Experienced Real Estate and Land Use Attorney in California
Land Use
We work on all kinds of development projects throughout California, including residential, commercial, retail, office and industrial projects. We assist our clients with the full array of land use law: due diligence, local agency entitlement processing, and state and federal permitting.
Due Diligence
Accurate and thorough land use due diligence is a critical first step in any development project. Ackerman Law provides clients with a road map to navigate the land use and environmental risks associated with a proposed development and outlines the entitlement approval process for potential development sites throughout California.
Land Use Entitlements
Ackerman Law provides advice on compliance with the land use and environmental regulatory process. For many projects, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is the driver of the local entitlement process. We are experts at understanding the various pathways for complying with CEQA and the many technical and legal issues that must be analyzed under the statute as well as a host of other environmental laws and regulations. We work on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental documents and have advised on many joint CEQA/NEPA documents. We advise our clients on all local agency permits – plan and zoning amendments, subdivision maps, use permits, etc. We also draft and negotiate development agreements and agreements with local agencies.
State and Federal Permitting
Jason has experience with permitting related to impacts to waters, wetlands and habitat from the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the federal NEPA review process, as well as state agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Regional Water Quality Control Boards.
Real Estate
Ackerman Law offers a full range of services for real estate transactions, including acquisition, disposition, leasing, development and day-to-day ownership matters involving office buildings, hotels, resorts, apartments, mixed-use projects, industrial properties and undeveloped land.
We advise owners, developers, investors, landlords and tenants in every phase of a transaction, from facilitating initial negotiations and drafting the term sheet, to managing closing and post-closing matters.
Our clients benefit from our experience in successfully executing a wide-range of matters, both routine and complex, for diverse stakeholders. We have an intimate understanding of local and market customs, and provide an insightful yet practical approach to all transactions. Ackerman Law is dedicated to providing the highest quality of legal services in a cost-effective manner.
The following provides more detailed information on our specific transactional services.
Acquisitions and Dispositions
We represent buyers and sellers in the purchase and sale of all types of commercial real estate. We advise our clients on drafting and negotiation of letters of intent, access agreements and purchase and sale agreements; performing due diligence review and analysis of property to be acquired; liaising with clients’ consultants and lenders; and negotiating ancillary documents such as options, cost-sharing agreements, escrow holdback agreements, management agreements and other documents relating to transfer, use, operation and management of real estate.
Leasing
We represent landlords and tenants in various types of leases, including office leases, retail leases, ground leases and subleases. Our experience includes drafting and negotiation of term sheets, leases, tenant work letters and ancillary documents related to leasing, working with clients’ broker to facilitate seamless execution of the deal, and advising clients on post-signing matters such as lease amendments, assignments, estoppels, lease interpretation, disputes and terminations.
Development and Related Real Estate Transactions
As noted in Land Use and Environmental, we advise our clients through various types of development projects throughout California. In addition, we routinely handle matters related to ownership and operation of real estate. Our services include assisting clients with drafting, negotiating and interpreting development agreements, covenants, conditions and restrictions, easements, licenses, co-tenancy agreements, use agreements and shared facilities agreements governing rights of related and other interested parties.
