REAL ESTATE

 

Transactional Real Estate and Development

Our lawyers represent major commercial developers in Western Washington in the purchase and sale of vacant land for development purposes as well as for commercial buildings, condominium projects and plats. We draft purchase and sale agreements, option agreements, leases and new entity formation related to specific development projects.

Our expertise in larger real estate transactions translates into cost-effective representation in smaller transactions as well. We have advised scores of clients on residential real estate matters, including traditional purchase and sale agreements, auction-type purchases, and transfers between family members. A number of real estate agents rely on us as attorneys for buyer or seller to facilitate rather than obstruct sale transactions.

Boundary Line Issues

The Firm regularly represents property owners and lenders in boundary line disputes, including adverse possession, encroachment, survey and easement issues. The Firm maintains close working relationships with surveyors and other expert witnesses to assist in boundary line disputes. This allows us to obtain efficient and economical results. The Firm has also been involved repeatedly in timber trespass litigation, when timber has been unlawfully removed from a client's property.

Lease Drafting and Enforcement

The Firm is regularly involved in drafting complex commercial leases for its developer clients and the enforcement of those leases when in default. Our attorneys have developed extensive experience in drafting complex lease documents and advising its clients regarding the risks entering into leases and the lease terms necessary to protect the clients. Landlords and tenants have incorporated our advice into leases in shopping centers, theaters, high-rise office buildings and apartment buildings.

Our attorneys also have developed special expertise in the auditing and review of Common Area Maintenance ("CAM"), property taxes and parking area charges commonly imposed by commercial landlords. Issues related to these charges often can amount to large sums, as the costs continue in long-term commercial leases.

Condemnation

Our Firm has extensive experience representing clients whose real property is being taken by a government agency under the right of condemnation. A property owner is entitled not only to the value of the property, but also to other relocation expenses. We work with clients and relocation specialists to obtain the maximum recovery for the clients, and if necessary, to get them moved to a better and more attractive location. This service is of great benefit to the clients, and often the attorney's fees involved in securing a new location are paid by the government agency.

Easements

The Firm has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating easements and covenants related to properties to be developed as well as easements for plats and to address for access issues. The Firm is also involved in litigation involving easements issues including implied easement and prescriptive easement issues. Our close relationships with surveyors also allow us to react quickly and create the necessary legal descriptions for easement documents when a client needs to complete an easement agreement for a development transaction as quickly as possible.

Litigation

The Firm is extensively involved in and all aspects of real estate litigation including misrepresentation claims arising out of purchase and sale transactions, construction defect litigation involving condominiums, commercial projects and residential projects, contract disputes between owners and general contractors, litigation involving easement and access issues, issues involving fraud and forgeries on real estate documents and loan documents, escrow errors and omissions, real estate broker liability, commercial landlord tenant disputes, quiet title actions, foreclosure, adverse possession and bankruptcy issues related to real estate transactions. The Firm prides itself on conducting efficient and cost effective litigation including utilizing alternative dispute resolution techniques in the earliest stages of litigation to keep the costs at a minimum for the client and to obtain the most favorable result as quickly as possible.