Commercial
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May 29, 2024
Grocery Exec Ends Claims Over $20M Meant For New Stores
With a trial set for August, an investor has settled a federal court lawsuit accusing the president of North Carolina-based grocery chain Earth Fare of boosting his own personal wealth with $20 million intended to develop new stores.
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May 28, 2024
Chancery Finds Ex-CEO Owed $79M For Share Lockup Losses
The former CEO of a 3D building imaging company is owed more than $79 million in damages in his share value suit against the company, but not the more than $141 million he sought, the Delaware Chancery Court ruled Tuesday.
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May 28, 2024
Seattle Landlord Affiliates Fight To Skip $6.8M Renovation Suit
Three entities tied to Martin Selig Real Estate have asked a Washington state court to drop them from a tenant's $6.8 million lawsuit alleging they are on the hook for a fourth affiliate's contractual obligation to shoulder contractor fees, arguing the plaintiff mischaracterized their corporate structure.
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May 28, 2024
Goldman Family Battles Over Evidence In Property Biz Suit
Relatives of Jane Goldman, an heiress of Sol Goldman's New York City property empire, argued that a contract she has said establishes her authority over the family's real estate business is of "dubious origin."
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May 28, 2024
Tribe Says Enbridge's Trespass Concern Wasted Court's Time
A Wisconsin tribe has told the Seventh Circuit that Enbridge Energy wasted the court's time raising concerns that an old tribal trespass ordinance could cost the company millions in fines, saying it has nothing to do with the tribe's attempts to stop the Line 5 pipeline.
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May 28, 2024
Apartment Co. Says Insurer Owes Millions For Hail Damage
The owners of an apartment building blamed an insurer for breaching its contract in Kansas federal court Tuesday, alleging the carrier failed to cover over $13 million in wind, hail and water damages and underestimated the loss despite clear evidence.
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May 28, 2024
Jones Day, King & Spalding Rep Blackstone, Bank's $1B Deal
Blackstone has bought a $1 billion senior mortgage loan portfolio from Deutsche Pfandbriefbank after the German bank revealed plans to offload it, with the all-cash transaction shaped by Jones Day and King & Spalding LLP.
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May 28, 2024
Simpson Thacher Hires US Treasury Alum From Blackstone
An experienced fund transactions attorney has moved from an in-house role at Blackstone to private practice at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, the firm said Tuesday.
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May 28, 2024
Texas Real Estate Investment Manager Closes $1.6B Fund
Pennybacker, an Austin, Texas-based investment manager, closed its latest fund for opportunistic investments in real estate at $1.6 billion, exceeding the vehicle's target, according to an announcement Tuesday.
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May 28, 2024
Colo. Creates Tax Credits For Agricultural Stewardship
Colorado farms and ranches that use certain agricultural stewardship practices will be eligible for tax credits of up to $300,000 under legislation signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis.
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May 24, 2024
Lender Says Ch. 11 Triggers Payment Obligation for NYC Lofts
A lender filed suit against Rudy Gabsi, CEO of Israeli investment firm Leny Group, alleging Gabsi is on the hook for $82 million after a borrower tied to the firm thwarted a foreclosure sale involving New York City properties by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections.
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May 24, 2024
NY AG Sues Over Illegal Long Island Wetland Construction
New York prosecutors on Friday sued to force a contractor to pay nearly $600,000 and restore a Long Island wetland area the company has been using as a storage site after illegally clearing vegetation and building a parking lot more than a decade ago.
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May 24, 2024
Cell Tower Operator's Trade Secret Suit Tossed For Now
A Pennsylvania federal judge has thrown out a cell tower operator's allegations that a rival used its confidential information on pricing from landlords and made misleading statements to buy out tower leases.
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May 24, 2024
DC Circ. Says Bainbridge Can't Have Argentina's Building
The D.C. Circuit on Friday denied an appeal from Bainbridge Fund Ltd. in a property dispute with Argentina, saying the company can't take possession of the property in an effort to satisfy a $95 million judgment over defaulted bonds.
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May 24, 2024
Healthcare REIT Nabs $800M Despite Tenant Turbulence
Medical Properties Trust Inc. announced Friday that the real estate investment trust has secured a £631 million ($804 million) financing from a group of investors led by real estate investment firm Song Capital, in a deal led by Goodwin Procter LLP and Slaughter and May.
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May 24, 2024
NYC Apartment Hotel May Qualify For Tax Break, Dept. Says
A planned 150-unit apartment hotel building in New York City catering to a nearby hospital's patients and staff and to university students could be eligible for an industrial and commercial abatement program, the city Department of Finance said in a letter ruling.
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May 23, 2024
Entrepreneur Ordered To Pay $15M For Unlicensed Pot Stores
A New York state court hit a cannabis seller with a $15 million judgment Thursday after he was found to be selling marijuana without a license at seven locations inside the state, according to an announcement by the state's attorney general.
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May 23, 2024
Fla. Broker Can't Collect Fees For $54M Real Estate Deal
A real estate broker isn't owed a 1% commission on a $53.65 million deal despite introducing the eventual buyer, as the broker was not involved in the final sale, a Florida appeals court ruled.
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May 23, 2024
99 Cents Only Gets OK To Sell Stores For $170M In Ch. 11
Discount retail chain 99 Cents Only on Thursday got the green light of a Delaware bankruptcy judge to sell off 44 lots of its assets for a combined price of $170 million as it moves towards a wind-down.
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May 23, 2024
Ill. Justices OK $28M Tax Value Appeal Without Payment
A power company's property in Illinois was not required to pay disputed property taxes before appealing a valuation, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed Thursday, upholding a reduction in the assessment of about $28 million.
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May 23, 2024
JV Inks $48.5M Ft. Lauderdale Shopping Center Buy
BH Group, PEBB Enterprises and Related Group have snapped up a mixed-use waterfront shopping center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida's Harbordale neighborhood for $48.5 million through a joint venture, with plans to further develop the property.
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May 23, 2024
MoFo Guides $100M Refi At Manhattan Office Property
Morgan Stanley Bank NA and German American Capital Corp. refinanced a $100 million mortgage of the Feil Organization's Look Building, a New York City office building, in a deal guided by Morrison & Foerster LLP.
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May 23, 2024
Oakland Coliseum Sold To Black-Led Biz Group For $105M
The City of Oakland has agreed to sell its share of the Oakland Coliseum to a group of Black community, business and investment leaders for a minimum of $105 million in a deal that the city said will pave the way for affordable housing units, outdoor space and future developments.
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May 22, 2024
CBRE Calls Exec's Noncompete Right Fit In A Small World
A Texas appellate court wondered Wednesday whether a temporary injunction that seemingly bars a former CBRE executive from working in his trade anywhere in the world goes too far, and questioned the validity of the underlying noncompete agreement at the center of the legal battle.
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May 22, 2024
Ill. Justices Weigh Zurich's Right To Recover $3M Flood Loss
The Illinois Supreme Court weighed Wednesday whether Zurich American Insurance Co. can recoup $3 million from a subcontractor for water damage repair costs the insurer paid to a general contractor despite Zurich filing suit on behalf of a different insured.
Expert Analysis
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Good Faith Buyer Lessons From 5th Circ. Bankruptcy Ruling
The Fifth Circuit’s recent ruling in Palm Springs II, affirming the sale of property to a senior lender, is notable for its guidance on Section 363(m), including the ability of a senior lender to remain a good faith purchaser despite squeezing out a junior lender, says Shane Ramsey at Nelson Mullins.
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Tips For In-House Legal Leaders In A Challenging Economy
Amid today's economic and geopolitical uncertainty, in-house legal teams are running lean and facing increased scrutiny and unique issues, but can step up and find innovative ways to manage outcomes and capitalize on good business opportunities, says Tim Parilla at LinkSquares.
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How Cities Can Tackle Post-Pandemic Budgeting Dilemmas
Due to increasing office vacancies around the country, cities may consider politically unpopular actions to avoid bankruptcy, but they could also look to the capital markets to ride out the current real estate crisis and achieve debt service savings to help balance their budgets, say attorneys at Cadwalader.
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What Associates Need To Know Before Switching Law Firms
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
The days of staying at the same firm for the duration of one's career are mostly a thing of the past as lateral moves by lawyers are commonplace, but there are several obstacles that associates should consider before making a move, say attorneys at HWG.
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Guidance Adds Clarity To Energy Communities Bonus Credits
Recent IRS guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act's changes to tax credits for renewable energy projects offers much-needed pointers for developers and financing parties, and should allow them to more comfortably incorporate special bonus credits for projects in energy communities into their transactions, say Jorge Medina and Ira Aghai at Shearman.
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Cannabis Supercenters: Key Benefits And Legal Issues
Barstow, California’s novel plan to convert an abandoned mall into a cannabis supercenter could offer a potential blueprint for cannabis companies to thrive in a saturated market and for communities to repurpose underutilized retail spaces — but certain financing, zoning and leasing issues will need to be assessed, says Christopher Gordon at Fox Rothschild.
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A Case For Sharing Mediation Statements With Counterparties
In light of a potential growing mediation trend of only submitting statements to the mediator, litigants should think critically about the pros and cons of exchanging statements with opposing parties as it could boost the chances of reaching a settlement, says Arthur Eidelhoch at Eidelhoch Mediation.
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EB-5 Reform Continues To Weigh Heavily On Participants
Recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services guidance helps clarify aspects of the 2022 EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act, which increased oversight of EB-5 regional centers, but does not end the industry's continuing state of uncertainty, says Robert Divine at Baker Donelson.
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Preparing For Legal Scrutiny Of Data Retention Policies
Two recent cases involving Google and Meta should serve as a call to action for companies to ensure their data retention policies are updated and properly implemented to the degree of being able to withstand judicial scrutiny, especially as more data is generated by emerging technologies, say Jack Kallus and Labeed Choudhry at Kaufman Dolowich.
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Attorneys Should Have An Ethical Duty To Advance DEI
National and state bar associations are encouraging attorneys to apply diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the legal profession and beyond, and these associations should take it one step further by formally recognizing ethical duties for attorneys to promote DEI, which could better the legal profession and society, says Elena Mitchell at Moore & Van Allen.
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Data-Driven Insights Are Key To Attracting Today's Clients
As law firm growth slows and competition for clients increases, modern firms must rely on robust data analytics to develop the sector-based expertise and industry insights that clients increasingly prioritize in relationships with counsel, says Lavinia Calvert at Intapp.
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EV Chargers Can Bring Benefits For Calif. Property Owners
California property developers and owners face growing pressure to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure — but this can be a unique opportunity to add value to real estate assets, and can be accomplished in multiple ways, say Riley Cutner-Orrantia and Eurie Hwang at Crosbie Gliner.
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Brownfield Renewables Guidance Leaves Site Eligibility Murky
Recent IRS guidance sheds some light on the Inflation Reduction Act's incentives for renewable energy development on contaminated sites — but the eligibility of certain sites for brownfield status remains uncertain, say Megan Caldwell and Jon Micah Goeller at Husch Blackwell.