The Property Line Seyfarth Shaw LLP

As many states continue to ease regulations and the Food and Drug Administration considers moving cannabis to Schedule III, commercial real estate is increasingly buzzed with interest in properties for use by cannabis businesses, from agricultural land and warehouses to retail spaces. Despite this seemingly abundant opportunity, investors currently find themselves navigating the still murky waters of federal illegality.

In this episode, Stan Jutkowitz joins James O’Brien and Eric Greenberg to discuss the cannabis industry landscape, hurdles faced when securing and investing in suitable real estate, and risks and liabilities for owners leasing to cannabis businesses.

In Seyfarth’s 9th annual Real Estate Market Sentiment Survey, executives across the commercial real estate sector weigh in on their top concerns and investment priorities as they navigate a delicate balance between hope and caution, mindful of impacts stemming from potential rate adjustments, persistent scarcity in debt financing, the looming specter of an economic slowdown, new workplace norms, and a lack of consensus in real estate valuations.

In this episode, Ron Gart and James O’Brien join Eric Greenberg to discuss what they found to be most revealing from the results.

As the trend of working from home solidifies and the number of office vacancies continues to rise, many office building owners are looking for alternative uses for their properties. While converting those buildings to residential spaces could reinvigorate central business districts and help ease the housing crunch, there’s no straight line to success.

In this episode, Neil Weisbard, a partner at Seyfarth focused on zoning and land use, joins Eric Greenberg and James O’Brien to discuss a few key obstacles, potential workarounds, and where affordable housing requirements come into play.

The development and construction of a new real estate project can be a long and winding road, with many traps for the unwary along the way. Having an experienced real estate attorney to quarterback the process from site selection through to completion and delivery can help owners and developers save time and money and avoid headaches.

In this episode, Jami Balint and Catherine Burns, co-chairs of Seyfarth’s Real Estate Development practice group, join hosts James O’Brien and Eric Greenberg to discuss letters of intent, feasibility considerations, zoning and permitting, and how to efficiently manage the real estate development process.

As lenders continue to sell sub- and non-performing loans in today’s market, buyers should consider important legal, financial, and commercial analyses to avoid “buyer’s remorse.” Whether a single loan or a portfolio, reviewing loan documentation, examining security measures, verifying the status of original notes, assessing lender transfer restrictions, navigating relevant regulations, and ensuring compliance with usury laws, among other best practices, can help distinguish which prospective purchases have the highest potential for profitability.

In this episode, Bill Hanlon, partner in Seyfarth’s Bankruptcy & Restructuring practice group, joins Dan Evans and Jay Wardlaw to share insights on a risk-averse course of action for approaching loan acquisitions.

Artificial intelligence and large language models have had an impact on many industries during the past year, including commercial real estate. Despite lingering concerns about data confidentiality and AI hallucinations, among other things, this new technology has showcased remarkable potential to streamline transactions when used with proper oversight. As real estate professionals and their attorneys navigate the evolving AI landscape, collaboration, experimentation, and creativity will be pivotal to harnessing the full spectrum of benefits.

In this episode, Tamaron Houston, partner in Seyfarth’s Real Estate department, and Byong Kim, senior director of Technology Innovations at Seyfarth, join Eric Greenberg and James O’Brien to share tales from the front lines of AI’s use in client service, including its current role in real estate law and potential to further transform the delivery of services as related technologies develop at a rapid pace.