Real Estate

Leasing

Our Real Estate Group represents landlords and tenants of all shapes and sizes in connection with office, retail, industrial and multi-family leasing transactions. For owners, leases are the most important assets affecting the value of income-generating properties; and for tenants, leases are a key part of corporate strategy and often represent material expenses. Our lawyers bring a wealth of experience to each leasing transaction and apply that experience in a practical and efficient manner. We also advise investors, developers, property managers and agents concerning operational and management issues, often structuring arrangements for the management and leasing of major commercial developments.

Acquisitions and Dispositions

We regularly advise on all aspects of real estate acquisitions and disposition. Whether your primary business is acquiring and selling properties, or if those transactions are incidental to your core business, our experienced lawyers can guide you through your transaction. We frequently advise on most or all of the following aspects of an acquisition or disposition: letters of intent, due diligence, title and survey matters, entity formation, tax strategies (including 1031 exchanges and 754 elections), financing matters (including traditional and securitized loans, and equity funding), estoppels, SNDAs, and closing administration.

Zoning and Land Use / Tax Assessment Appeals

We help property owners and developers obtain necessary planning and zoning approvals, changes and permits, including representing clients in appeals before municipal zoning hearing boards and trial and appellate courts. We are familiar with state and local requirements and procedures throughout western Pennsylvania. We are also experienced in pursuing tax assessment appeals for both commercial and residential property owners and have argued before numerous appellate courts in Pennsylvania. When a property owner wants to take legal action to appeal the assessment of their property, we can guide them through the litigation process.

Real Estate Finance

We regularly assist clients – both lenders and borrowers – with financing real estate projects in all asset classes, including acquisition, development and construction loans, sale/leasebacks, syndicated credit facilities involving real estate collateral, and ground lease financing. Our understanding of real estate capital markets, regardless of the size of the credit facility, helps us to develop cost effective and practical legal solutions to meet your business objectives. For lenders, we regularly lead the documentation process and manage all necessary due diligence. For borrowers, we evaluate the appropriate corporate and capital structures, review loan documents and assist with negotiating on behalf of any borrower principals as needed.

Real Estate Litigation

Our Real Estate and Litigation Groups often work together to handle real estate-related disputes in western Pennsylvania for property owners, developers, investors, tenants, lenders and joint venturers. Our lawyers work together to structure and negotiate the transactions often underlying disputes, so we are able to bring a strong understanding of the business impacts of each dispute we help guide our clients through. We work with our clients to fully understand deal history, any unique goals or challenges, and the parties’ intent, in order to obtain favorable results.

Residential Transactions / Title Insurance

In addition to its extensive commercial real estate practice, our Real Estate Group offers assistance with residential real estate transactions, including regularly representing several lending institutions in connection with residential loans and closings. SGK is an authorized agent for a number of title insurance companies, and in that capacity we can conduct title searches and issue title insurance policies for a variety of residential (as well as commercial) transactions.