Firm attorneys David Grobart and Jim Lechowicz recently completed the successful sale of commercial properties located in Fayetteville, Arkansas and Batesville, Arkansas for our client, an Arkansas-based commercial developer and property owner.  The sales of the properties included the assignment of leases for a national retail credit tenant. As part of these transactions, firm attorneys successfully negotiated commercial leases with a national tenant, negotiated purchase and sale agreements for the sale of the properties and successfully closed on the sale of the properties to third party purchasers.

The firm represents landlords, tenants, lenders and commercial property owners across the United States in all aspects of commercial real estate including acquisitions, leasing, development and financing. For more information regarding this matter or how we can assist with your commercial real estate legal representation, please contact Yvette Flores at (847) 282-1222 / yflores@gfmlegal.com, or David Grobart at (847) 282-1201 / dgrobart@gfmlegal.com.

Firm attorneys Yvette Flores, Jim Lechowicz, and Peter Yuh recently completed the successful acquisition of a commercial property located in Taos, New Mexico for our client, a Colorado based commercial developer.  This property will be developed for a national retail credit tenant.  As part of this transaction, firm attorneys successfully negotiated and closed the land acquisition and construction financing for the proposed development, which entailed the acquisition of a multi-parcel assemblage of real property.  Also, firm attorneys successfully negotiated and completed a turnkey purchase and sale agreement of the property with a national retail tenant.

The firm represents landlords, tenants, lenders and commercial property owners across the United States in all aspects of commercial real estate including acquisitions, leasing, development and financing.  For more information regarding this matter or how we can assist with your commercial real estate legal representation, please contact Yvette Flores at (847) 282-1222 / yflores@gfmlegal.com, or David Grobart at (847) 282-1201 / dgrobart@gfmlegal.com.

Firm attorneys Yvette Flores, Jim Lechowicz and Peter Yuh recently completed for our client, a Colorado based developer and owner, the successful acquisition of a commercial property located in Kingman, Arizona.   This property will be the site of a retail development by our client with a national retail credit tenant. As part of this transaction, the firm attorneys successfully negotiated and closed the acquisition and construction financing for the proposed development, and were able to simultaneously close and acquire the real estate acquisition of a multi-parcel assemblage.  In addition, the firm simultaneously negotiated and completed the long-term turnkey credit lease of the property with a national retail tenant.   

The firm represents landlords, tenants, lenders and commercial property owners across the United States in all aspects of commercial real estate including acquisitions, leasing, development and financing. For more information regarding this matter or how we can assist with your commercial real estate legal representation, please contact Yvette Flores at (847) 282-1222 / yflores@gfmlegal.com, or David Grobart at (847) 282-1201 / dgrobart@gfmlegal.com.

Grobart, Flores & Mihevc, LLC is pleased to announce that the Illinois Medical District Commission (“IMDC”) has selected the firm as its counsel. Grobart, Flores & Mihevc, LLC, was one of 21 law firms that had submitted proposals to represent the IMDC, and was one of seven firms selected. We are proud of this accomplishment and the opportunity to further the excellent work and mission of the IMDC. 

For more information on this or how we can make a difference in your commercial real estate representation, please contact David Grobart at (847) 282-1201 or dgrobart@gfmlegal.com.

Firm partner David Ansani has successfully completed a complex commercial real estate transaction for property located in Durant, OK. As part of the transaction, Mr. Ansani negotiated a turnkey lease and associated easement agreements with a national retail tenant and accomplished rent clearance with this tenant. Grobart, Flores & Mihevc, LLC represented the developer in negotiations with municipal authorities and in the multimillion dollar sale of the property to a third party.

For more information on what our firm can do for you, please contact David Grobart at (847) 282-1201.

By Melissa Dakich 

With the current focus on the environment and concerns about global warming, stricter standards for energy conservation and green building design are being adopted by government at the federal, state and municipal levels.  Buildings account for 40% of carbon dioxide emissions according to the U.S. Green Building Council (“USGBC”), so it is only a matter of time before Congress, states and cities step in.  For example, Chicago has enacted a Green Permitting Program using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) criteria for commercial construction that reviews design and performance specifications in such areas as site location, water efficiency (for both landscaping and water use reduction), energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environment.  While Chicago’s Green Program is not mandatory, it creates quite an incentive to go green by expediting the permit process, providing “cross-departmental coordination” among City departments responsible for reviewing green projects, lowering permit fees and offering significant tax credits. 

Although building green may entail additional up front costs, green buildings use an average of 40% less water and 39% less energy according to the USGBC.  Studies show that a building’s environment can increase the productivity and performance of its occupants as well.  Developers may also find that building green attracts environmentally conscious tenants.  With the growing demand for green space and the higher perceived value of green buildings, even short-term developers are entering the green market.

In addition to impacting building practices, the green movement will also impact business practices in commercial real estate.  Typically due diligence focuses on the financial and environmental health of a particular piece of real estate.  In the not-too-distant future, this due diligence could also require information on a building’s energy consumption and carbon footprint.  Carbon due diligence could become as common as hazardous waste due diligence, according to Michael Gerard, former chairman of the American Bar Association’s 10,000-member Section of Environment, Energy and Resources.  This expanded environmental due diligence could include the potential for carbon credits or tax credits as well as possible higher property valuations for LEED certified properties.  Landlord-tenant negotiations may also require full disclosure of energy information and LEED certification.  And the day may soon come when property owners must reveal a building’s energy costs when applying for a loan or refinancing.  

The green building trend is gaining momentum.  Forward-thinking developers and their attorneys can ride this green wave as long as they are aware of the issues that may not otherwise arise in ordinary development projects.

Partners Chad Mihevc and David Ansani will be presenters at an upcoming continuing education seminar on the complex and multifaceted business of real estate development.

“Real Estate Development from Beginning to End,” sponsored by Lorman Education Services, will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at the Hilton Lisle/Naperville, 3003 Corporate West Drive, Lisle, IL.

 Seminar highlights will include:

• Annexation and Zoning
• Redevelopment and Incentive Agreements
• Commercial Real Estate Lending
• Shopping Center Redevelopment

Grobart, Flores & Mihevc, LLC represents clients in all aspects of complex commercial real estate transactions. If you would like more information, please contact David Grobart at dgrobart@gfmlegal.com or by phone at 847.282.1100.

We are pleased to announce the formation of Grobart, Flores & Mihevc, LLC, with years of practical, hands on and deal making experience in the areas of commercial real estate development, leasing, financing, property transfers and land use. David Grobart, Yvette Flores, Chad Mihevc, and their partner David Ansani, all have the practical experience to complete any sophisticated transaction on time and within budget. Our attorneys have and do represent some of the nation’s largest and most sophisticated real estate organizations. Whether a Fortune 100 company, a retailer opening multiple locations or the entrepreneurial developer constructing or redeveloping new or existing facilities, we understand the need to be flexible, complete the transaction, and get things done. Being responsive and finding ways to solve problems, and not simply identify a problem, in this competitive market, is the difference to enable our clients to successfully complete their transaction. Our attorneys and their backgrounds rival any real estate legal team or firm, except without the bureaucracy, high price and lack of responsiveness that often accompanies the practice of commercial real estate law in large law firms. For more information on how we can make a difference in your legal representation and as part of your real estate team, please contact David Grobart, Yvette Flores or Chad Mihevc.