Tips for Choosing the Right Lawyer for Your Commercial Real Estate Business

27 Jun Tips for Choosing the Right Lawyer for Your Commercial Real Estate Business

Too often, commercial real estate businesses seek legal advice from their in-house counsel, brokers, or management instead of consulting an experienced lawyer. Input from team members is important, but it’s no substitute for the expertise of a seasoned real estate lawyer.

So how do you choose a law firm that will keep your best interests in mind and effectively safeguard you from bad contracts and deals? Carefully!

Keep reading to learn some important considerations when it comes to selecting the best lawyer for your commercial real estate business.

Choose a lawyer who specializes in commercial real estate

All lawyers are not equal. Most trial lawyers have no business advising clients in real estate matter or vice versa. Your real estate attorney will be your last line of defense in any deal you complete. That means choosing a firm with proven experience in real estate is crucial.

But do make sure they can complete a variety of tasks

When choosing a commercial real estate lawyer, finding one that can handle whatever legal matter is thrown at them is important. Make sure your lawyer can handle a variety of real estate situations. This includes:

• Contract formation and negotiation
• Lease review
• Financing agreements
• Tenant concerns
• Constructive evictions
• Contract Remedies
• Renewal Negotiations

Consider who you’ll be working with

When you hire a law firm, make sure you’re comfortable with the person (or people) who will actually be working day-to-day on your business and completing the work.

Don’t expect the most senior person to handle every aspect of your business. Law firms are supported by associates with the principal reviewing the work to ensure their high-level direction has been fulfilled.

Find out more information about how the law firm is run and talk to as many people as needed to feel confident you’ll receive a consistent level of service, not matter who is handling your legal matters.

Ask for references and look for reviews

Like any business decision, always do your research before investing significant resources and money. Start by reading reviews.

Most law firms will put you in touch with past clients who will vouch for the quality of service provided. When you talk with these past clients, don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn more about their experience.

Beyond reviews, look specifically at the results the firm has achieved for their clients – specifically in the commercial real estate industry.

Always understand costs and billing

Always consider price when choosing a commercial real estate attorney. Make sure you hire an attorney who fits in with your budget. Generally, you never want to hire a lawyer who is providing the most expensive or least expensive quote for the service.

However, while considering how expensive the services are is important, more important is how you’ll be billed you for services. Ask these questions:

• Does the firm charge a retainer or an hourly rate?
• Is there a flat fee for services or is it solely hourly?

All practices have their own unique billing methods so make sure you understand this process before committing.

Hybrid fees and forecasted budgets from JJH Law; a new approach to legal services

JJH Law is proud to offer two of the most innovative ways to finance commercial real estate services:

• Forecasted budget: A set number of discounted hourly rates. A favorite of commercial real estate clients
• Hybrid fee: Combines the benefits of traditional hourly and contingency billing. Allows for a maximization of investment and a clear outline for the scope of representation.

Learn more about our commercial real estate attorney services and how we can help your business thrive in Oregon.
 

Make sure you connect with your lawyer

The lawyer you choose for your commercial real estate business will be an integral part of your team. Make sure you talk to your lawyer to determine whether or not it’s a good fit for your business.

As the busy owner of a commercial real estate business, finding time to meet with your lawyer may be difficult. That’s okay! There’s no need to meet with your lawyer in person. A phone call consultation where you can ask questions and get to know each other is plenty. You’ll likely know right away whether or not it will be a good partnership.

Schedule a consultation with JJH Law today

At JJH Law, our real estate lawyers love working with businesses of all sizes – be it a one-person operation or an established business with many employees.

We’re known for our ability to understand the unique challenges and goals of commercial real estate businesses in the Pacific Northwest and are experts at delivering smart, creative, and successful legal solutions.

We commonly assist our commercial real estate clients with:

• Commercial Landlord or Tenant Representation
• Repairs & Maintenance Concerns
• Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
• Constructive Evictions
• Contract Remedies
• Americans With Disabilities Act
• Hazardous Substances Provisions
• Renewal Negotiations

Our team is here to safeguard your business.

Give us a call at (503) 552-1467 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our team.