Development, Construction and Real Estate

The attorneys at Schwerdtfeger & Coughlin represent clients in all aspects of real estate and development, including real estate transactions, development and construction, and litigation. 

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS 

Whether you have bought or sold real estate or are in the process of buying or selling real estate for yourself or your business, there are a number of problems that might arise and which might require legal representation.  We have advised numerous clients in the purchase or sale of a variety of commercial, industrial and residential properties.  Our extensive experience reviewing and drafting real estate purchase and sales agreements enables us to help you identify, assess and plan for potential problems that might arise out of a real estate transaction.  We are also able to assist clients in avoiding potential future litigation by carefully reviewing and drafting other complex real estate documents, such as commercial lease agreements. 

We also have extensive experience handling complex and basic real estate litigation.  Whether you feel that you were the victim of illegal or deceptive conduct or have yourself been accused of such conduct, we can help you assess your options and identify the proper course of action to take.  We can also assist you if you are involved in a dispute with your neighbor or landlord/tenant.

DEVELOPMENT

If you have a zoning or land use issue, we can help you obtain the permits and approval that you need to build and develop real property.   We have helped our clients solve problems involving all aspects of real estate development, from land entitlement before a shovel of dirt is turned to issues involving the sale of developed real estate.  We are able to represent you before local planning or other land use boards and can help you resolve any administrative enforcement matters and variance issues that might arise in the course of development.

CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN

Construction and design professionals know that competent legal advice and representation is instrumental to their business success.  We have the technical skills and literacy necessary to understand and resolve problems arising out of engineering, land surveying, and construction issues inherent in the development of real estate. Whether the issue involves avoiding problems before they occur or resolving them after they occur, you can be sure that well represented in all aspects of real estate development.

We can help you draft and negotiate the contracts that are the foundation of construction and design work.  We help construction and design professionals reduce the risk of future litigation by carefully reviewing and drafting contracts to make certain that they are not caught off guard by one-sided or hidden terms.

Whether you find yourself as a defendant in a lawsuit claiming your work was unsatisfactory or not completed in time or find yourself having to sue a client who has refused to pay you, we will advocate zealously on your behalf.  We can provide you with solid legal analysis concerning claims related to construction work and engineer design work and have defended clients in several cases involving claims of defective workmanship.  Although we have a successful record of trying and prevailing in a broad range of cases, we will work with you to identify the most realistic and efficient means of solving your problem whether that means arbitration, mediation, or proceeding through trial.