While it may be tempting to create informal agreements about business or real estate transactions with family members, in our experience the minor discomfort of formalizing agreements between family members up front pales in comparison to the damage a souring business deal can do to families who operated “on a handshake” instead of signing legally binding written contracts. Continue reading
Purchasing occupied commercial real estate provides you with an immediate source of income, but the inherited tenants can also cause headaches. Disputes with such tenants can lead to messy negotiations or even costly litigation if you fail to handle the situation properly. Prevent problems by:
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Experienced entrepreneurs know that it can be better to purchase an established business instead of starting one from the ground up. The San Francisco Bay Area’s strong economy also makes metropolitan areas like Oakland a smart purchase location. But like any business venture, the purchasing process must undergo strategic steps so that buyers and sellers reach fair, negotiated and intended legal terms at the end of the transaction. The Letter of Intent (LOI), insignificant as it may seem, must be crafted and delivered carefully for the business agreement to continue without mishaps. When it is time to draft a LOI, consult a contracts attorney and consider the following: Continue reading
Being a landlord can have its benefits, but it can also be a trap for the unwary. Failure to know your rights and responsibilities as a landlord can be costly, both in time and money. Here are a few tips to protect yourself and your rental business.
We recently represented the purchaser of a commercial business in industrial Hayward who had been served with a commercial unlawful detainer action. As part of the original transaction, the buyer had agreed to sublet the commercial real estate premises from the seller for a period before the purchase was completed. The buyer represented himself during the original purchase agreement, and retained us only a few months after taking possession, after he had been served with the commercial unlawful detainer action. This action resulted from the seller/sublandlord’s failure to pay the master landlord the rent received each month from our client. We were able to negotiate a settlement on behalf of our client. Continue reading
We recently helped a horse boarding and stables operation in the San Francisco Bay Area to successfully obtain a conditional use permit from Alameda County to continue in business at their long-time existing location. Prior to our involvement, the process had been hung up for over two years without resolution. Continue reading
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