In commercial leasing, the attorney's job is to anticipate the worst outcome from the very start of a landlord-tenant relationship. This definitive guide will teach attorneys and other landlord representatives how to protect their clients from tenant defaults and minimize losses in the event of eviction. Find out what lease provisions will ensure a quick and easy lease termination and help avoid litigation. Apply our expert drafting tips to improve the effectiveness of your contracts, notices and complaints. Get step-by-step techniques for evicting a tenant for non-payment or other lease defaults, and protect your landlord clients' rights of possession. Order today!

• Commercial Leasing Overview and Legislative Update
• How to Avoid Eviction Litigation Before the Lease is Signed
• Eviction Proceedings in Detail
• Common Tenant Defenses to the Eviction Action
• Select Issues in Terminating Commercial Leases
• Overcoming Ethical Challenges

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Continuing Legal Education

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COMMERCIAL LEASING OVERVIEW AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
9:00 - 10:00, Michael B. Katz

• Types of Commercial Leases
• How are Commercial Evictions Different from Residential?
• Major Laws Governing Commercial Landlords and Tenants
• Current Case Law Update

HOW TO AVOID EVICTION LITIGATION BEFORE THE LEASE IS SIGNED
10:15 - 11:15, Terry Pabst

• Avoiding Potential Insurance and Subrogation Problems
• Disclaimers of Liability and Indemnification
• Advising Clients on Entity Verification, Credit Checks, Deposits, Liens and Guarantees
• Essential Lease Provisions
• Common Drafting Oversights That are Likely to Cause Litigation

EVICTION PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL
11:15 - 12:15, Mondi L. Ghasedi

• Grounds for Eviction
• Proper Notice Practices under the Lease: Types, Language, Timing, Service
• Proper Statutory Notice
• Preparing and Filing the Complaint
• The Role of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Commercial Evictions
• Eviction Court Procedure and Timeline from Start to Finish
• Litigation Strategies
• Practical Tips for Going to Trial

COMMON TENANT DEFENSES TO THE EVICTION ACTION
1:15 - 2:15, Mondi L. Ghasedi

• Acceptance of Rent and Waiver
• Breach of Covenants
• Constructive Eviction
• Lockout and Self-Help
• Failure to Mitigate Damages

SELECT ISSUES IN TERMINATING COMMERCIAL LEASES
2:30 - 3:30, Michael B. Katz

• Abandonment
• What to do When the Tenant Vacates
• Availability of Double Rent
• Ejectment as an Alternative to Unlawful Detainer
• Defective Exercise of Option to Renew
• Bankruptcy

OVERCOMING ETHICAL CHALLENGES
3:30 - 4:30, Terry Pabst

• Attorney-Client Confidentiality
• Determining and Collecting Attorney's Fees
• Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
• When is the Job Finished? Ending the Attorney-Client Relationship

MONDI L. GHASEDI is principal of The Ghasedi Law Firm in St. Louis, where she has a general practice that includes general business representation, litigation, real estate transactions, and probate matters. She earned her J.D. degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Ms. Ghasedi is a member of the St. Louis City Probate Court Advisory Committee and appears regularly before the probate courts of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on court appointed matters, on behalf of guardians, conservators and/or personal representatives and on behalf of a local surety company that bonds conservators and personal representatives. Ms. Ghasedi has represented residential and commercial landlords in the St. Louis Metropolitan area on a variety of landlord-tenant, including evictions, throughout her career. She has represented both small individually owned properties and large professionally managed properties.

MICHAEL B. KATZ is managing member of MBK & Associates, LLC, in St. Louis. Mr. Katz has more than 20 years of experience practicing law, and focuses his practice in negotiation, litigation, arbitration and trial practice. He currently serves or served as outside legal counsel in commercial real estate landlord/tenant matters to THF Realty; The Kroenke Group; Walpert Properties; St. John's Mercy; Milor Realty; and several other entities. He received his A.B. degree, with honors, from the University of Missouri - Columbia and his J.D. degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Mr. Katz is a member of the Missouri Bar, Illinois Bar, BAMSL, and the Federal Bar of the Eastern District of Missouri

TERRY PABST is managing partner of The Law Offices of Terry Pabst, PC, where he focuses his practice in civil litigation, and has first-chair responsibility (federal and state courts) for numerous complex real estate, construction, insurance, bankruptcy, and personal injury matters. He is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States, U.S. Court of Appeals for 8th Circuit, District Courts and Bankruptcy Courts for Eastern District of Missouri and Southern District of Illinois, and all Missouri and Illinois state courts. Mr. Pabst holds a B.S. degree from Eastern Illinois University, and a J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the Illinois and Missouri State bar associations, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and the St. Louis Apartment Association.

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