Real estate agent and broker defense is an area of law requiring specialized knowledge and understanding of both the client’s business and its intersection with the law. The attorneys in our Real Estate Practice Group are uniquely positioned to provide efficient, results-driven legal solutions to real estate professionals. We regularly represent real estate agents, brokers, title agents, home inspectors, appraisers, and mortgage brokers, and any professional involved in a real estate transaction. Our attorneys also represent construction companies, builders, and contractors in complex litigation matters. Several of our attorneys are former real estate professionals and leverage this experience to provide targeted advice, analysis, and guidance throughout the legal representation.
Our attorneys bring decades of experience and have managed hundreds of real estate liability cases, successfully defending professionals in state and federal courts and before disciplinary boards. We have successfully defended real estate agent and broker claims involving errors in professional judgment, negligent and fraudulent misrepresentations, breach of contract, failure to disclose material defects, breach of fiduciary duty, discrimination, and consumer fraud and unfair trade practices. We also work with clients to develop and refine real estate transaction documents to ensure compliance with evolving industry regulations. As a complement to our legal services, we also provide seminars on relevant real estate topics for salespersons and brokers on ever-evolving topics such as compliance with guidelines resulting from the recent NAR settlement.
Representative Experience
Real Estate Litigation
We represent agents and brokers in civil litigation and disciplinary matters before the local and state authorities. We regularly defend real estate professionals against allegations that brokers and/or their agents breached duties to one or more of the parties involved in real estate transactions.
Real Estate Counseling
We work with brokers and management level licensees to develop, prepare, and update key transactional documents and company policies and procedures. Because we have litigated so many disputes involving brokers and their agents, we are uniquely suited to help draft and overhaul a full lineup of broker forms, contracts, and documents. We also provide timely advice in ongoing transactions to ensure smooth closings and to address problems before they arise.
Disciplinary Matters
We defend agents, brokers, and home inspectors in matters involving all aspects of discipline including defending grievances filed before local Boards of REALTORS® and before the Ohio Real Estate Commission.
Buyer/Seller Representation
We are dedicated to helping real estate buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants navigate the complexities of Ohio real estate laws and anticipate the practical problems and risks in purchasing or selling property or entering into a long-term lease.
Title Companies
We represent title companies and agents involved in real estate transactions in litigation and matters involving title search negligence, escrow disputes, adverse possession, easement disputes, and other related matters.
Home Inspectors
We defend home inspectors in litigation and disciplinary matters involving various claims and allegations, including the failure to identify material defects in a property, and the enforceability of limitations of liability clauses in inspection agreements.
Property Managers
We help property managers in disputes involving owners, tenants, and third parties. Property management disputes are often complicated because they involve large numbers of properties or units, and present unique claims and defenses. We have the tools and technology to defend these complex claims.
Mortgage Field Services
We represent companies providing field services to lenders and financial institutions for distressed or foreclosed properties.
Homeowner Association Disputes
We represent board members, homeowners, attorneys, and others in complex disputes involving homeowner or condominium owner associations.
Design, Engineering and Construction Professionals
We have extensive experience in representing architects, engineers, contractors and other design and construction professionals in design and construction defect matters. Our construction attorneys represent contractors and subcontractors; suppliers; sureties; architects, engineers, and other design professionals; and owners in legal matters arising from public and private construction projects.
