Commercial

  • October 22, 2024

    Insurer Wants Payback For Brick Drop On Pa. Law Firm

    Bricks and debris fell from an old office building in downtown Pittsburgh, causing more than $51,000 in damage to the roof of Pisanchyn Law Firm, and the insurer of the property housing the firm told a Pennsylvania state court it wants payback.

  • October 22, 2024

    Wafer Factories Qualify For CHIPS Tax Credit In Final Regs

    Semiconductor wafer production facilities will qualify for the 25% investment tax credit that incentivizes advanced chip manufacturing development projects under final regulations the U.S. Department of the Treasury released Tuesday.

  • October 22, 2024

    Winston & Strawn Boosts Transactions Team With NY Tax Atty

    As Winston & Strawn LLP continues to build out its transactions team, the firm has hired a new attorney from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP with a focus on the tax aspects of real estate financing.

  • October 22, 2024

    Dechert, Sullivan & Cromwell Guide $3.5B Rockefeller Refi

    The owners of New York City's iconic Rockefeller Center have refinanced the complex with a $3.5 billion commercial mortgage-backed securities loan from Bank of America and Wells Fargo, a financing of historic proportions overseen by Dechert and Sullivan & Cromwell.

  • October 22, 2024

    Madigan Ally's Favors Were '100% Legal,' Not Bribes, Jury Told

    Counsel for an ex-lobbyist standing trial on public corruption charges alongside former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan told an Illinois federal jury Tuesday that the government is treating legal lobbying activity as bribery, and that his client did "100% legal favors" for Madigan to establish trust and maintain access to the powerful politician.

  • October 22, 2024

    The 2024 Prestige Leaders

    Check out our Prestige Leaders ranking, analysis and interactive graphics to see which firms stand out for their financial performance, attractiveness to attorneys and law students, ability to secure accolades and positive legal news media representation.

  • October 22, 2024

    How Law Firms Get And Keep Elite Status

    For decades, a handful of New York-based law firms thoroughly dominated the national consciousness when it came to power, profitability and prestige. But in today's legal market, increased movement of partners and clients from one firm to the next has begun to shake things up and create opportunities for go-getters to ascend the ranks.

  • October 22, 2024

    Real Estate Exec Guilty Of $77M WeWork Stock Fraud

    A Manhattan federal jury on Tuesday convicted the former CEO of real estate investment firm Arciterra for trying to manipulate the price of WeWork stock via a $77 million tender offer on the cusp of the office-sharing company's bankruptcy filing in late 2023.

  • October 21, 2024

    $77M WeWork Bid Was Fraud 'From Beginning To End,' Jury Told

    New York federal prosecutors made their final pitch on Monday to jurors weighing the fate of the former CEO of real estate investment firm Arciterra accused of manipulating the market through a bogus $77 million tender offer to take control of WeWork, saying it was a sophisticated fraud and not a real play for control of the company.

  • October 21, 2024

    2nd Circ. Axes Claims Victoria's Secret Mogul Aided Epstein

    The Second Circuit on Monday refused to revive a suit accusing billionaire developer and Victoria's Secret tycoon Leslie Wexner, his wife and four of their organizations of facilitating Jeffrey Epstein's sexual assault of a minor, finding the appeal improperly raised new arguments.

  • October 21, 2024

    Madigan Part Of 'Corruption At The Highest Levels,' Jury Told

    Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his loyal right hand Michael McClain engaged in an eight-year "campaign of bribery," leveraging his public office and leadership roles to steer business to Madigan's property tax law firm, enrich his allies with do-nothing jobs and maintain his considerable political power, prosecutors told an Illinois federal jury Monday.

  • October 21, 2024

    9th Circ. Doubts Calif. City Can Sue Over Housing Mandates

    A Ninth Circuit panel expressed skepticism Monday that Huntington Beach, California, has standing to sue the state in federal court over California's housing mandates because it's an autonomous charter city, with one judge saying the city "is not some free floating entity that gets to do whatever it wants."

  • October 21, 2024

    Colo. Tenants Facing Eviction Are Entitled To Jury Trials

    The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that tenants in the state have a right to jury trials in eviction actions filed by their landlords if factual disputes exist in the case.

  • October 21, 2024

    US, Land Donor Settle Fight Over $1.9M Cut To Deduction

    The federal government settled a suit brought by a Louisiana partnership that accused the IRS of using a flawed appraisal to drive down its tax deduction for a land donation by nearly $1.9 million, according to Louisiana federal court filings.

  • October 21, 2024

    KKR-Managed REIT GC Moves To Elevated Role At KKR

    KKR Real Estate Finance Trust, the publicly traded real estate investment trust externally managed by asset management giant KKR, said in a public filing Monday that its general counsel will step back from the REIT as his role broadens at KKR.

  • October 21, 2024

    DC Moves To Buy NBA, NHL Arena In $800M Overhaul Plan

    Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday announced the introduction of legislation to buy Capital One Arena for $87.5 million to keep the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards in town, after months of negotiations with Sidley Austin LLP advising the arena owner.

  • October 21, 2024

    NYC Real Estate Week In Review

    Greenberg Traurig and Fried Frank were among the law firms that handled the largest New York City real estate deals that hit public records last week, a period headlined by a nearly $160 million Manhattan deal.

  • October 21, 2024

    5th Circ. Asked To Nix Insurer's $2.2M Assault Coverage Win

    A group of Texas trial lawyers urged the Fifth Circuit to reverse a Texas federal court's order permitting a bar's insurer to pay only its $1 million limit for a $3.2 million personal injury judgment, arguing the underlying plaintiffs made a valid presuit settlement demand.

  • October 21, 2024

    Justices Won't Review IRS' Additions To Developer's $2M Deal

    The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday it wouldn't review an Eleventh Circuit decision allowing the Internal Revenue Service to back out of a deal to settle an Alabama real estate developer's tax debt for $2 million.

  • October 18, 2024

    Law360 MVP Awards Go To Top Attys From 74 Firms

    The attorneys chosen as Law360's 2024 MVPs have distinguished themselves from their peers by securing hard-earned successes in high-stakes litigation, complex global matters and record-breaking deals.

  • October 18, 2024

    5th Circ. Partially Upholds $2M Win In Hurricane Coverage Suit

    The Fifth Circuit has upheld in part a Louisiana church's more than $2 million judgment win against an insurer that was accused of not paying enough for the church's hurricane damage claims.

  • October 18, 2024

    Feds Defend Bribery Charge Against NYC Mayor Adams

    Federal prosecutors pushed back Friday on New York City Mayor Eric Adams' attempt to erase a bribery charge from his indictment, arguing that while Adams claims his acts were "routine" and allowed under a recent U.S. Supreme Court precedent, a jury could still find his alleged favor trading illegal.

  • October 18, 2024

    NFL Stadiums May Lose $11B To Climate Change By 2050

    Three NFL stadiums could suffer up to an estimated $11 billion in losses by 2050 due to climate change, according to a recent report from a climate risk data analytics company.

  • October 18, 2024

    Minn. Tax Court Refuses Big Changes To Parking Lot's Value

    The Minnesota Tax Court lowered the assessed value of a parking lot property by about $200,000 to $11.7 million, rejecting arguments for larger changes by the property owner and a county.

  • October 18, 2024

    NYC Building Sold After Losing Half Of Tenants To Ch. 11

    A historic mixed-use building in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood that was ravaged by the bankruptcies of two major tenants has been acquired and recapitalized by a partnership of RXR Realty and Hudson Bay Capital through a $421 million financing package from Blackstone, the buyers announced Friday.

Expert Analysis

  • Lessons In Chancery Toss Of Claims Against CoreLogic CEO

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    Attorneys at Fried Frank discuss key takeaways for boards, including justifications for accepting a lower takeover offer, following the Delaware Chancery Court's recent dismissal of claims that the ex-CEO of CoreLogic breached fiduciary duty during his $6 billion take-private sale of the company.

  • India's Budget Proposals May Ease Entry For Certain Sectors

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    India’s recently released budget includes proposals to facilitate doing business in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City and moderate thousands of compliance requirements, opening up new opportunities for foreign businesses in the digital infrastructure, manufacturing and renewable energy sectors, say Mukesh Butani and Seema Kejriwal at BMR Legal.

  • NY Law Alters Foreclosure Timeliness Framework Post-Engel

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    New York's recently passed Foreclosure Abuse and Prevention Act aims to prevent lender manipulation of foreclosure statutes of limitations following the Court of Appeals' 2021 decision in Freedom Mortgage v. Engel, and should cause lenders to work with mortgagees to resolve defaults, say attorneys at Abrams Fensterman.

  • Key Considerations For Appointing A Real Estate Receiver

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    With commercial real estate loan distress expected to grow dramatically in the coming months, lenders should make sure to understand best practices for seeking appointment of a receiver over a defaulted property, say Dave Wald at Wald Realty Advisors and Mark Silverman at Locke Lord.

  • Even Recession-Proof Cos. Need Strong Compliance Controls

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    While industries seen as safe from recession may face rapid growth in an economic downturn, companies under pressure to meet rising demand might ignore signs of fraud, which is why they must develop and maintain a robust compliance program, say consultants at Charles River Associates.

  • New AML Law May Be Key Tool To Enforce Russia Sanctions

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    A new anti-money laundering law for the first time authorizes monetary rewards for tips leading to government enforcement against certain sanctions violations, and though many questions remain, it gives the U.S. an additional tool in the ongoing global battle against Russian aggression, say Daren Firestone and Kimberly Wehle at Levy Firestone.

  • How Gov't Enviro Justice Push May Affect Developers

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    Attorneys at Crowell & Moring contextualize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent guidance on environmental justice and permitting decisions, and the U.S. Department of Energy's requests for input on using grants to achieve EJ goals, highlighting practical implications for project developers and other industry participants.

  • The EPA's New Enviro Site Assessment Standard: Key Points

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    While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's previous standard for Phase I environmental site assessments will remain valid for another year, the agency's recent final approval of the newer ASTM E1527-21 standard means that it now represents the best practice for conducting ESAs, says Sedina Banks at Greenberg Glusker.

  • FinCEN Report Holds Key Russia-Linked Risk Considerations

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    A recent report from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network reminds financial institutions to review guidance issued on reporting Russia-linked suspicious activity, emphasizing the need to review anti-money laundering and sanctions monitoring processes to remain adaptive to global developments, say Siana Danch and Peter Hardy at Ballard Spahr.

  • Recession Or Not, Elevated Restructuring Activity Is Coming

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    2023 is set up to be a strong year for corporate distress and reorganization, recession withstanding, but it may not be the blowout year that some are expecting — depending on whether the Fed continues its inflation fight and whether sponsors can go all out to defend investments, says Michael Eisenband at FTI Consulting.

  • Ruling Shows New Potential For Retroactive For-Cause Firings

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    A New York federal court's recent decision in Kulick v. Gamma Real Estate shed light on the important question of whether an employer may retroactively terminate an employee for cause and opened the door for such terminations based on what is known as the after-acquired evidence doctrine, say Reid Skibell and Megan Reilly at Glenn Agre.

  • Mapping The Transport Sector's Road To Zero Emissions

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    Transportation companies that hope to lead the multiagency U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization's recently announced transition to zero-emission vehicles and fuels should anticipate a host of commercial and legal issues, say Levi McAllister and Pamela Wu at Morgan Lewis.

  • A Look At Lease Expansion Options In A Challenging Market

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    Expansion options can provide a powerful incentive for businesses to sign long-term leases even amid economic uncertainty, but both landlords and tenants must carefully consider the potential rights and terms, says Kris Ferranti at Shearman.