Commercial Lease Law 2010: Cases and Commentary on Avoiding Ambiguous Lease Language

Commercial owners have much to learn from the case law issued by U.S. federal and state courts over the past year. The biggest challenge for owners seems to be drafting clear lease language, which can protect them from lawsuits filed by tenants arguing that they have rights the owner didn't intend to give them. If your lease provisions are ambiguous—failing to clearly define your and your tenant's rights and obligations—a court could interpret the lease favorably for your tenant.

In this issue, you will find the most significant commercial lease law cases from the past 12 months that illustrate the importance of negotiating narrow lease terms to protect yourself from litigation. This issue's commentary from Insider experts shows you how to draft your lease so that you can avoid—or win—lawsuits such as these.