In the commercial lease setting, assignment and sublease provisions are often heavily negotiated to determine the scope of, and conditions upon which, the landlord can withhold its consent to an assignment or sublease request. Frequently, little attention is paid to…
Read MoreA significant term in most commercial leases is the right or obligation of landlord or tenant to remodel the leased premises during the lease term. When negotiating and drafting such a lease provision, it is important to address: (a) which…
Read MoreIn a commercial lease setting, one of the most often overlooked (but critically important) lease provision is the method of allocating and measuring the square footage of the leased premises.
Read MoreOn March 28th, after a year-long lawsuit, the King County Superior Court struck down, as a violation of the state constitution, Seattle’s “first in time” ordinance which required residential landlords to screen rental applications in chronological order and award the…
Read MoreThe American Institute of Architects (AIA) has for nearly 130 years produced standardized form contracts for the construction industry. The AIA reviews and updates its form contracts based on industry trends and important decisions, and in 2017 revealed substantive changes…
Read MoreOn December 11, 2017, the Seattle City Council voted 7-0 to enact new regulations for short-term rentals. The new regulations will take effect on January 1, 2019, and will require all operators of short-term rentals (including those offered on sites…
Read MoreVoluntary Cleanup Program In the State of Washington, the owner of contaminated property has the option to perform a cleanup independently and request technical assistance and opinions from Washington’s Department of Ecology (“Ecology”) regarding the sufficiency of the cleanup. This…
Read MoreAs craft breweries often merge retail and industrial leasing concepts, they face a unique set of legal issues when negotiating a commercial lease agreement for their production facility and/or tasting room. License/Permit Contingencies and Permitted Use Provisions are Critical First…
Read MoreIn a commercial lease setting, in addition to the monthly rental payment, the tenant is often obligated under the lease agreement to reimburse the landlord for the tenant’s “Pro Rata Share” of certain “Operating Expenses” (sometimes called Common Area Maintenance…
Read MoreA properly structured sublease can be a prudent strategy in a commercial lease transaction. However, if poorly drafted, a sublease can unnecessarily expose all three parties (the landlord, tenant and subtenant) to unforeseen liabilities and risks.
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