Terrorism Insurance: A Two-Edged Sword
In the landlord-tenant arena, the issue of whether terrorism insurance must be purchased has two frequently encountered aspects. In one factual pattern, a tenant of a single-user property is required by its lease to purchase certain insurance coverage to protect both its own interest and the landlord's. Does this lease provision include terrorism insurance, as well as other types of coverage generally required on the leased premises? In another factual pattern, tenants of a multi-tenant facility must reimburse the landlord for their share of the landlord's taxes, common area expenses and insurance premiums. Do those insurance premiums properly include the landlord's cost of obtaining terrorism insurance?
Who Is in the Chain of Liability for OFAC Noncompliance?
By now many of us have either heard or read several articles written about compliance with the Executive Order 13224, titled "Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism" (the "Executive Order"). Although the probability of leasing or selling to any "Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism," is extremely low, the consensus among the real estate bar seems to be that it is better to comply with the Executive Order and protect yourself and your client rather than risk the stiff penalties and stigma that would follow by inadvertently violating it. It is apparent that the creation of a Landlord-Tenant relationship or a conveyance of a property interest would give rise to an obligation to comply with the Executive Order, thereby triggering all of the potential liability associated with violating it.
Selling the State's Zoning Exemption?
The Court of Appeals recently confronted a significant zoning issue: When, and on what terms, can the state or a state agency transfer to a private entity its exemption from local zoning restrictions? In <i>Matter of Crown Communication New York, Inc. v. Department of Transportation</i> (NYLJ 2/14/05, p. 19, col. 4), a divided court held that telecommunications towers erected on state land were immune from local zoning regulations even when the much of the space on the towers had been leased to private companies. The court's decision, however, raises as many questions as it resolves.
Lateral Partner Recruiting Effective Use Of Search Professionals
Cravath, Swaine & Moore, one of New York's elite law firms, recently hired its first lateral partner in over 60 years. While an exception at Cravath, hiring lateral partners has become an indispensable strategy for law firms in achieving important business objectives and in thriving in hotly competitive markets.
A Senior Secured Lender's Guide to the Risks Posed By Junior Secured Debt
In theory, a borrower's issuance of junior secured debt is a boon for its senior secured lender. The borrower obtains additional capital, and the claims of the junior lender against shared collateral, since "subordinated," don't diminish the senior lender's prospects for repayment. In practice, however, a senior secured lender should view proposed junior secured financing skeptically because the existence of such debt can become highly problematic for the senior lender. The key to protecting the senior lender lies in properly negotiating and documenting the intercreditor agreement with the junior lender to eliminate, or at least minimize, the myriad ways in which the junior lender's rights may, in practice, limit — or even trump — those of the senior lender.
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