Real Estate Law and Construction Law

For hundreds of years, the world’s sovereign nations refused to allow any other foreign sovereign to be sued in their courts without the sovereign’s consent. The guiding principle was “absolute sovereign immunity,” an outgrowth of the ancient legal precept rex non potest peccare, understood to mean “the king can do no wrong.” The principle also was recognized as wise foreign policy because it extended "grace and comity" to other sovereigns.

California's coastal development landscape is undergoing significant transformation as the California Coastal Commission faces new legislative and regulatory pressures to ease housing production barriers. Meanwhile, local governments across the state are implementing major zoning reforms, from Los Angeles County's affordable housing overhaul to San Francisco's transit corridor upzoning exemptions, as cities navigate the complex intersection of state housing mandates and local control.

Pennsylvania is emerging as a strategic hub for data center and AI infrastructure development, offering a unique convergence of manufacturing capacity, energy resources, and regulatory frameworks. The Commonwealth's position as the largest net exporter of electricity in the United States, combined with its robust industrial supply chain and skilled workforce, creates compelling advantages for developers and investors navigating this rapidly evolving market.

South Carolina lawmakers have been considering legislation since early 2025 that would tie the statewide property tax exemption available for low-income housing owned or managed...

California property owners dealing with long-term occupants who never had a lease or paid rent may be able to use a 30-day notice to terminate what's known as a "tenancy at will" under Civil Code section 789. This legal distinction becomes particularly important in situations involving unmarried domestic partners, adult children, or other permissive occupants following breakups, deaths, or property transfers, though the application depends heavily on specific circumstances and proper legal procedures.

As construction prices remain stubbornly high, parking continues to be one of the biggest challenges when underwriting a deal. A new Virginia law – Section 15.2-2209.4 – goes into effect on July 1, 2026...

South Carolina lawmakers have been considering legislation since early 2025 that would tie the statewide property tax exemption available for low-income housing owned or managed...

On May 19, 2026, the Governor signed S. 853 into law, enacting the temporary processing freeze on certain Exemption Statute applications discussed below.

On this episode of Let's Talk Commercial Real Estate with Barry Saywitz, Barnes & Thornburg partner Salvador LaViña discusses the current legal aspects of 1031 exchanges, real estate tax planning, and more.

Iowa's amended criminal trespass statute prohibits camera use during trespassing incidents, raising questions about First Amendment protections for activists filming on private property.

A California appellate court recently addressed the limits of the necessity defense when animal rights activists trespass on agricultural property to document alleged animal cruelty.

Product manufacturers, developers, agricultural operators, utilities, and local governments should take note of Maryland’s 2026 environmental actions. The most immediate impacts include new pre-construction...