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Western Region Real Estate

Practicing real estate law in the Western United States requires specific knowledge that comes from working with some of the nation's most complex laws governing land. The coastal areas, valleys, mountains and deserts of the Western states are blanketed with a myriad of federal, state and local rules and regulations controlling real property.

Clients in the Western United States rely on Duane Morris' team of real estate lawyers to advise on myriad sophisticated real estate transactions and real estate development work. From joint ventures, acquisitions and dispositions, escrows and title insurance, financing and finance mechanisms, to commercial and industrial leasing, restructuring and workouts, to construction contracts and defect litigation, and environmental reviews, mitigation, climate change, water supply, endangered species and wetlands, to land use, planning and zoning issues, Duane Morris attorneys have extensive experience with how these common real estate matters require specific skill and understanding due to the laws and issues unique to the Western states.

The real estate lawyers in our San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas offices represent owners, investment managers, developers, investors, lenders, servicers and receivers in California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and Utah, and throughout the Western United States on their most significant and complex projects.

Not only do we assist developers with regulations in the West, we also help them with the sophisticated tax and ERISA issues of their investor partners. In addition, we represent receivers in commercial real estate workouts and foreclosures to stabilize assets and manage properties in California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado.

Our full range of services include:

Transactions

• Joint Ventures, Investment Management Capital Deployment
• Acquisitions and Dispositions
• Commercial, Office, Retail, Industrial and Ground Leases
• Hospitality
• Operating and Management Agreements
• Title Insurance
• Easements and Licenses

Finance

• Purchase, Construction and Permanent Loans
• Senior and Mezzanine Loans
• Borrower or Lender

Land Use/Environmental/Energy/Water

• General Plans, Community Plans and Specific Plans
• Zoning, Subdivision and Use Permits
• Annexation and Special Districts
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, Water Boards, Coastal Commission
• Environmental Review (CEQA / NEPA) and Historic Preservation
• Climate Change, Global Warming and Air Quality
• Water Supply, Water Quality, and Discharge Permits
• Traditional and Renewable Energy Facilities Siting and Permitting
• Energy Transmission Lines and Substations
• Co-development of Renewable Energy Facilities with Residential or Commercial Developments
• Biology, Endangered Species and Critical Habitats
• Traffic and Infrastructure
• Vested Rights and Development Agreements
• Exactions, Dedications, Taxes and Fees
• Affordable Housing
• Redevelopment and Reuse

Construction

• Financing
• Contracts
• Project Management
• Mechanic's Liens
• Litigation

Litigation

• Contracts and Agreements
• Finance
• Land Use and Entitlement
• Hazardous Substances
• Eminent Domain
• CEQA/NEPA
• Water Rights, Water Quality and Water Supply
• Dedications and Exactions
• Vested Rights
• Insurance
• Environmental Regulation

Reorganization/Workouts

• Workout of Challenged Loans for Lenders, Borrowers, Landlords and Tenants
• Asset Protection and Management
• Foreclosures
• Receiverships
• Bankruptcy