REAL ESTATE

PDH REAL ESTATE PRACTICE

At some point in time, every business will have a need for legal services on real estate related issues. This fact is true with respect to PDH clients. We assist our clients in the purchase, development, construction and sale of all types of property; negotiating leases for both landlords and tenants of commercial, retail and industrial properties; 1031 exchanges; and other real estate transactions. In addition to our transactional expertise, our experience handling real estate related disputes—both in and out of the courtroom—has been the underpinning of PDH’s successful real estate practice.

PDH REAL ESTATE CLIENTS

Projects where we have represented PDH clients with acquisition, development, construction, financing, management, leasing and/or operation of real estate include:

• Apartments and condominiums
• Commercial buildings
• Retail shopping centers
• Industrial and manufacturing facilities
• Unimproved land
• Medical service facilities
• Office buildings
• Homeowners associations

In addition to assisting our clients, several of our attorneys have been personally involved in the purchase, development, leasing, and sale of investment real estate; one of our attorneys has been a Texas licensed real estate broker for over 25 years. Our real world experience, combined with our extensive knowledge of real estate law, gives us an advantage over many attorneys who simply refer to real estate forms when handling real estate matters.

REPRESENTATIVE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

The following is a representative sample of real estate transactions in which we have been recently involved on behalf of PDH clients:

• Purchase of $5 million warehouse/distribution center in Houston.
• Purchases and sales of numerous unimproved commercial tracts.
• Purchase of $12 million ranch in south Texas.
• Purchase of an out-of-state office building.
• Leases and construction build-out of manufacturing facilities across the U.S.
• Purchase of an out-of-state apartment complex.
• Refinancing of $7 million warehouse.
• Drafting of restrictions and regulations for residential subdivisions, town home developments, residential condominium complexes, and office condominiums.
• Numerous 1031 exchanges of commercial properties and apartment complexes
  in various states.
• Exchange of entire city block in downtown Houston for another city block.
• Representation of landlords and tenants on multiple commercial and industrial lease transactions (including build to suit transactions).

REAL ESTATE LITIGATION

By advocating for PDH clients in mediation, arbitration and in trials before both judges and juries, we have gained the experience, insight and skills necessary to assist our clients in resolving real estate disputes. The following is a representative sample of real estate related lawsuits in which PDH has been involved:

• Obtained mid-six figure jury award for owner of warehouse/distribution facility in lawsuit against major tenant involving the interpretation of lease terms.
• Represented real estate investment entity as a second lien holder of multiple lots and houses in Galveston County, Texas development against first lien holder and set aside foreclosures and sustained ownership through multiple court orders.
• Successful annual protests before the Arbitration Review Board of the Harris County Appraisal District, resulting in annual tax savings for clients ranging from $5,000 to more than $100,000.
  

Bartt G. Thompson,
Co-Managing Shareholder
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Dennis A. McQueen,
Co-Managing Shareholder
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