Firm Overview
We Concentrate on Commercial Real Estate Transactions
Our Practice Areas
The attorneys and staff of Lott & Searcy, LLP have extensive experience representing commercial buyers, sellers, developers, borrowers, lenders, landlords and tenants in commercial real estate matters. We are available to assist our clients with all aspects of the commercial real estate process, including the following:
Real Estate Acquisition, Development and Sale
From contract negotiation through due diligence and closing, Lott & Searcy has experience representing sellers, purchasers and developers of commercial real property.
We have served as counsel to developers of retail shopping centers for the acquisition, development, leasing and subsequent sale of such centers.
We also have experience representing privately or closely held entities in the acquisition, financing, development, leasing and resale of many types of commercial real estate such as industrial property, shopping centers, hotels, assisted living facilities, and multi-family and residential developments.
Lott & Searcy’s attorneys regularly prepare commercial real estate development-related documents, such as restrictive covenants, easements, management agreements, leases and licenses.
We also are experienced in the creation of entities to hold, develop and operate commercial real estate properties, including corporations, limited liability companies and joint ventures.
Commercial Leasing
We are experienced in the negotiation and documentation of commercial lease transactions, for both landlords and tenants, involving office, retail, restaurant and industrial properties, as well as long-term ground leases.
Loan Transactions
We have experience structuring, negotiating, closing, restructuring and working out loans for borrowers and lenders in commercial real estate transactions. We frequently act as local South Carolina counsel for borrowers and lenders in multi-state transactions, giving legal opinions and ensuring that loan documents and closing procedures comply with South Carolina laws and customs.
Foreclosures, Collections and Workouts
We have extensive experience in commercial foreclosures, collections, and workout arrangements. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions in South Carolina, as well as some of the smallest. We also represent lenders from throughout the country in completing foreclosures, workouts, and collection litigation in South Carolina.
We are available to assist our clients with all aspects of the commercial loan collection process, including Forbearance Agreements, Note and Mortgage Modifications, Collection of Unsecured Notes, Appointment of Receivers, Repossession of Personal Property Collateral, and Foreclosure of Mortgaged Real Property.
Title Services
Lott & Searcy, LLP also acts as a title agency. We issue title insurance commitments and policies for nationally-known title companies, coordinate title examinations and close transactions for local and national clients. We have a network of reliable title abstractors across the State with whom we contract to provide timely delivery of title work in all counties in South Carolina.
We serve as local counsel for the national commercial services/national business units of major title companies in South Carolina transactions, providing title, closing and disbursement services. The South Carolina rules regarding the unauthorized practice of law require that several aspects of real estate transactions be supervised by an attorney licensed in the State of South Carolina. We coordinate simultaneous closings in multiple jurisdictions and serve as local counsel for out-of-state firms to ensure compliance with those rules.