Posted by Jennifer M. Settles, Esq. | October 8, 2026 Signing vs. Closing: Why Deals Don’t Always Happen in One Day In the movies, a business deal ends with everyone signing a contract, shaking hands, and celebrating, all in…
Posted by Jennifer M. Settles, Esq. September 9, 2026 Percentage Rent in Retail Leases: When You Pay the Landlord a Cut of Sales Most commercial tenants pay a predictable monthly rent and that’s the end of it. But in…
Posted by Jennifer M. Settles, Esq. September 4, 2026 Liquidated Damages vs. Penalties: Why One Is Enforceable and the Other Isn’t Many contracts include a clause that says something like, “If you breach this agreement, you’ll pay a set amount.”…
Posted by Jennifer M. Settles, Esq. | August 12, 2026 Due Diligence for Commercial Real Estate Purchases Buying commercial real estate is one of the larger investments a business or investor will make, and unlike most purchases, you usually…
Posted by Jennifer M. Settles, Esq. | July 27, 2026 The Commercial Lease Clauses That Cost Tenants the Most Money A commercial lease is often one of the largest financial commitments a business makes, frequently second only to payroll,…
Posted by Jennifer M. Settles, Esq. | June 19, 2026 Key Terms Every Commercial Contract Should Include A contract is only as strong as the terms written into it. When a deal is going well, the agreement sits in a…
Posted by Jennifer M. Settles, Esq. | June 15, 2026 Right of First Refusal vs. Right of First Offer: A Distinction That Costs Money Two phrases show up constantly in real estate deals, business agreements, and ownership arrangements, and they’re…
Posted by Jennifer M. Settles, Esq. | Apr 27, 2025 Tariffs: Powerful Tool or Blunt Weapon? A Clear Look at What They Are and Why They Matter In today’s political and economic discourse, “tariffs” have become a buzzword—frequently shouted, rarely…
Posted by Jennifer M. Settles, Esq. | May 02, 2025 SBA 7(a) Loan Program Overhaul Effective June 2025: Key Changes for Small Businesses Effective June 1, 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will implement significant reforms to its flagship…