Expert Analysis

• Ch. 11 Free-And-Clear Sale Ruling Takes Pragmatic Approach

  

  A recent ruling from a New York bankruptcy court in which the debtors were allowed to sell interests free and clear regardless of a lienholder's objection signals a practical approach and a recalibration of the balance between debtor flexibility and creditor protections, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.

• What's At Stake As 9th Circ. Eyes Cultural Resource Damages

  

  In Pakootas v. Teck Cominco, the Ninth Circuit is faced with the long-unresolved question of whether cultural resource damages are recoverable as part of natural resource damages under the Superfund law — and the answer will have enormous implications for companies, natural resource trustees and Native American tribes, says Sarah Bell at Farella Braun.

• 5 Insurance Types For Mitigating Tariff-Related Trade Losses

  

  The potential for significant trade-related losses as a result of increased tariffs may cause companies to consider which of their insurance policies, including marine, builders risk, trade credit, and directors and officers, could provide coverage to alleviate the financial impact, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

• Avoiding Pitfalls Around New Calif. Commercial Lease Law

  

  A California law that became effective this year requires commercial landlords to extend certain protections previously afforded to residential tenancies, and a few key provisions of the law especially warrant reexamination of leasing and operational processes, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

• Measuring And Mitigating Harm From Discriminatory Taxes

  

  In response to new tariffs and other recent "America First Trade Policy" pronouncements, corporations should assess and take steps to minimize their potential exposure to discriminatory and reciprocal tax measures that are likely to come, say economists at Charles River Associates.

• Addressing Tariff Price Escalation In Construction Contracts

  

  As construction projects across the U.S. face uncertainty surrounding material price increases driven by government-imposed tariffs, owners and developers should draft strong contracts to protect themselves from tariff-related cost overruns and delays, say attorneys at Akerman.

• How The CRE Industry Is Adapting To Tariff Uncertainty

  

  Amid uncertainty about pending tariffs and their potential ripple effects, including higher material costs, supply chain delays and tighter margins, commercial real estate industry players are focusing on strategic planning and risk mitigation, says Daniel Diaz Leyva at Day Pitney.

• Reconciling 2 Smoke Coverage Cases From California

  

  As highlighted by a California Department of Insurance bulletin clarifying the effect of two recent decisions on insurance coverage, the February state appellate ruling denying coverage for property damage from smoke, ash and soot should be viewed as an outlier, say attorneys at Reed Smith.

• Contractor Remedies Amid Overhaul Of Federal Spending

  

  Now that the period for federal agencies to review their spending has ended, companies holding procurement contracts or grants should evaluate whether their agreements align with administration policies and get a plan ready to implement if their contracts or grants are modified or terminated, say attorneys at DLA Piper.

• Contract Disputes Recap: Terminations Galore

  

  Attorneys at Seyfarth examine three recent decisions in which the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals provide valuable insights into contract terminations, modifications and the jurisdictional requirements for claims.

• Making The Opportunity Zones Program Great At Last

  

  As the opportunity zone program approaches its expiration, the Republican-led government could take specific steps to extend and improve the program, address its structural flaws, encourage broader participation and enable it to live up to its promised outcomes, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

• Investor Essentials For Buying Federally Owned Property

  

  Investors and developers can take advantage of the Trump administration's plan to sell government-owned real estate by becoming familiar with the process and eligible to bid, and should prepare to move quickly once the U.S. General Services Administration posts the list of properties for sale, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

• How 2025 Is Shaping The Future Of Bank Mergers So Far

  

  Whether the long-anticipated great wave of consolidation in the U.S. banking industry will finally arrive in 2025 remains to be seen, but the conditions for bank mergers are more favorable now than they have been in years, say attorneys at Skadden.