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
• 10 Steps to a Successful Eviction
• Common Tenant Defenses to the Eviction Action
• Select Issues in Terminating Commercial Leases
• Overcoming Ethical Challenges

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

COMMERCIAL LEASING OVERVIEW AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
9:00 - 10:00, Mike Garner

• 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, Mike Garner

• 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

TEN STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL EVICTION
11:15 - 12:15, Evan L. Loeffler

COMMON TENANT DEFENSES TO THE EVICTION ACTION
1:15 - 2:15, Robert J. Henry

• Breach of Lease by Landlord
• Estoppel and Waiver
• Statutory Defenses

SELECT ISSUES IN TERMINATING COMMERCIAL LEASES
2:30 - 3:30, Robert J. Henry

• Abandonment Calamities
• Termination of Lease by Landlord vs. Voluntary Surrender by Tenant
• The Tenant has Moved Out – What About the Property Left Behind?
• Self-Help Considerations
• Who's to Clean Up the Toxic Waste Left by the Tenants
• What if the Client Files for Bankruptcy?

OVERCOMING ETHICAL CHALLENGES
3:30 - 4:30, Evan L. Loeffler

• Dealing With Pro Se Parties

MIKE GARNER is with Stokes Lawrence, P.S., where his practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions emphasizing development, financing, purchases and sales, property management and leasing and Section 1031 exchanges. Mr. Garner is a certified real estate instructor with the Washington State Department of Licensing and a continuing legal education speaker for the Washington State Bar Association, American Bar Association and private organizations. He earned his A.B. degree from Stanford University and his J.D. degree from Boalt Hall, University of California at Berkeley.

ROBERT J. HENRY is a principal of the Seattle law firm of Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson, PLLC, where he practices primarily in commercial and real estate litigation, both in state and federal courts. He has extensive experience representing both landlords and tenants in eviction actions and other landlord/tenant disputes, both commercial and residential. Mr. Henry earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Yale University and his J.D. degree from Duke University. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association.

EVAN L. LOEFFLER was declared "deceased" by the Washington State Bar Association in 2004. Mr. Loeffler overcame being dead to open the Law Office of Evan L. Loeffler PLLC, where his practice emphasizes landlord-tenant relations and real estate litigation. He earned his law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law. Mr. Loeffler is the author of the chapter on landlord-tenant law and co-wrote the chapter on mobile home landlord-tenant law in the Washington Lawyers Practice Manual. He frequently lectures on the subject of ethics and landlord-tenant law for realtors, lawyers, apartment owners and tenants, and is on the faculty for several CLE programs. Mr. Loeffler frequently appears on KUOW 's "Weekday" radio program for a call-in show on landlord-tenant issues.

Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am - 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com