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Chris' principal practice areas are commercial real estate, land conservation and business transactions.
His commercial real estate experience encompasses the entire range of real estate matters for office, retail and industrial properties - purchase and sales, options, development, mortgage loans, leases, subleases, easements, property restrictions, license agreements, collections, evictions, receiverships, mechanic's liens, oil and gas leases, as well as title insurance, survey and environmental issues.
His land conservation practice assists developers, conservancy organizations, governmental agencies and individual property owners. He has extensive experience with conservation easements, wetlands, land acquisition transactions, grant procurement, financing, land use, mitigation projects, estate planning options and deed restrictions. Chris coordinates all necessary surveys, appraisals, assessments and delineations for land preservation transactions.
The business transactions associated with those commercial real estate and land conservation activities include organizing limited liability companies (LLC) and corporations. Chris provides legal advice to facilitate small to mid-sized entrepreneurial startups as well as the on-going management and operation concerns of established companies.
Chris graduated with a B.A. degree from The Ohio State University in 1970 and attained his Juris Doctorate degree in 1975 from the Case Western Reserve School of Law. Chris is a member of the Ohio Bar and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar and is a member of the Real Estate and Environmental Committees within each.
His practice encompasses all of Northeast Ohio - primarily Cleveland and Akron in Cuyahoga and Summit Counties but extends throughout the neighboring counties of Lorain, Medina, Portage, Stark, Geauga, Lake and Ashtabula.
Chris and his wife, Vicki, have three adult sons and have lived in Hudson, Ohio since 1987 where both have been active in community affairs - Chris with the Hudson Land Conservancy and Vicki with the Hudson School Board.
Commercial real estate, land conservation and business transactions cover a multitude of issues. "Key words" for specific problem areas include:
Purchase and Sale. Agreements • land (installment) contracts • option to purchase • letter of intent • condominiums • brokers • escrow • settlement statements • general and limited warranty deeds • quit claim deed • legal description •
Property Development and Operation. Shopping centers • property management • wetlands • shorelines and watersheds • contractor/development contracts • declaration of restrictions • reciprocal easements • occupancy and use permits • variance • deed restrictions • flood zones • storm water drainage • subdivision/platting • subsidence • soil erosion • declarations • ADA compliance
Due Diligence Investigation. Preliminary title report • title insurance commitment • title objections • title insurance endorsements • contiguity endorsement • zoning endorsement• ALTA matters • inspections • encroachments • liens • encumbrances
Environmental Issues. Hazardous materials • phase I/II assessments • contamination (asbestos, lead paint, mold, radon) • indemnity • remediation • underground storage tanks (UST's) • watersheds • open space • restoration • monitoring
Property Rights. Adverse possession • boundary disputes • life estate • littoral rights • oil, gas, mineral and timber rights • road vacation/abandonment • water rights • riparian/water rights • shorelines • partition actions • access • pipelines • life estate •quiet title •specific performance
Leases. Early access • estoppel certificates • exclusive use • evictions (forcible entry and detainer) • ground lease • landlord waiver • leasehold mortgage • operating expense charge • CAM (common area maintenance) • percentage rent • renewal • expansion and termination rights • right of first refusal • security deposits • guaranty • sublease • subordination • non-disturbance and attornment (SNDA) • tenant improvement allowance • wind turbine • solar power • audits • assignment and assumption • CPI • equipment • exclusives • prohibited uses • amendment • owner occupied • relocation • short term • storage
Land Conservation. Preservation • ecosystem restoration • land bank • mitigation • Ohio EPA • stewardship • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) • watershed management • deed restrictions
Business. Letter of intent • construction contract • license agreement • dispute resolution • operating agreement • organization • foreclosure • receiver • affidavits • appraisals • asset purchase • confidentiality • dissolution • distribution agreements • employment • indemnity • hold harmless • independent contractor • power of attorney • promissory note • warranty
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