Chicago Real Estate Attorney for Residential and Commercial Transactions
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Commercial real estate counsel for owners and principals
What does a commercial real estate lawyer do for a business?
A commercial real estate lawyer reviews and negotiates the legal terms of a property purchase, sale, lease or related transaction. The work can include diligence issues, contract conditions and closing documents. The scope depends on the property and deal, with lenders, brokers, title professionals and other advisers handling their respective roles.
Chicago & Chicagoland · Family-owned & closely held businesses
Property decisions can shape a company’s costs, flexibility and future value for years. For a family-owned business, the people who own the property may be different from the people who operate the company. Burhanuddin Law helps business owners address the legal terms and relationships surrounding real estate decisions.
Put the business objective into the transaction
A property purchase, sale or lease begins with a business purpose. The company may need room to expand, a more suitable location or a way to separate operating and property ownership. Clarify that purpose before committing to major terms. Counsel needs to understand how the property will be used, who will hold the interest and what the business expects after closing or occupancy. The legal documents should reflect those expectations and identify conditions that require further investigation.
Review the commitments before they become deadlines
Letters of intent, purchase agreements and leases can raise important obligations before a closing occurs. Discuss deposits, diligence periods, financing conditions, approval rights and termination procedures early. Do not assume that an informal-looking document is entirely nonbinding. A transaction timeline should identify who is responsible for each decision and what happens if a condition is not satisfied. Legal review is most useful while the parties still have meaningful options to address a concern.
Match diligence to the property and intended use
Relevant questions may involve title, surveys, existing leases, use restrictions, access and the documents provided by the other side. Physical condition, environmental matters, financing and tax treatment can require additional professionals. Counsel’s role and the scope of the investigation should be clear. A legal review does not replace an inspection or guarantee a property’s suitability. Identify unanswered questions, determine who can resolve them and understand how they affect the decision to proceed.
Read a commercial lease beyond the base rent
A lease may allocate repair costs, taxes, insurance, improvements and operating expenses in ways that materially affect occupancy costs. Renewal rights, assignment, guarantees and default provisions also deserve attention. For an owner-operated company, a change in ownership or a sale of the business may interact with transfer restrictions. Discuss how the lease supports the company’s anticipated plans and what flexibility the business needs if those plans change.
Coordinate the transaction through closing and beyond
Signing is one milestone. Closing conditions, authority documents and the final allocation of obligations still need attention. After a lease or purchase is complete, retain executed documents and make important deadlines visible to the people responsible for compliance. For a consultation, bring the proposed agreement, property details, financing status and schedule. If a deadline is already running, make that clear at the beginning so counsel can assess the time available.
Straight answers
Questions worth asking.
Start here. Talk through the details with counsel.
When should I involve a lawyer in a commercial property deal?
Involve counsel before signing documents that may create obligations, and while important terms can still be negotiated. Early review is particularly useful for diligence deadlines, deposits, financing conditions and lease commitments.
Can you help with a commercial lease?
Our real estate and contract practices include lease preparation, review and negotiation. The appropriate scope depends on the property, the parties and the transaction.
Does legal review replace a property inspection?
No. Legal counsel, inspectors, environmental professionals, lenders and title professionals address different questions. Discuss which professionals are needed and who is responsible for each part of diligence.
Can the operating company and property owner be separate entities?
That arrangement may be appropriate in some circumstances, but it raises legal, tax, financing and related-party questions. Review the proposed structure and lease terms with the relevant advisers.
Connected legal decisions
Keep the bigger picture in view.
Contracts & negotiation
Turn commercial expectations into clear agreements you can use and negotiate.
Explore Ownership and governanceBusiness law & governance
Document ownership, decision rights and transitions before disagreements take hold.
Explore Liability and risk managementLiability & risk management
Identify legal exposure and set priorities around the way your business operates.
Explore Ongoing business counselFractional general counsel
An ongoing legal relationship for contracts, governance and the decisions ahead.
ExploreYour business. Your next chapter.
