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Eminent Domain Law
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Scrutiny of Eminent Domain Power
How closely will courts scrutinize exercises of the eminent domain power? Until recently, courts have been quite deferential when entities clothed with eminent domain power have determined that private property is necessary for public use. Two recent decisions, however, suggest that there are limits to that deference.
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What's Working to Get Employees to Return To the Office
We are seeing a variety of successful measures that are designed to help attorneys get what they want: a best-of-both worlds scenario where they keep some work-from-home and fold-in an opportunity to intentionally connect and collaborate with colleagues in the office.
Features

New Bankruptcy Code May Provide Way Out of Commercial Leases
In major metropolitan areas, commercial office vacancies have skyrocketed and rents have plummeted. Tenants, required to examine their space needs post-pandemic, are eager to take advantage of the lower rents. A recent addition to the Bankruptcy Code provides these lessees with an opportunity to walk away from above-market leases.
Features

Commercial Real Estate's New Darling: Retail
Retail appears to be replacing multifamily when it comes to commercial real estate darlings. Shopping center vacancy in Q4 2022 reached its lowest level dating back to 2007 — and asking rents for shopping centers rose broadly.
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Maryland Appellate Court: COVID-19 Restrictions Not Excuse for Tenants' Failure to Pay Rent
Looking primarily to states like Connecticut for guidance, the Appellate Court of Maryland concluded that economic challenges stemming from COVID-19 executive orders themselves are not sufficient to establish the affirmative defenses of frustration of purpose and legal impossibility for failure to pay rent.
Features

Seven Commercial Real Estate Investment Strategies for 2023
With the year starting out amid uncertainty and no small amount of pessimism, there are certain strategies that promise to play well amid the environment. Read on to find out what will work in 2023.
Features

Court Declines to Block Retroactive Application of HSTPA
The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act amended the Rent Stabilization Law and, among other draconian changes, severely curtailed landlords' incentives to modernize and otherwise improve rent regulated apartments by limiting the ability to recover the costs of individual apartment improvements (IAIs) to vacant apartments.
Features

Development Issues for Tenants to Consider In Build to Suit Leases
There are several issues and terms to consider related to the development process that differentiate build to suit leases from a standard commercial lease that are important for the tenant to understand to effectively manage costs and effectively protect itself from delays in the development schedule.
Features

What Rights Does Commercial Subtenant Have In Security Deposit When Landlord Files for Bankruptcy?
Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code, which governs the disposition of executory contracts, has specific provisions regarding the disposition of commercial real estate leases in bankruptcy, including the rights of a tenant to remain in possession of the leased premises when the landlord files a bankruptcy case and rejects the lease. But what rights does a tenant have with regard to the security deposit delivered by the tenant to the landlord?
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