Real Estate


Ulmer’s Real Estate Industry Group combines the insights of our nationally recognized real estate practice with specialized knowledge in tax, environmental, and corporate law. We bring all of that background to bear for clients that work directly in real estate (such as developers and construction companies), have substantial real estate holdings as a function of their business (such as commercial property owners, Real Estate Investment Trusts, franchisors, national retailers and restaurant chains), or invest in real estate (such as investment funds).

We have significant experience with leasing (retail, office, warehouse and industrial), development projects (such as historic redevelopment, low-income housing, new development), financing (conventional financing, construction financing and strategic use of alternative financing sources such as historic tax credits, new markets tax credits and state grants and loans)  and have been delivering our clients superior counsel for decades. We understand the challenges our real estate clients face every day and assist by first understanding your vision for success. Then we draw on significant resources to turn that vision into reality by finding smart solutions to complex issues.

Collaborating with our corporate, tax, environmental, and litigation practices, we are able to assist purchasers, sellers, developers, borrowers, and lenders in the acquisition, finance, sale, development, and leasing of commercial, industrial, and multifamily properties. Whether the matter involves new site development or the taking of real property by eminent domain or anything in between, we have the experience with virtually all aspects of real estate to step in and be a trusted advisor.

Ulmer’s Real Estate Industry team is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s leading groups by Chambers USA and other authoritative publications. We are regularly engaged on real estate matters by the world’s largest restaurant company (with more than 33,000 locations worldwide), and serve as national leasing counsel to specialty retailers with locations throughout the U.S. In addition, we represent apartment and shopping center owners, lenders, municipalities, and school districts. For clients nationwide, our team has established a proven track record of navigating complex projects, including traditional and alternative financing options. We have developed particular experience with the strategic use of historic and new markets tax credits.

December 1, 2022 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to announce its continued growth across several key practices with the addition of six attorneys. The new attorneys include associate Jeremy B. Adell and staff attorney Hannah B. Webb in real estate, associate Rochel B. Adler in business law, associates...

Stanley and Hofmann to support the firm’s Business Law and Real Estate practices May 23, 2022 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to announce the addition of two attorneys to the firm’s Corporate Department. Matthew M. Stanley joins the Business Law Practice Group in Cleveland, while Mary C. Hofmann...

April 12, 2022 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Alan S. Henderson as an Associate in the Cincinnati office where he joins the firm’s highly accomplished Real Estate Practice Group. Henderson assists clients in all aspects of real estate matters and focuses his practice...

July 22, 2021 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Associate Garrett B. Humes to the firm’s Columbus office where he joins the Real Estate Practice Group. Humes assists clients with all aspects of real estate matters including the acquisition, disposition, and development of commercial...

July 8, 2021 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to share that Partner Jodi Rich has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of Park Synagogue, a 152-year-old Jewish congregation based in Pepper Pike, Ohio. In her role on the Board, Rich will use her experience as an active and lifelong third-generation...

February 2, 2021 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to share that Alan W. Scheufler, Partner and Co-Group Leader of the firm’s Banking & Commercial Finance Practice Group, has been named to the Midwest Real Estate News Hall of Fame, which recognizes the most important players from all facets...

October 30, 2020 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to share that Partner Michael S. Tucker has been elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation (CMBF), the charitable fundraising arm of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA). The CMBF raises critical funds...

By David A. Meyer and Brett C. Altier Purchasing contaminated property in Ohio became a little less risky this week. Purchasers can now obtain protection under both federal and state law from costly remediation orders imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio...

April 6, 2020 – All aspects of the commercial real estate world have been rocked by the COVID-19 crisis – renters, landlords, and lenders. Multifamily commercial real estate owners find themselves in the middle of an unenviable situation – on one side, renters that cannot pay rent, and on the...

April 2, 2020 – On March 26, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued a policy relaxing enforcement of some regulatory requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The policy applies retroactively to March 13, 2020, and provides that USEPA will exercise enforcement discretion for certain noncompliance that results...

UPDATED MARCH 26, 2020: State and federal laws are changing every day with respect to the novel coronavirus called COVID-19. As of Wednesday, March 25, 16 states have or will have implemented stay at home orders affecting more than 40% of the population. As the laws related to your business...

From Ulmer’s Real Estate Advisor Law Blog By Bradley D. Kaplan As of Monday, March 23, 2020, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky have issued executive orders for the purpose of limiting person-to-person contact to avoid the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. This article summarizes how each of these three states are defining...

From Ulmer’s Real Estate Advisor Law Blog By Kristin W. Boose On March 20, 2020, the CRE Finance Council hosted a great conference call entitled, “The Impact of COVID-19 on the Commercial and Multifamily Real Estate Property & Finance Markets.” Like many of us in the commercial real estate world,...

February 3, 2020 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to share that Lori Pittman Haas, Partner and Group Leader of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group, has been named to the Midwest Real Estate News Hall of Fame, which recognizes leaders in the commercial real estate industry who have helped...

Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to announce the election of three partners to the firm, effective January 1, 2020. This class of new partners includes attorneys with backgrounds in diverse legal disciplines and who reflect Ulmer’s commitment to providing sophisticated advice and counsel. “We are happy to welcome Kristin,...

Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to announce that Mary Forbes Lovett, Partner and Chair of Ulmer’s Real Estate Practice Group, has been elected to the firm’s Management Committee. Lovett is one of two women serving on this seven-member committee, which is responsible for guiding the operations and strategic direction of...

Given high real estate tax rates in Ohio, clients often ask us if a higher property valuation for real estate tax purposes can be avoided by purchasing membership interests rather than purchasing the real estate directly. Frequently, the seller will transfer the real estate to a newly formed limited liability...

Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to announce that 11 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Cincy Magazine as Cincy Leading Lawyers. Attorneys selected as Cincy Leading Lawyers are considered to be the best in the Tristate area. Members of Greater Cincinnati’s legal community nominate their colleagues each...

Cuyahoga County and 18 other Ohio counties recently completed the state-mandated six-year reappraisal of all real property in those counties. In Cuyahoga County, across all property types, values rose overall by an average of 10.1 percent. Home values rose by an average of 10.8 percent, and commercial and industrial properties...

Representative Experience