oak Row, Bain Capital
Property Plays is a weekly roundup of the latest loans, leases, sales and projects around the country. Send your tips — all confidential — to realestate@law360.com.
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June 21, 2024
Texas Plans $185M Alamo Visitor Center Project
Texas will spend an estimated $185 million to build the Alamo Visitor Center and Museum, according to the official website of the state's Department of Licensing and Regulation.
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June 21, 2024
Weil Advises Carlyle's $160M NYC UN Plaza Condo Financing
Private equity firm Carlyle Group has amended a $160 million mortgage through asset management company AllianceBernstein for an office condominium building in New York City's United Nations Plaza, with help from Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP, according to property records.
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June 21, 2024
GSA To Invest $80M In Efficiency Tech For Federal Buildings
The General Services Administration plans to spend $80 million bringing new sensors and meters into federal buildings to monitor energy efficiency and air quality, a move the agency says will help it reduce gas emissions.
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June 21, 2024
Apple Hospitality REIT Snags Wisconsin Hotel For $79.5M
Apple Hospitality REIT has picked up a Madison, Wisconsin, hotel for $79.5 million, the Virginia-based real estate investment trust announced Friday.
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June 21, 2024
Texas OKs $1.5B For 7 New Psychiatric Hospital Projects
The Lone Star State is planning seven psychiatric hospital projects that will be funded by $1.5 billion authorized by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and state lawmakers in 2023.
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June 21, 2024
Scarinci Hollenbeck Adds 6 Real Estate Attys In NJ
Corporate and commercial law firm Scarinci Hollenbeck LLC has hired six real estate attorneys for its New Jersey offices in Little Falls and Red Bank, the firm said Thursday.
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June 21, 2024
Settlement Ends Amazon Warehouse Construction Fight
A settlement has resolved a dispute between an electric subcontractor and a construction company over the delayed building of an Amazon warehouse in south Georgia, according to a joint motion to dismiss filed Thursday in federal court.
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June 20, 2024
Trump Calls For Engoron's Recusal In Civil Fraud Case
Former President Donald Trump and other defendants fighting a $465 million civil fraud judgment called on New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron to recuse himself Thursday in light of a once-suspended real estate attorney's recent judicial misconduct claims, which have since sparked a judicial investigation.
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June 20, 2024
Ford Battery Factory Challenge Unplugged By Mich. Panel
Michigan appellate judges affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking to block Ford Motor Co.'s plans to build an electric vehicle battery plant in the state, finding the factory's opponents weren't entitled to a citywide vote on the rezoning of the plant site.
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June 20, 2024
Ore. Water Treatment Plant Not On Farmland, Tax Court Says
Portions of farmland used for a wastewater treatment facility were correctly denied a special farm-use assessment rate, the Oregon Tax Court said, allowing the special rate for other contested areas of the property.
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June 20, 2024
Meet The Bridgegate Atty For NJ Power Broker In RICO Case
Law360 Pulse caught up with Michael Critchley Sr., counsel for recently indicted New Jersey Democratic power broker George E. Norcross III, and lawyers who know him about his decadeslong track record of successful legal defenses in high-profile cases and how he’s preparing for his latest challenge.
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June 20, 2024
Cadwalader Leads Loan Deals For Luxury Manhattan Hotel
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP guided a $300 million refinancing transaction and a $110 million leasehold mortgage deal for The Mark Hotel in New York, according to official property records released June 20.
Expert Analysis
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Murdaugh Trials Offer Law Firms Fraud Prevention Reminders
As the fraud case against Alex Murdaugh continues to play out, the evidence and narrative presented at his murder trial earlier this year may provide lessons for law firms on implementing robust internal controls that can detect and prevent similar kinds of fraud, say Travis Casner and Helga Zauner at Weaver and Tidwell.
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For NY Wind And Solar Projects, Some Tax Assessment Clarity
Recent legislation, which moots a challenge to New York’s discounted cash flow method for assessing solar and wind project real property taxes, lifts a cloud of uncertainty and brings new considerations for developers, investors and lenders, say attorneys at Hodgson Russ.
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How Electric Vehicles Will Affect Land Use And Development
The increasing use of electric vehicles will bring significant issues for cities and real estate developers to consider, as cities will require substantially more infrastructure to meet electric vehicles' charging needs, says John Lushis at Norris McLaughlin.
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2nd Circ. Reinsurance Ruling Misconstrues English Law
The Second Circuit's finding in Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania v. Equitas Insurance, that London-based reinsurer Equitas owed coverage for losses outside the policy period, stems from that court's misinterpretation of English law on reinsurance policy construction, says Christopher Foster at Holman Fenwick.
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Key Limited Partnership Provisions During Market Downturns
With a recession potentially on the horizon, fund managers should carefully examine their funds' limited partnership agreements for items that may be affected by economic downturns, and assess whether modifications may be appropriate, says Matthew Posthuma at Ropes & Gray.
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Firm Tips For Helping New Lawyers Succeed Post-Pandemic
Ten steps can help firms significantly enhance the experience of attorneys who started their careers in the coronavirus pandemic era, including facilitating opportunities for cross-firm connection, which can ultimately help build momentum for business development, says Lana Manganiello at Equinox Strategy Partners.
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Fla. Foreign Real Estate Law Brings Broad Investment Risks
Last month, Florida became the latest state to enact legislation prohibiting Chinese investors from acquiring certain interests in real property, introducing significant legal uncertainty and consequences for real estate stakeholders and the private equity industry, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.
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Prepping Your Business Ahead Of Affirmative Action Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court's upcoming ruling on whether race should play a role in college admissions could potentially end affirmative action, and companies will need a considered approach to these circumstances that protects their brand power and future profits, and be prepared to answer tough questions, say Nadine Blackburn at United Minds and Eric Blankenbaker at Weber Shandwick.
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How REITs Can Prep For SEC's Repurchase Disclosure Rules
With real estate investment trusts' share repurchase activity on the rise, REITs should beware the potential enforcement risks that may arise from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's new rules requiring additional disclosures regarding such repurchases, says Zach Swartz at Vinson & Elkins.
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Tackling Judge-Shopping Concerns While Honoring Localism
As the debate continues over judge-shopping and case assignments in federal court, policymakers should look to a hybrid model that preserves the benefits of localism for those cases that warrant it, while preventing the appearance of judge-shopping for cases of a more national or widespread character, says Joshua Sohn at the U.S. Department of Justice.
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How Attorneys Can Help Combat Anti-Asian Hate
Amid an exponential increase in violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, unique obstacles stand in the way of accountability and justice — but lawyers can effect powerful change by raising awareness, offering legal representation, advocating for victims’ rights and more, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.
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Congress Needs To Enact A Federal Anti-SLAPP Statute
Although many states have passed statutes meant to prevent individuals or entities from filing strategic lawsuits against public participation, other states have not, so it's time for Congress to enact a federal statute to ensure that free speech and petitioning rights are uniformly protected nationwide in federal court, say attorneys at Skadden.
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As Sackett Trims Feds' Wetlands Role, States May Step Up
The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Sackett v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency extinguishes federal authority over many currently regulated wetlands — meaning that federal permits will no longer be required to discharge pollutants in affected areas, but also that state regulators may take a more active role, say attorneys at Kelley Drye.