Real Estate Law and Construction Law

A revocable living trust (sometimes called a revocable inter vivos trust) is a legal arrangement you create during your lifetime to hold legal title to your assets.

Jennifer D'Amato explores the critical techniques and strategies available under Wisconsin law for post-death estate administration, examining how legal professionals can help families minimize costs, delays, and conflicts during the probate process. The article provides practical guidance on navigating the various administration options available in Wisconsin's aging population landscape.

Leaving real estate to heirs through a will or a revocable trust has long been standard practice in estate planning. Many clients expect to pass along the home they have lived in for years...

Commercial and residential construction projects expose property owners and general contractors to significant risks arising from personal injury, property damage and construction defect claims. Contract documents can help allocate those risks to the responsible parties, while insurance can protect against losses that cannot be avoided or fully transferred. Common risk management tools include contractual indemnity, prevailing-party attorneys’ fees provisions, insurance requirements and early alternative dispute resolution (ADR) clauses.

Building information modeling, artificial intelligence, project management software, digital platforms and robotics have improved efficiency and precision in design, construction and claims management. At the same time, workforce shortages, skills gaps, supply chain disruptions, price volatility, regulatory delays and geopolitical uncertainty continue to make claims and disputes a fact of life in the construction industry.

In this episode of the JAMS podcast, JAMS neutrals (Hon.) Nancy Holtz (Ret.), Stacy La Scala, Esq. and Philip Bruner, Esq. discuss how parties and counsel can make construction mediations more effective by focusing on preparation, communication and problem-solving long before the mediation session begins

Purchasing a residential property with existing tenants requires careful attention to lease agreements, possession rights, and financing requirements. Understanding how tenant occupancy affects closing timelines, security deposits, and the buyer's ability to occupy or use the property can prevent costly surprises and legal complications during the transaction process.

It’s an uncomfortable topic, but it also creates immediate legal and financial questions for surviving family members, sellers, lenders, and real estate professionals.

Recent amendments to Mass. R. Prof. C. 1.15 have significantly changed how Massachusetts law yers must handle unclaimed and unidentified funds held in IOLTA accounts.

North Carolina's General Assembly has enacted sweeping legislation that fundamentally reshapes local zoning authority and development regulations across the state's largest cities. The new law introduces by-right residential redevelopment provisions, extends vested rights protections, and mandates accessory dwelling unit allowances while capping certain design requirements that have historically constrained developers.

New York City's new pied-à-terre surcharge introduces a "renovation gap" that may unexpectedly impact property owners during major construction projects. Partners Alexandra Wald and Nicholas Kaiser analyze why owners of properties that cannot be legally occupied during renovations may still face the surcharge, and what stakeholders should consider to navigate this complex issue.

California's Department of Housing and Community Development has issued final Loan Portfolio Restructuring Guidelines that impose a 50 percent housing reinvestment fee on certain uses of extracted equity from affordable housing refinancings. While the fee can be avoided by allocating proceeds to six enumerated categories, developers and investors are questioning whether these rules strike the right balance between preserving affordability and enabling capital recycling.