Sullivan Hill has extensive experience in each material legal discipline touching on today’s complex real estate transactions. We handle real estate transactions, large and small, for buyers and sellers, and understand the complexities of modern real estate financing structures. We are deeply involved in retail, commercial and industrial leasing. Our construction group is known for its expertise in handling disputes among owners and contractors, and we advise contractors and subcontractors, construction companies, developers of commercial, industrial and residential projects, investors, financial institutions and insurance companies regarding insurance coverage issues in construction disputes. Our litigators handle construction and real estate cases in mediations, in arbitrations and in the State and Federal Courts. In addition, our insolvency lawyers frequently handle real estate transactions as they arise in bankruptcy and receivership cases, and in out-of-court workouts.
Our integrated real estate team draws from several practice groups to provide comprehensive legal advice to developers, investors, owner/operators and borrowers in this important area of the law.
Real Estate Acquisitions and Dispositions
Our transactional attorneys handle sales and acquisitions of land, office, residential, retail, hotel, industrial, mixed-use and other properties. We provide guidance in the negotiation of the deal and counsel in the drafting of the purchase and sale agreement and related documents. We help with the due diligence, can advise on title and environmental issues and coordinate the escrow and closing. Our attorneys also are expert in all aspects of structuring and documenting the necessary financing.
Construction
We have a strong heritage of advising clients in the construction industry, from enforcing mechanic’s liens to construction contract negotiations and complicated construction contract dispute resolution matters. We are often selected in disputes involving massive public works projects with millions of dollars at stake. We represent developers, general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals and owners in many phases of the construction process, including contract review and negotiation, design issues, construction defects, lien enforcement, and dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration and litigation in State and Federal courts.
Secured Lending and Finance
We advise buyers and sellers, as well as lenders, in asset-based financing transactions, construction and real estate development lending, acquisition loans and complex banking transactions. We advise clients in compliance issues affecting real estate. We advise clients on all aspects of negotiating and structuring loan transactions, and in documenting and closing the loan. Our insolvency group is well-known and advises borrowers and lenders in restructuring and working out problems in troubled loans.
Real Estate Litigation
Our litigation attorneys represent owners, developers and contractors in connection with an array of disputes pertaining to real property, ranging from breach of contract disputes, and commercial landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosure of liens and deeds of trust, unlawful detainer actions, condemnation proceedings, adverse possession disputes, partition suits, and construction litigation.
Leasing
Our attorneys represent landlords and tenants in negotiating office, retail, industrial leases and subleases. We are well-versed in the issues affecting retail leases and have specialized skill in negotiating and structuring supermarket leases.
Real Estate Investment Entities
Our attorneys are experienced in the multiple issues that arise in structuring real estate investments. We can advise on the selection of the investment vehicle, including joint ventures, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations. Our tax and transactional attorneys routinely advise clients on the wide array of issues that directly impact real estate investment, from financing, to operations to tax results.
Loan Restructuring and Workouts
Our attorneys specializing in insolvency issues and bankruptcy are well-known throughout the State. Our team can advise the owner, the developer or the borrower on the strategies that make the most sense when the real estate investment is struggling. We have extensive experience in both transactional and insolvency/restructuring matters and can advise the lender or the unsecured creditor on its rights and remedies. We have the experience to select the course of action that provides the best chance of success, but allowing flexibility when the facts change.
International Business
Our real estate group can advise foreign clients on the tax and structuring options to produce the optimal tax results for the in-bound investment. Our business transactional attorneys have experience in the issues that may affect the foreign buyer of real estate.
Environmental Matters
We advise clients with regard to compliance with state and federal regulations on issues such as soil and ground water contamination, and cleanup and abatement orders. Our attorneys can provide guidance on environmental concerns in the acquisition of real estate. We also have experience advising owners and operators of sites regulated by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, the Regional Water Quality Control Boards and other state, regional or local agencies regarding site compliance and remediation, CERCLA, RCRA, and other hazardous waste control regulations.
