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Clarifying the Force Majeure Clause in a Commercial Lease

By Suzanne Ilene Schiller and Monica Mathews
June 28, 2006

[Editor's Note: A&FP articles in March and April discussed how various 'boilerplate' clauses in a commercial lease may one-sidedly favor the landlord or tenant. The present article emphasizes the need to ensure that the force majeure clause in particular protects vital interests in the event of a major catastrophe. Whether your firm is a tenant or landlord, you'll want to take a close look, first at this article and then at your lease.]

When commercial landlords and tenants negotiate commercial lease agreements, the normal focus of their efforts is the essential conditions of the tenancy ' rent amount, lease term, option periods, and the like. Often overlooked, how-ever, are those provisions generally considered 'standard boilerplate.' Force majeure clauses, in particular, are frequently viewed as miscellaneous paragraphs not worthy of lengthy consideration or discussion.

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