Commercial Real Estate Transactions in Michigan — Negotiated, Documented, and Closed

Commercial real estate deals move fast, carry significant financial exposure, and generate contracts that govern your rights for years. We handle the legal work that keeps your transaction on track — from letter of intent through closing.

What's Actually at Stake in a Commercial Real Estate Transaction

Commercial real estate is not residential real estate with larger numbers. The legal framework is different, the due diligence requirements are more complex, and the contracts are written to favor whoever had better legal representation at the table. Zoning restrictions, environmental conditions, lease assignment rights, financing contingencies, and title defects can all surface after a deal is signed — and by then, your options narrow considerably.

 

We work with buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants across Oakland County and Southeastern Michigan. Whether you're acquiring an office building in Rochester Hills, negotiating a retail lease in Royal Oak, or selling a commercial parcel in Auburn Hills, the legal structure of the transaction determines what you actually own, owe, and control when the deal is done.

Credentials That Matter in a Commercial Transaction

When the other side of your deal has legal representation, you need attorneys who have handled commercial real estate transactions across Michigan, understand Oakland County's local market conditions, and can negotiate from a position of substantive knowledge rather than general familiarity.

 

Our attorneys hold a Peer-Reviewed Super Lawyers rating and a Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion designation — recognitions that reflect both peer standing and client outcomes. We bring that depth to every commercial transaction we handle, regardless of deal size.

Do You Need a Lawyer for a Commercial Lease or Purchase in Michigan?

Michigan law does not require an attorney to sign a commercial lease or close a commercial purchase. What it does require is that you live with the contract you signed. Commercial leases routinely run five to ten years. Purchase agreements bind you to representations and indemnities that survive closing. The cost of legal review at the front end is a fraction of the cost of a dispute, a lease you can't exit, or a title defect you didn't catch.

 

If you're asking whether you need a commercial real estate attorney in Oakland County, the practical answer is: not always, but the deals where people skip legal review are the ones that generate the calls we get years later.

How We Handle Commercial Transactions

Every commercial real estate matter we take on follows a consistent, structured approach — not because we work from a template, but because the due diligence categories that protect buyers and tenants are well established. The variables are in the details.

Purchase Agreement Review and Drafting

A commercial purchase agreement is the governing document for the entire transaction. We draft and negotiate these agreements to address purchase price adjustments, contingency periods, representations and warranties, assignment rights, and default remedies. If you're reviewing a seller-drafted agreement, we identify the provisions that shift risk onto you and negotiate modifications before you're bound.

Lease Drafting and Negotiation

Commercial leases are long-term financial commitments. We represent both landlords and tenants in drafting and negotiating lease terms — base rent and escalation schedules, tenant improvement allowances, permitted use clauses, exclusivity provisions, renewal options, and personal guarantee exposure. A lease that looks standard rarely is. We read what's there and negotiate what isn't.

Due Diligence Coordination

Due diligence on a commercial property covers more ground than a title search. We coordinate review of title and survey, zoning compliance and permitted use, environmental reports and Phase I findings, existing lease obligations, and financing terms. Our role is to identify what the property actually comes with — legally and financially — before you're committed to closing.

Closing Representation

We represent buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants through closing. That includes reviewing and coordinating closing documents, confirming title insurance coverage, addressing last-minute title issues, and making sure the transaction closes on the terms you negotiated — not on whatever the other side's documents say.

Common Questions About Commercial Real Estate Transactions in Michigan

  • What does a commercial real estate attorney do that a title company doesn't?

    A title company facilitates the closing and issues title insurance. An attorney represents your interests — reviewing the contract before you sign, negotiating terms, identifying due diligence issues, and advising you on what the documents actually mean. These are different functions, and one does not substitute for the other.

  • Do I need a lawyer for a commercial lease in Michigan?

    You are not legally required to have one, but commercial leases are complex documents with long-term financial consequences. Provisions covering rent escalation, personal guarantees, permitted use, and early termination can cost significantly more than legal fees if they're not negotiated correctly at the outset.

  • What is included in commercial real estate due diligence?

    Due diligence typically covers title and survey review, zoning and land use compliance, environmental reports, existing lease obligations, utility and access rights, and financing conditions. The scope depends on the property type and the deal structure — we scope due diligence to match the actual risk profile of your transaction.

  • How long does a commercial real estate closing take in Michigan?

    Most commercial transactions close in 30 to 90 days from a signed purchase agreement, depending on financing, due diligence complexity, and title issues. Lease transactions move faster. We work within your timeline and flag anything that could delay the closing before it becomes a problem.

  • Can you represent me in a commercial real estate purchase in Oakland County?

    Yes. We handle commercial real estate purchase agreements, due diligence, and closings throughout Oakland County and Southeastern Michigan, including Rochester Hills, Rochester, Royal Oak, and Auburn Hills. For document-based transactional matters, we can also assist clients elsewhere in Michigan.