Areas of Practice

    Construction Law

    We handle cases for many members of the construction industry including: subcontractors, general contractors, material suppliers, owners, engineers, developers, and architects. We recognize that construction is an intricate process in which many conflicts can surface. We are prepared to assist you in any matter you need. We understand the importance of minimizing costs, so we will seek alternatives to expensive litigation, if possible. Of course, if litigation is necessary, we are skilled and prepared to fight your battle with the Registrar of Contractors or in local or federal courts. Our services include:

  • Construction contracts, American Institute of Architects ("AIA") contracts, and agreements for general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, equipment providers, engineers, architects, surveyors, and owners
  • Bid disputes
  • Administrative hearings, including Registrar of Contractor ("ROC") proceedings
  • Liens for general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, equipment providers, engineers, architects, surveyors, and owners
  • Disputes over scope of services
  • Construction delay and damages
  • Design and specification issues
  • Change orders
  • Breaches of construction contracts, including supply and subcontractor contracts
  • Mechanics and materialman liens and lien foreclosure
  • Performance and surety bonds
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    Landlord Tenant Law (Commercial & Residential)

    Experienced landlords, beginning landlords, and tenants can all find the help they need with us. We are prepared to help you negotiate your leases and your rights. We have experience enforcing, reviewing, and drafting commercial and residential leases. Let us make the process easier for you. Our services include:

  • Lease drafting, review, and negotiation
  • Leases for franchise tenants and landlords
  • Residential and commercial lease review and enforcement
  • Security deposit disputes
  • Uninhabitable conditions
  • Mandating a landlord or tenant comply with lease terms
  • Requiring a landlord to make a premise habitable
  • Requiring a tenant to correct problems with the rental
  • A landlord's right to evict, and a tenant's right to protection from evictions or landlord discrimination
  • Evictions, Forcible Entry Detainer actions ("FED") and Special Detainer actions
  • Notice to Quit and Notice to Vacate

    There is no such thing as a standard lease: Negotiate everything.

    Let us help you maintain your rights as a renter or a landlord. Leases can be negotiated; everyone has that right. Before you sign a lease you should take the time to read and understand what all of the stipulations of the lease entail.

    We can answer your questions regarding commercial leases, such as:

  • Can you be forced to switch locations?
  • Is your security deposit greater than permissible by law?
  • Can your landlord rent to your competition?
  • Are you sharing a fair amount of taxes?
  • Are you being charged reasonable fees for common area maintenance ("CAM")?
  • Was your rent increased? How was it dealt with?
  • Are you paying for more than just your own utilities?
  • Do you have enough parking space?
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    Administrative / Government / Municipality Law

    Administrative law is broken into several interrelated parts. They are: administrative rules, regulations and procedures for government agencies and municipalities; the scope of agency authority and jurisdiction; and enforcement powers of agencies. The assistance of an experienced attorney is crucial when appearing before an administrative law judge ("ALJ") or meeting with a governmental agency because the outcome will likely affect your future rights. We can help you with:

  • Land use and zoning issues
  • Conditional use permits
  • Variances
  • Zoning changes
  • Registrar of Contractor ("ROC") hearings
  • Appearances before an administrative agency
  • Licensing issues
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    Zoning and Land Use

    Allow us to protect and inform you or your business in all proceedings regarding land use, zoning, and real estate. The intricacies of these laws can be confusing, so allow us to guide you through them.

  • Real Estate Development

    Real estate cannot be developed without learning and obeying city, county, state, and federal regulations. Save time by allowing us to assist you with all of these.

  • Zoning: Variances, Rezoning, and Conditional Use Permits

    Zoning is restrictions made by the government to control how real estate can be developed. Let us help you stay within the law. We can also work within these regulations to obtain exceptions or change the zoning to benefit your purposes.

  • Nonconforming Uses

    This is an issue related to zoning. If the land was already in use before the zoning was made, then the land use may be continued, even if it is against the current zoning regulations, with our assistance.

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    Real Estate Contracts & Litigation

    We are experienced in all aspects of real estate: development, acquisition, zoning, land use planning, litigation, regulations, and selection. Use our knowledge of leases, laws, ordinances, regulations, and zoning to help you make the right decisions.

  • Actions to quiet title
  • Buy / Sell Agreements
  • Financing
  • Liens
  • Also see: Commercial and Business Law / Corporate Law
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    Probate and Estate Planning

    Estate planning provides a way for you to determine your lifetime objectives and your desires concerning the distribution of your assets after death. It involves wills, trusts, health care directives, and powers of attorney. Each situation is unique, and we can inform you which state and federal laws impact you. Some potentially confusing issues you may come up against are trusts, family limited partnerships ("FLPs"), and limited liability companies (LLCs). We are prepared to deal with all of those issues. Let us help you make sure all of your wishes are understood and carried out.

  • Wills and Trusts

    If you care how your property and goods will be distributed to your heirs, then you need a will. A will allows you to decide how your assets will be distributed and allows you to appoint guardians for your children. Let us help you write a legal, valid will that will stand in court. We are prepared to draft new wills and revise old wills. Trusts are sometimes desired in addition to wills. Come talk to us, so we can explain it all to you and help you decide what will best preserve your wishes.

  • Powers of Attorney

    A power of attorney is a document that authorizes a person of your choice to make legally binding decisions for you. It gives you the opportunity to choose the person whom you believe will act in your best interest. By declaring a power of attorney before one is needed, you are in control of who will be your attorney in-fact. There are many different types of powers of attorney with many different amounts of power dealing with different situations. Let us help you navigate all of the different options.

  • Probate

    The probate process is not as awful as it is rumored to be; at least it does not have to be. Allow us to make sure your assets are preserved and distributed according to your wishes.

  • Health Care Directives and Living Wills

    Health Care Directives are used in the event that you cannot make health care decisions for yourself. The directive gives someone else the ability to make those decisions on your behalf. You can choose who the person will be that will make those decisions for you. Living Wills are used in the event that you are incapable of making health care decisions for yourself, often in the case of no brain activity. The Living Will informs your health care professionals whether you would like to stay on the machines or be taken off of them.

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    Commercial and Business Law / Corporate Law

    In the world of commercial and business law, there is no such thing as a standard contract. All contracts should be negotiated. Commercial and business law includes all transactions and disagreements that occur in a commercial or business setting. Please contact us so we can represent and advise you. Properly forming businesses and resolving disputes with legal entities can be very complicated. We are prepared to counsel you in the following matters:

  • Buy/Sell agreements
  • Commercial real estate agreements and disputes
  • Construction disputes
  • Financing agreements and liens
  • Collateral and security agreements
  • Insurance claims and coverage issues
  • Business dissolutions
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Formation of legal entities like
    > Corporations (Inc. or Co.)
    > Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
    > Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
    > Professional Limited Liability Companies (PLLCs)
    > Professional Limited Liability Partnerships (PLLPs)
  • Sale and dissolution
  • Member disagreements
  • Business counseling
  • Partnership agreements and business sales
  • Business expansion
  • Voting agreements
  • Business disputes, shareholder disputes, agreements, and formation
  • Owner, shareholder, vendor, and employment disputes, agreements, and formations
  • Proxies
  • Shareholder and corporate governance
    > Shareholder inspection rights, duties of directors and officers, conflicts of interest, derivative actions, business judgment rule defenses, change of control provisions, dissent and appraisal proceedings, involuntary and judicial dissolution, minority shareholder rights and claims, and valuation of closely held corporations
  • Contracts
    > Such as service contracts with primary vendors, output contracts with key suppliers, sales contracts with important customers, or any other kind of written or oral agreements
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    Creditor / Debtor Collection Services

    We offer credit managers, risk managers, business owners, and individual creditors assistance and support in collecting on their debt. With our expertise, we can limit your liability and increase your opportunity of collecting the debt. If it goes to court, we are prepared to protect you and argue for a positive ruling. We can help you get the money you are owed. We offer professional, affordable, and effective debt collection services. Let us help you with

  • Pre- and post-litigation dispute resolution, negotiation, and collection
  • Creditor litigation, pre- and post-judgment remedies
  • Foreign judgment domestication and collection
  • Non-judicial resolutions, renegotiation, and restructuring
  • Promissory note enforcement
  • Secured collateral recovery
  • State and federal court representation
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    Business Succession Planning

    If you are considering transferring or selling your business, please contact us. We will help you write a buy/sell agreement that will make sure you get everything you want. We will make sure that everything is done properly so your interests are protected. We can negotiate the contract and assist you in getting the price that you want.

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    Litigation

    Litigation is the broad category involving matters that proceed to court. We actively litigate in all areas of practice described on this web site. However, we also strive to resolve disputes before they become litigious.

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