Commercial
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October 24, 2024
NYC Council Passes Bill Requiring Hotel Licenses
The New York City Council passed a bill Wednesday that requires hotel operators to be licensed with the government in order to do business in the city.
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October 24, 2024
La. Biz Development Office Extends Industrial Tax Break Regs
An emergency rule in Louisiana extended the effectiveness of regulations implementing a recently issued gubernatorial executive order that made several adjustments to the state's industrial tax exemption program.
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October 24, 2024
EPA, Air Force Commit To PFAS Plan For Tucson Airport
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Air Force said they're committing to a framework to address "forever chemical" contamination at the Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site in southeastern Arizona.
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October 24, 2024
Atlanta Demands End To Almost-Starbucks Demolition Suit
The City of Atlanta has asked a Georgia federal judge to finally put an end to a suit from a company that says the city illegally initiated condemnation proceedings against a disused restaurant property, telling the court the suit contains "no substantive claims regarding any federal question."
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October 24, 2024
Miami Development Site Draws $35M Stalking Horse Bid
A nearly 16-acre site along Biscayne Boulevard in Miami drew a $35 million stalking horse bid, setting the opening offer for the site ahead of a court-ordered sale in January.
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October 23, 2024
Mich. Panel Reverses Insurer's $1.2M Fire Subrogation Win
A Michigan state appeals court rejected a property insurer's subrogation bid against commercial tenants over a roughly $1.2 million building fire, finding that while the tenants' lease generally required them to keep their property in good condition, there was no specific provision holding them liable for their own negligence.
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October 23, 2024
Judge Says $85M Signature Bank Lawsuit Came Too Late
A New York federal judge has permanently tossed a lawsuit brought by a developer and its affiliates alleging that a former Signature Bank employee fraudulently misled them into unfavorable financial transactions, saying the claims are time-barred under the bank's one-year statute of limitations and not adequately pled.
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October 23, 2024
Behind The Scenes Of NYC's Film Studio Real Estate Boom
Film and streaming production facilities in New York City are blossoming, spurred on by an explosion in demand for production space from streamers and $7.7 billion in state film tax credits, and attorneys are busy advising on all aspects of financing and developing studios.
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October 23, 2024
NJ City Permitted Bigger Project To End Suit, Opponent Says
A property owner's nonprofit has brought a new lawsuit claiming that the city of Hoboken, New Jersey, gave a developer more than $50 million in project benefits in a settlement that could nearly double the scope of a pair of mixed-use developments along the scenic Palisades cliffs.
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October 23, 2024
Denver Office Space Saw Record High In Q3, Report Says
Metropolitan Denver office spaces experienced "record-high availability" in 2024's third quarter, according to a report from Savills.
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October 23, 2024
USDA Unveils $1.5B In Conservation, Climate-Smart Projects
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday revealed a $1.5 billion investment in 92 partner-driven conservation projects through the agency's Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
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October 23, 2024
Judge Says Ex-Steward Hospital Nurse Row Out Of His Hands
A Texas bankruptcy judge Wednesday declined to order the new owner of former Steward Health Care hospitals in Massachusetts to take back changes to nurses' union contracts it assumed under his sale order, saying it wasn't up to him to make the call.
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October 23, 2024
Skyline Investments Inks $101M Sale Of 11 Courtyards
Skyline Investments Inc. has sold 11 Courtyard-branded hotel properties across seven states for $101 million to unnamed buyers, offloading nearly all of a portfolio the company purchased in 2017, according to a statement from broker Marcus & Millichap Inc.
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October 23, 2024
Securities Claim Cut From Fraud Suit Against Calif. Developer
A California federal judge trimmed a securities claim from a Sonoma resident's suit against a real estate company embroiled in a fraud scandal and recommended that the rest of the claims be brought in state court.
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October 23, 2024
Hunton Real Estate Leader Eyes Deal Volume Uptick In 2025
Real estate investors are closely monitoring the Federal Reserve's next moves, and with the belief that more rate cuts are coming, deal volume will likely pick up next year, one of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP's real estate leaders told Law360 in a recent interview.
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October 23, 2024
Construction Pro Boosts Cullen And Dykman Litigation Team
Leadership at Cullen and Dykman LLP announced the addition of an attorney specializing in construction law, saying the move gives the regional firm increased capacity to take on high-profile cases.
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October 23, 2024
Jones Day Brings Back RE Ace In Dallas From Winstead
Jones Day announced Wednesday that it is boosting its real estate offerings in Dallas with a returning attorney whose regional knowledge and industry experience will be a "real asset" to clients and who previously practiced in the area with Winstead PC.
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October 23, 2024
MVPs: Wachtell's Adam Emmerich & Robin Panovka
Adam Emmerich and Robin Panovka of Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz's real estate practice group guided Spirit Realty Capital Inc. in its $9.3 billion all-stock acquisition by Realty Income Corp., one of a string of multibillion-dollar acquisitions that earned the practice group leaders a spot as one of the 2024 Law360 Real Estate MVPs.
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October 22, 2024
'Dewberry' Ruling Doesn't Threaten Corporate Veil, Justices Told
An engineering company that won millions of dollars in a trademark case against a real estate developer that tried to use the "Dewberry" name for a hotel told the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday to let that ruling stand, arguing that the Fourth Circuit ruling in its favor doesn't undermine the corporate veil.
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October 22, 2024
Real Estate Co. Nets $188M Financing For Industrial Portfolio
Stoltz Real Estate Partners borrowed $188 million to finance its purchase of a 1.9 million square foot infill industrial portfolio comprising 24 buildings located in Nashville and Atlanta, in a financing deal lined up by CBRE, the commercial real estate services company announced Tuesday.
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October 22, 2024
NJ Panel Revives Casino Tax Break Amendment
A New Jersey state appeals court has reinstated an enhanced casino tax break measure that a trial court had deemed unconstitutional, reasoning that the judge neglected to analyze the measure's interplay with the law it amended.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Expert Analysis
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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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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.
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Trafficking Ruling Offers Liability Lessons For Hospitality Cos.
A California federal court recently dismissed a lawsuit accusing several national hotel chains of knowingly benefiting from sex trafficking at their premises, highlighting how hospitality leaders can protect their guests and staff, and shield their companies from liability and reputational damage, says Danielle Dudai at Hall Booth.
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What's Unique — And What's Not — In Trump Protective Order
A Manhattan judge's recent protective order limiting former President Donald Trump's access to evidence included restrictions uniquely tailored to the defendant, which should remind defense attorneys that it's always a good idea to fight these seemingly standard orders, says Julia Jayne at Jayne Law.
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Justices Curb Fraud Theories, But That May Not Deter Feds
The U.S. Supreme Court’s opinions last week in Ciminelli v. U.S. and Percoco v. U.S. are the latest in a line of rulings aiming to limit the wire fraud statute’s application to state public corruption cases, but federal prosecutors will probably continue pursuing such cases using different charging language and other laws, says Alison Anderson at Boies Schiller.
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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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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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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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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.