#cre lawyer

[crelaw-commercialrealestate]

Representative Matters for Shams Merchant

Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions & Dispositions

Represented a REIT in the $200 million sale of a corporate campus and North American HQ of a large public company.

Led the sale of a $150 million award-winning mixed-use development for a private investment firm to an out-of-state buyer.

Assisted a biomedical company in purchasing industrial property from a large chemical corporation for $10 million.

Represented a private seller in the $30 million sale of an award-winning redevelopment project in Houston.

Managed the $112 million acquisition of a medical office building in Sugar Land, Texas, for a REIT.

Guided private equity in acquiring a $10 million office building in Houston and over 10 acquisitions of raw land for retail and hospitality projects.

Commercial Real Estate Leasing

Represented one of the largest real estate developers globally in leasing office and retail projects in Houston.

Assisted private investment groups with leasing Class A office and retail spaces in award-winning developments.

Represented leading industrial real estate firms in leasing industrial properties and resolving various leasing disputes.

Commercial Real Estate Development

Represented a private investment firm in a $150 million mixed-use development in downtown Houston.

Managed raw land acquisitions for retail center development and ongoing real estate development matters in Texas.

Commercial Real Estate Finance

Assisted high-net-worth clients and private groups with loan document revisions and acquisition loan negotiations.

Represented private equity firms in negotiating CMBS loans and "bad boy" carve-outs.

Commercial Real Estate General

Drafted and negotiated a wide range of real estate agreements, including REAs, CCRs, easements, and development agreements.

Handled 1031 tax-deferred exchanges, construction contracts, and other real estate-related matters.

Corporate and Business Law

Structured corporate documents for private equity firms, including partnership agreements, LLC operating agreements, and business reorganizations.

Provided on-going legal support to real estate investors and private equity firms on various corporate matters.

Securities and Fund Formation

Represented private equity groups in Rule 506(b) fund formations, including a $30 million fund for industrial properties and a $50 million fund for build-to-rent homes.

Provided legal advice for multi-family, retail, industrial, and office property acquisitions.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Represented restaurant owners in acquisitions, including lease negotiations and expansion projects.

Title Insurance, Closings & Escrow Services

Managed title, escrow, and closing services for investors, developers, and private investment firms through affiliated title companies. Successfully closed billions of dollars in commercial real estate transactions.

Shams Merchant continues to lead high-profile transactions, ensuring clients' interests are protected while maintaining efficient and effective legal services across a broad range of commercial real estate matters.

[mori-sempai]

Hey what’s good the asshole pilot at the boys job who made his job really hard and almost killed him is DEFINITELY going to jail because the government out here wants to make an example of him as to why you shouldn’t drink and drive and rear end someone

[ot3]

Hey! The link to your FAQ wasn't working for me so I don't know if this question has been asked before. I really appreciate your perspectives on AI art. Do you happen to have any resources that you read/listened to on intellectual property rights and the issues with it? I just don't really know where to start with it.

[heres where i cut out a big paragraph of me, once again, bitching about how blog pages don't work on the tumblr app and i think that's fucking stupid]

anyway i dont have any generalized sources on the subject but the tl;dr of it is: intellectual property rights exclusively benefit people who have the resources to pursue sustained litigation. 99% of the time, what IP law is being used for is to reinforce corporate ownership of work that was done by their employees.

the whole disco elysium debacle is a great case study.

The shareholders of ZA/UM accused the trio of, among other things, intending to steal intellectual property (IP) from the company — a curious accusation, considering that the world of the game is based off of a novel written by Kurvitz himself. The case of Disco Elysium illustrates the shortcomings of IP rights as protection for artists. Consequently, it contains a lot of lessons for the labor movement when it comes to the arts, and serves as a reminder that creative workers are, at the end of the day, workers. But this is not just an academic exercise. It’s a human story about the intimate consequences of capitalist exploitation. “I got my soul ripped out of me,” Kurvitz told me over Zoom in April of 2023. “I got my skull cracked open and my brain lifted out of it by a fifty-five-year-old financial criminal.”

another example: alex norris of webcomic name, which you will probably recognize when you see it, has been raising hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past several years to try and keep up with the protracted legal battle over maintaining ownership of his own work.

I have been fighting this case since 2019. It arose out of an agreement to make a boardgame based on my webcomic in 2017 but the publishing company has used this as an opportunity to take all of my intellectual property, and has even claimed ownership of Webcomic Name as a whole. I can't go into more detail here, but the details of the case are publicly available to read online.

Then, in a 2024 update:

I have essentially won the main case based on the decisions made last summer. The Judge has clearly stated that I own my comics, and that the other party has infringed on my copyright. It is not over yet, as there are still a few things that need to happen. Hopefully things will all be wrapped up this year. After 6 years of legal battling, I can’t wait to be free of all of this. Hopefully, this second case will backfire, and they will be sanctioned for filing it. But to get to that point requires a frustratingly large amount of work, time and money.

An interesting thing about both of these two specific instances is that they involve creators who had entire bodies of work produced around the specific IPs that were stolen from them before they even began partnering with corporate entities to produce works. which is insane! you can spend years writing novels, drawing comics, and if a company comes in with enough lawyers they can own those ideas.

this is pretty distinctly different to me than instances of work you do while being employed by a corporate entity being owned by that corporate entity, because at least you know what you're getting into there to some degree, but i still think that's bad too. consider stuff like the owl house and gravity falls, two disney shows made by people who very very clearly did not like working for disney. disney owns their ideas, their characters, their worlds, because that's the price you pay for having an animated show produced.

essentially it's very very clear upon even the slightest examination that intellectual property in no way exists to codify who the creator responsible for specific creative concepts or works is. it exists to turn nebulous things like 'ideas' into market commodities, and to funnel the profits made by the labor of individual artists and writers into corporate bank accounts.

the only person who has ever really benefited from IP law as an individual trying to lay claim to their own work is ken penders, who notoriously won his suit to have ownership of characters and storylines he created. heartbreaking: Worst Person You Know Gets An Unequivocally Deserved Legal W.

The comics continued under Flynn’s direction as if nothing happened, but things started looking grim in late 2012, when Archie suddenly fired its entire legal team. The company had been unable to produce Penders’ work-for-hire contract, which would have given control of his creations to Sega. Penders claimed the contract had never existed. A heavily circulated Tumblr post outlining the case (which has been corroborated as a reliable source by Penders) explains that while Archie did provide a photocopy of a contract allegedly signed by Penders in 1996, Penders claimed that the document was a forgery. That it was neither an original copy nor a contract from the beginning of the writer’s tenure at Archie meant that its validity was questionable. Making things worse, Archie couldn’t produce an original copy of any previous contributor’s contract, meaning that any writer or artist who had worked on the Archie Sonic line could potentially follow in Penders’s footsteps and reclaim their work. “So are you saying prior counsel blew it?” the presiding judge asked Archie counsel Joshua Paul in a May 2013 court session. His reply was unequivocal: “Absolutely, your Honor.”

So yeah. Owning the work you do as an artist is only something that happens when the people trying to profit off of it show unprecedented and staggering level of incompetence in their legal teams.

Then, alongside not owning the concepts and ideas you produce while working with corporate entities, there's the issue of NDA regarding specific pieces you've produced. This causes a LOT of trouble for freelance illustrators/character designers/concept artists, etc. Looking for work is very hard when the past three years of pieces you've drawn can't be added to your portfolio. Some people have password protected pages on their portfolios that they use for NDA work, but I believe the right to do this varies depending on your contract. I'm not 100% sure. In cases where the project you worked on eventually comes out, that's one thing, but there will be instances where the entire project gets canned after all the work is done, but is still under NDA so essentially all of your work has been taken from you, crumpled up into a ball by a studio executive, thrown in the trash can, and legally you are not allowed to go pick it out of the bin and try and flatten it out again.

This has all been pretty art-focused because that's the kind of circles I run in and where a lot of my interests lie but the truth is none of this is even remotely close to as evil IP law gets. I've saved the most egregious for last: The Lakota Language Consortium

The Lakota Language Consortium had promised to preserve the tribe’s native language and had spent years gathering recordings of elders, including Taken Alive’s grandmother, to create a new, standardized Lakota dictionary and textbooks.  But when Taken Alive, 35, asked for copies, he was shocked to learn that the consortium, run by a white man, had copyrighted the language materials, which were based on generations of Lakota tradition. The traditional knowledge gathered from the tribe was now being sold back to it in the form of textbooks.

When you're in defense of IP law, this is what you're siding with. This is the rational endpoint of IP and it is neither a fluke nor an example of the concept being twisted against its original design. Art, culture, language, it belongs to whoever is most capable of turning it into a product. The economic incentives of producing and distributing arts and culture demand this is how things be.

Meya says his work is a vital tool in preserving the Lakota language, which did not previously have a standardized written form. He estimated that there are fewer than 1,500 fluent Lakota speakers left and that over the last decade and a half, the organization has helped add 50 to 100 more. “Just because money is involved in it does not inherently make it an evil thing,” Meya said in a recent interview with NBC News. Most of the products his organizations make are free, he said, but the cost of printing textbooks has to come from somewhere. “That tends to be sometimes part of the rhetoric, ‘Oh, there’s money involved. It must be, you know, part of the overall colonization effort.’ Well, you know, that’s just not realistic.”

Artists looking to force their way into the class of people who gets protected by these laws are not looking out for their community. They are not protecting anything but their own perceived financial interests. Intellectual property will never, ever benefit the most marginalized members of creative communities and anyone who tries to convince you otherwise is huffing some serious copium.

Frankly, I don't believe anyone can or should 'own' things like Ideas or Specific Aesthetic Flairs. But even if you do believe in that, IP law isn't the framework for handling it.

[eyes-of-mischief]

weekly fic recs | 33

prompt: bureaucracy/office au

fandoms: bnha, dc, hq, mdzs

bnha

Heroics: Not Just Punching People Into Buildings, Apparently by stifledlaughter

"In today's practical test, you all will grapple with one of the worst aspects of being a hero," announced Present Mic to class 1-A. "Paperwork!"  

---

Sometimes, hero work isn't about capturing villains. It's about trying not to cry on the phone to the insurance agent after being on hold for an hour when they tell you that their company only accepts faxed forms.

He's Our Most Important Member by autumnconcept

As a member of the quirkless side of society, Izuku has long given up his dream of being a hero.

Remind him how he ended up in charge of an entire agency?

dc

Executive Assistant to the Batman by heartslogos

“So what’s someone like you doing working for someone like Wayne?”

“We’re star-crossed,” Tim answers, because clearly this job has only improved his ability to mouth off with a complete and total lack of self-regard.

(Rewrite of my old Assistant!verse)

on my desk by monday by calamityjade

(explicit)

Dick Grayson was tired of living hidden in his father's shadow. He desperately needs to find a space where he can thrive as just himself, and figures seeking out a simple job might be a good start; but being Jason Todd's assistant gives him so much more than he expected to gain. (No capes AU. Jason Todd is a lawyer and Dick is hired as his assistant)

haikyuu

hyogo melon code of conduct by goldplate

(mature)

“You misunderstand me, Miya-san. We’re not here to discuss the legality of your… melons."

-

Osamu's home garden gets the attention of the municipality's building and lot code compliance office.

the right path by norio

"What do you expect from our company?" the interviewer asked.

A job. A straightforward path, the only concerns about the budget for printer toners. A solitary lifestyle in a cubicle. But Akaashi curled his fingers around his resume and thought wryly that if he truly wanted all that, he wouldn't be applying to an anime company.

mdzs

Best man for the job; a detailed treatise on Chief Cultivation by Aerlalaith

“Just these?” He had thought, perhaps, given Jin Guangyao’s notorious organizational skills, there might be a few more, but it does not overly trouble him.

“Oh no, Chief Cultivator,” Jin Guangtian says. “This is just the index.”

(The peerless Hanguang-Jun faces his greatest challenge yet: bureaucracy).

The Roots Grow Riotous by hansbekhart

(explicit)

Sometimes Lan Zhan doesn’t work through lunch. Sometimes he makes conversation with coworkers in the halls. Sometimes he goes home instead of spending the last hour trawling through Grindr. But mostly, that’s exactly what he does. The sameness is comforting. His life spools out in easily measured increments: capsule collections, yards of hand dyed textiles, ninety day lead times, sell through figures, cost of goods sold. 

Every date in manufacturing can be calculated backwards and forward from a single horizon point: the date that the goods must arrive into the country where they'll be sold. Other than that, nothing else really matters.

Always Be Closing by betts

(explicit)

Wei Ying’s thumb hovered over Lan Zhan’s number. It would be a brief phone conversation. Not even a minute. He would tell Lan Zhan what needed to be done, and Lan Zhan would say “mn” a bunch of times, and Wei Ying would spiral all day about how much Mr. Hot and Perfect All the Time probably hated his guts, and it would be fine. Emotionally, no different than any other Tuesday.

Fine, sue him, he was a coward. He pulled up a new text and typed, My son is sick today. Going to doctor. Can you do smoothie hut call? 500m CRE + 250m LOC

He sent the text. The ellipses rose. He waited.

Or: During a long overdue divorce and messy custody battle, Wei Ying gets demoted to small business finance. There, he's partnered with a new closer who clearly hates him, until he finds out Lan Zhan is far more verbose—and dare he say flirtatious?—in writing than in speaking

But to be loved like a song you remember Even when you've changed by enbysaurus_rex

The manual was long, but it all boiled down to the same thing-- assess, capture, banish, assess, repeat. Keep the affected area to a minimum. Be proactive in protecting any device that can access the internet. Physical storage areas with names had to be up to standard (file boxes were allowed, so long as the lid was reinforced and could stand up to the particular talisman used), but anything else usually required paperwork and approval, even if it was retroactive. Wangji hoped everything was in file boxes this time, even though he knew it was in vain. None of his storage solutions had ever been declined, but it was a tremendous amount of paperwork, picture taking, and documentation for what was usually a relatively small collection. In this case, it was less likely to be true, and the documentation was likely to be equal to the names warded and sealed. He appreciated that.

[iceriverbeats]

Check out “Suits” on Netflix

[nsfwhiphop]

Incoming Text for Marion Cotillard:

Hey, Marion! You are the French Cop now.

You're in office as the protector and bodyguard of Tracey Edmonds.

I don't trust my family, not one, they're all corrupt and they are loyal to many other corrupt people in France and Tracey doesn't know this information.

I want to ask you to protect Tracey Edmonds from my corrupt family members, do you hear me?

I'm asking you to protect her and my lawyer Kim Kardashian too, when they come visit me in France, you have to make sure that none of my family members will see them, they will avoid them to protect themselves against any "He Say, She Say" cases.

The title of this letter is:

"Defense Strategy in He Said, She Said Cases"

Read this article:

A lot of my family members have signed deals with my many enemies and they want to wait for an opening to say that they have been witnesses to this and witnesses to that, do you understand?

This is my "Defense Strategy in He Said, She Said Cases"

Tracey Edmonds and Kim Kardashian will never speak to them or see them face-to-face, these two women must ignore them, that way they can't say they know her.

I'm asking you to protect Tracey Edmonds when she is in France, don't let them get near her, not one member of my family will get near Tracey Edmonds, she will refuse to acknowledge their existence.

Marion Cotillard, you are the Police officer now, you have to make sure that Tracey is safe and Kim Kardashian is safe too.

When they come to visit me in France, you can use the Police to come pick me up at my home and I will follow you in the Police car, it's as simple as that, you can use the Police to clean up this mess.

You know where I live, use the Police to come pick me up and I will follow you in a Police car, you can do that, can you?

Listen carefully, you need to understand the situation, you have to understand that there are many American and French billionaires who paid my family members to lie about me and my future wife Tracey Edmonds, they are waiting for an opportunity to hurt us with false claims and slander by selling our information to news channels.

But wait, here's the kicker, they can't prove shit until now.

And that's where you come in, Marion will become the cleaner like Jean Reno, do you remember that movie?

Victor the cleaner character, Jean Reno, well, you are the cleaner now.

You can say you are the female version: "Victoria the cleaner."

You are responsible for the safety and security of Kim Kardashian and Tracey Edmonds in France.

You can use your friends in the French Police to make sure this operation is smooth sailing and clean, with no proof, not one little proof.

In the end, all our enemies will become blind and we will win the PRIVACY war, you will protect the privacy of Tracey & Kim K.

Tracey & Kim K will follow the lead of Marion the cleaner.

There will be no mention of our meeting in the newspapers, the only way to pull this off is with your friends in the Police, and I know you have many friends in the Police, so do it, Marion, I know you can.

I hate google.

Tracey hates google.

Kim Kardashian hates google too.

And I know Marion hates google too.

We all hate google.

So, please Marion, can you make sure that we never appear on google? Thank you.

I live in Strasbourg, you can pick me up with a Police car, I will follow your lead, I'll wait for you, Marion the cleaner.

This is the perfect solution to put an end to the clout-chasers in France, they all want to appear on google, and we have to protect our privacy, kick them out, and block all the French clout-chasers.

okay, this chat was fun.

Love you, Marion! Have fun, big hug for you.

P.S:

Here is the scene on youtube:

Victor the Cleaner is illest motherf*cker from here to Gardena: La Femme Nikita

[crelookup]

Journey into the World of Commercial Real Estate: A Guide to Success

Commercial real estate (CRE) stands as a dynamic and multifaceted sector within the broader real estate industry, encompassing a wide range of property types such as office buildings, retail spaces, industrial facilities and more. Behind the towering skyscrapers and bustling shopping centers lies a complex ecosystem of landlords, tenants, investors and developers attempting to navigate the constantly evolving landscape of CRE.

For entrepreneurs and businesses, commercial real estate represents more than just physical space – it's a strategic asset that can fuel growth, increase productivity and strengthen brand identity. Finding the right location, negotiating favorable lease terms and maximizing operational efficiency are some of the considerations that can have a significant impact on the success of any business venture.

Similarly, investors are attracted to commercial real estate because of its long-term appreciation and income generating potential. Whether acquiring office buildings for rental income, purchasing retail properties for redevelopment, or investing in industrial warehouses to capitalize on e-commerce trends, CREs offer investment strategies to suit different risk profiles and investment strategies. Does. Let's offer. Does. Provides diverse opportunities.

However, navigating the world of commercial real estate can be challenging, especially for those unfamiliar with its complexities. There are many factors to consider when entering into a CRE transaction, from market analysis and property valuation to financing options and legal considerations.

Fortunately, there are resources and professionals available to guide individuals and businesses through this process. Commercial real estate brokers and agents provide valuable expertise and market insight, helping clients identify opportunities, negotiate deals, and minimize risks. Additionally, financial advisors, lawyers and asset managers play essential roles in facilitating transactions and ensuring compliance with regulations.

In an increasingly digital world, technology also plays an important role in shaping the future of commercial real estate. From online listing platforms and virtual tours to data analytics and artificial intelligence, innovative technologies are revolutionizing the way properties are marketed, managed and transacted.

As we look ahead, the commercial real estate sector is poised for continued growth and development. Trends such as remote working, sustainability and urbanization are reshaping demand for commercial properties, while emerging technologies and economic shifts present both challenges and opportunities for industry stakeholders.

Whether you're a business owner looking for the perfect location for your next venture, an investor looking to diversify your portfolio, or a professional who wants to understand the intricacies of CRE transactions, commercial real estate is primed for success. Is major. Is major. Is major. It is necessary to understand the basic principles of. By staying informed, taking advantage of expert advice and embracing innovation, individuals and businesses can harness the full potential of commercial real estate and thrive in today's competitive market landscape.

[almaqead]

"The Thinker." Introduction to Surah 5: Al Ma'idah, "The Table Setting."

Through Surah 4 we learn God is who He is, and has always been of the same mind about His creation and humankind. He has been pushing us from behind, using the Torah, the Gospels, and the Quran, each with different styles of instrumentation to tell us we have a bright future filled with luxuries and choices if we do not fight, honor and educate women, and stand between government and religious corruption and the people with all our determination.

It sounds like a liberal approach but we know it is not. Ask a lawyer or look at a law library. Civilization is a compact, complex representation of codes we have incorporated into our minds and turned into habits. When these habits change, we lose time, money, land, lives and our fortunes. Muhammad said this was a disgrace we must not incur.

Muhammad had an interesting job- he was the heir to almost every fully developed and failing faith on the planet and he had nothing good to say about how well they were working.

Surah 5, Al Ma’ida “The Table Spread” is dated to 622 after Muhammad made the First Hijrah from Mecca to Yathrib, what was later to be called Medina. We donot know the real name of the Muhammad that wrote this Surah or his or her fellows. The First Prophet died in 622.

Surah 5 is likely an attempt to maintain a tradition or technique for the new religion of Islam vital- to magnify its ability to teach, address social, political and spiritual issues. To maintain the dialogue between humanity the Most High, Allah.

Among many of these was the ongoing question of what to do about Christians and Jews, and the fragile ideology of a truly spiritual instead of legal path. Muhammad was desperate to lead Muslims away from the oppression of a cruel and rigid God.

Still Surah 5 is a legal document most of all- Judaic in its prescriptions and restrictions. All of its spiritual possibilities and pertinence to modern life will be discussed.

5:1:

O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts. Lawful for you are the animals of grazing livestock except for that which is recited to you [in this Qur'an] - hunting not being permitted while you are in the state of ihram. Indeed, Allah ordains what He intends.

O you who have believed, do not violate the rites of Allah or [the sanctity of] the sacred month or [neglect the marking of] the sacrificial animals and garlanding [them] or [violate the safety of] those coming to the Sacred House seeking bounty from their Lord and [His] approval.

But when you come out of ihram, then [you may] hunt. And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Haram lead you to transgress. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.

Commentary:

Ihram is the opposite of Haram. In Masjid Al Haram, the House of the Sacred, yes you shall. In Masjid Al Ihram, the House of the Forbidden, no you shall not.

This section then alludes to a classification of food animals not unlike the one named in the Kosher System of Classification, with which Muhammad named some commonalities, but for the most part, Jewish rules made Muhammad angry and he complained about the stinginess of Jews, especially towards food.

So what are we to do with this? As in the Torah we need to look at the fundamentals of all Judaism based thinking and that requires Gematria. Even without Gematria, it should not be that hard for an intelligent man to tell what is good for him and what is not, what is good for the world and what is not, what is wrong, and what is right:

5.1a: The Value in Gematria is 14062, ידאֶפֶסו‎ב, yadafesov, "knowledge."

What does Allah say about knowledge in the Quran? About those who have knowledge, the Quran says: “God will exalt by (many) degrees those of you who have attained to faith…” (Surah 58: 11). According to Quranic perspective, knowledge is a prerequisite for the creation of a just world in which authentic peace can prevail.

5.1b: The Value in Gematria is 9802,טחאֶפֶסב‎, tahfesb, "think."

"Rationality as meant by the Qur’ān and embodied in its unique style is presented. Furthermore, the Qur’ānic documentation of the role of practical demonstration on the individual's mind as well as the societies’ collective mind is pointed out. In addition, the study shows how the Qur’ān guides people to the proper use of reason within a scientific framework of mind.

In agreement with Kalin,[1] Crow,[2] Kazi[3] and Iqbal,[4] contrary to the pre-Islamic period of Jāhiliyyah, “ignorance”, Islam represented the era of not only faith, but also knowledge, reason, justice, freedom and humanism in its real attributes of: Tolerance, altruism, and respect to human beings.

Hence, by the middle of the seventh century, a new sociopolitical order as well as a new ontology of the reason was established. Therefore, the ontological ground of the Qur’ānic reason and rationality were known long before the Greek philosophical texts, which were translated into Arabic in the middle of the ninth century as stated by Ibn ‘Abi-’Uṣaybiʿah.[5]"

5.1 c: The Value in Gematria is 11018, יאאֶפֶסאח‎, japhesach, "you're stupid."

The Quran and the Faith both forbid the intersection of hatred and stupidity. It is vital the Muslims of the world stand behind the words of the Prophet against the Mormons and the Evangelicals and those who would discredit them or the Religion and complete the aims of their corruption:

"Islam as a religion is grounded in reality and allows legitimate force in particular contexts. The Qurʾān and teachings of the Prophet, peace be upon him, provide guidelines and restrictions on the use of force.

These instructions are often cherry picked out of context to demonstrate Islam’s alleged coercive nature. However, even an honest cursory examination of the Qurʾān and the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, will enable us to conclude that Muslims are not permitted to fight others based on belonging to another faith.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, had non-Muslim neighbors and family members who he loved, cared for, and had strong bonds and relationships with. If Islam taught Muslims to kill and hate all non-Muslims simply because of their faith, then he should have been the first to do so. However, this was not the case.

The Qurʾān clarifies the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims as being one that is based on love and compassion. The Qurʾān states Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity. (Qurʾān 60: 8).

This verse makes it clear that the basis for fighting is not religion, but defense against those who attack Muslims for simply being Muslims. Although Islam allows Muslims to fight those who attack them, it requires Muslims to be fair and just even with their enemies."

Thanks to Dick Cheney and the mooks at the Heritage Foundation and RNC, we have this false notion front and center that the Quran and Islam barely scrape by as valid religious documents or systems. The truth is there is more than just a little lint of goodness in both as we have discovered.

[ennovance]

A.I. Is Coming for Lawyers, Again

Previous advances in A.I. inspired predictions that the law was the lucrative profession most likely to suffer job losses. It didn’t happen. Is this time different?

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/10/technology/ai-is-coming-for-lawyers-again.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare #productivity #AI #commercialrealestate #cre #chatgpt #artificalintelligence

https://twitter.com/mohossain/status/1671877760032342019?s=46&t=GtuOmoaTjOwevz2JidiiDQ

[doraekirst]

Man Overboard On Cruise Ship Near Hawaii - Lawyer Reacts - YouTube

The Australian man who fell overboard a cruise ship enroute to Hawaii has been identified as Warwick Tollemache. Crews on board the Quantum of the Seas conducted an immediate search for the 35-year-old. The search was suspended after the ship’s cre…

source https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEPrDqvGhcg

[crelaw-commercialrealestate]

Representative Matters for Shams Merchant

Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions & Dispositions

Represented a REIT in the $200 million sale of a corporate campus and North American HQ of a large public company.

Led the sale of a $150 million award-winning mixed-use development for a private investment firm to an out-of-state buyer.

Assisted a biomedical company in purchasing industrial property from a large chemical corporation for $10 million.

Represented a private seller in the $30 million sale of an award-winning redevelopment project in Houston.

Managed the $112 million acquisition of a medical office building in Sugar Land, Texas, for a REIT.

Guided private equity in acquiring a $10 million office building in Houston and over 10 acquisitions of raw land for retail and hospitality projects.

Commercial Real Estate Leasing

Represented one of the largest real estate developers globally in leasing office and retail projects in Houston.

Assisted private investment groups with leasing Class A office and retail spaces in award-winning developments.

Represented leading industrial real estate firms in leasing industrial properties and resolving various leasing disputes.

Commercial Real Estate Development

Represented a private investment firm in a $150 million mixed-use development in downtown Houston.

Managed raw land acquisitions for retail center development and ongoing real estate development matters in Texas.

Commercial Real Estate Finance

Assisted high-net-worth clients and private groups with loan document revisions and acquisition loan negotiations.

Represented private equity firms in negotiating CMBS loans and "bad boy" carve-outs.

Commercial Real Estate General

Drafted and negotiated a wide range of real estate agreements, including REAs, CCRs, easements, and development agreements.

Handled 1031 tax-deferred exchanges, construction contracts, and other real estate-related matters.

Corporate and Business Law

Structured corporate documents for private equity firms, including partnership agreements, LLC operating agreements, and business reorganizations.

Provided on-going legal support to real estate investors and private equity firms on various corporate matters.

Securities and Fund Formation

Represented private equity groups in Rule 506(b) fund formations, including a $30 million fund for industrial properties and a $50 million fund for build-to-rent homes.

Provided legal advice for multi-family, retail, industrial, and office property acquisitions.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Represented restaurant owners in acquisitions, including lease negotiations and expansion projects.

Title Insurance, Closings & Escrow Services

Managed title, escrow, and closing services for investors, developers, and private investment firms through affiliated title companies. Successfully closed billions of dollars in commercial real estate transactions.

Shams Merchant continues to lead high-profile transactions, ensuring clients' interests are protected while maintaining efficient and effective legal services across a broad range of commercial real estate matters.

[perceabeth]

childhood friends coffee shop au

mari bestie u missed the memo where i said JOCK au but it's ok i wrote u this <3

People Watching

“What about the kids sitting at Crescent?”

“Cres– you can’t name our tables, Annabeth.” Percy leans his elbows on the counter and peers around the snack shelf. “That’s… no. I think they’re friends.”

“So you knew what I meant by Crescent.” Annabeth points a finger at him and Percy snorts.

“The table by the window that opens up into Crescent Street? It isn’t rocket science.” He flicks her forehead and Annabeth scowls at him. “But they’re not dating. Look– the guy in the yellow jacket, he keeps checking his phone. It’s way too desperate– he’s texting a partner, or a potential partner, a crush. You know.”

“Fair enough.” Annabeth looks around the room. It’s slim pickings today– late Tuesday mornings aree generally quiet.

“There.” Percy says. “What about that group by The Bar?”

“The Bar?” Annabeth makes a face at him. “I’ll have you know that table is named Lawyer’s Ledge. Silena and I spent ages naming these tables. They’re our children.”

“Except all your names suck. But fine. Who in that group is dating?”

Annabeth observed them carefully. “There. The girl in green and the ginger girl. Look at the way they look at each other. I’d bet money they’re holding hands under the table when they think their friends aren’t watching.”

“I’m not sure. The tall skinny guy bought the redhead’s drink.”

“So? Maybe they’re friends. Maybe he owes her.”

“Fine. It doesn’t matter.” Something over her shoulder catches his attention. “Don’t make it obvious but a new couple just walked in.”

Even before she can find it in herself to be irritated– why would I make it obvious? This isn’t my first rodeo, Percy– her new customers have already crossed the length of the café and are currently waiting to be served. The girl seems warm enough– bright smile and sparkling brown eyes. Her companion is a little less welcoming, keeping an awkward but respectful distance from her, his broad shoulders rolled back and his spine erect as he watched Annabeth step back into the counter.

“Hey guys, what can I get for you?” She turns on her screen as the girl hums, scanning the menu.

“I’m going to get a large iced double shot caramel macchiato with five pumps of vanilla syrup. Is that okay?” Annabeth glances at Percy, who’s trying really hard to keep a straight face and then nods at her. “Extra whip, and some extra caramel drizzle on it.”

“Sure thing.” Annabeth checks the time on her screen. It’s only 10AM but Annabeth and Percy have already been on their feet for five hours. With that amount of caffeine and sugar for such a small body– it’s hard to imagine the girl shaking off the effects of her drink by the time night rolls around. “And you?”

“I’ll have a green tea. Regular, please.”

“Not a coffee person?” Annabeth asks as she rings them up. The guy shakes his head.

“Not really. Also a lemon muffin for me.” He adds, looking at his friend, who thinks about it for a moment before deciding against any food. Annabeth thinks she might be better for it. She’s grateful to have this job– if for any reason that it helps pay her bills– but she wouldn’t touch a single thing from their bakery with a ten foot pole.

“Cool. Percy?” Annabeth hands him the order. “Need me to help?”

“No, I’ve got it.” He waves her off and Annabeth turns back to the couple.

“Got any plans for the day?”

“Not really.” The girl looks up hopefully at the boy. “Just thought we’d come grab some coffee and work on an assignment together.”

“It’s a nice day out, isn’t it?” Annabeth’s met some dense boys before– hell, she’s worked alongside some dense boys before– so it doesn’t take much for her to catch onto the girl’s tragic plight. “Sure your assignment can wait. Go out, enjoy it. We’re not going to see the sun like this for a while.”

“What do you think, Jason?” The girl taps her card against the reader and pays for the entire thing. Annabeth notices how she isn’t thanked. “You know… Jones doesn’t expect anything from us for another two weeks.”

“I don’t know.” Jason glowers at Annabeth like she’s the single source of all his problems. It doesn’t bother her all that much– she’s had a lot worse from customers who’ve received the wrong flavouring in their coffee. “How about we work for a bit, and we’ll take it from there.”

“Sounds like a plan.” The girl doesn’t seem too beaten down by their compromise. She looks around the coffee shop and studies Annabeth for a moment before doing the same to Percy. “So what’s the vibe here supposed to be?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “You’re so… frills and lace in your hair and he’s so… ripped jeans and just-rolled-out-of bed. No uniform?”

“Cool boss.” Percy tells her as he carefully places Jason’s lemon muffin on their tray. He slides it across to them. “Thanks for coming down.”

They watch the two of them debate between two tables– Baby Shit and Makeout Corner– before settling on the less fortunately named one. Percy lets out a sympathetic oof.

“Baby Shit.” He sighs. “That’s a shame. They aren’t getting far.”

“You never know.” Annabeth counters. “Maybe they’ll graduate to Makeout Corner.”

“If she doesn’t die of diabetes first.” Percy snorts. “Cocaine would be a healthier option than what she’s drinking.”

“Stop.” Annabeth laughs. “She looks like she really likes him, you know.”

“First date?” Percy asks. “She paid for the entire thing. I’d say that’s pretty progressive.”

“Sure, in the 1800s.” Annabeth smacks him in the chest. “They don’t seem like they have much in common on the surface, do they?”

“Oh, yeah. He’s a military brat. She’s got a rich father. They’ll be miserable together.”

“You think?” Annabeth tilts her head as she watches them. “I don’t know. Sometimes it’s nice to be with someone different from you, right?”

“Why?” Percy grabs her by the hips and tugs her backwards into him. “Like frills and lace in your hair is different from ripped jeans and whatever she called me?”

“Yeah. Like that.” Annabeth presses a kiss to his jaw. “Exactly like that.”

“If that kid’s anything like me,” Percy mumbles into her ear. “She needs to make a move. And fast.”

“Why?” Annabeth asks. “Did I have a lot of competition?”

“Yeah. That girl from my art class was super into me. She’d have snapped me right up if you hadn’t swung in on time.” Percy says, dead serious. “I’m hot commodity, Annabeth.”

“Fine, then.” Annabeth lets him lift her off her feet and push her onto the counter. Technically, they aren’t allowed to do that, but the place is empty enough that their chances of getting caught are pretty low. Percy steps in between her legs and she locks her ankles around him. “Want to bet who can pull more people?”

“I’m not playing that game with you.” Percy throws his head back when he laughs. “You kidding me? You’d wipe the floor with me.”

“Glad we’ve established that.” Annabeth smirks and Percy leans in for a quick peck on the lips. “Hey. None of that cute stuff. Cindy finds out we’re making out on the clock– we’re both fired.”

Percy presses his forehead against hers. “That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

[castawavy]

hi cres if all the early bird's gang committed a crime + got arrested, how would they all react? 😌

HEYA SHAN 🥺ooo this is a good one

aoife would blame whoever was closest to her at the time, and 100% let them take the fall for her as well no shame!!

luna would cry ALOT and just keep crying until her mom came to collect her (aoife would probably be the one who got them in trouble).

finn would NEVER commit a crime but he would just go along with it as he wouldn't be 100% sure if he did something bad or not AHAHA.

avery would sit in the cop car scared shitless cuz he knows his mom finding out is gonna be worse than anything about to come next.

isaac would be cracking jokes AHAHA!!

and zach would be QUIET cuz he isn't saying anything until he gets a lawyer PFFF nerd

[lettalady]

I am writer hear me roar

⛔ Not all works are suitable for all audiences. Please take content warnings and tags seriously. AO3 ratings system in use ⛔

• T - teen • M - mature • E - explicit •

Always participating in the word prompt challenge

Find me on AO3 under the same username. Major works as follows:

{ TWH }

You've Only Just Arrived {YOJA} T actor!Tom/ reader *210k+ words and counting* The Journalist {TJOURN} T actor!Tom/ reader *47k+ words and counting, including prequel series* Unsettled {Unsettled} M actor!Tom/ reader (MM) *58k+ words and counting* Close Quarters {Close Quarters} T actor!Tom/ reader *7k+ words* Lakeside {Lakeside} T au!Tom/ Ryan Culler *30k+ words* Loki WISH series {WISH} E Loki/ agent of SHIELD reader *69k+ words and counting* The Heart of a Villain {HOAV} M au!villain-Tom/ Rose *120k words* *untitled bodyguard fic* {bodyguard!Tom} M bodyguard!Tom/ unnamed ofc [I’ll Always Want] More {More} E au!lawyer-Tom/  Catherine Paige MacDaniel nee Henderson *9k+ words and counting*

{ CRE }

A Turn of the Knife {Turn} E Ransom Drysdale/ reader (GG) *48k+ words and counting* SGR {SGR} T assorted Steve Rogers imagines and blurbs 

{ DB } The Long Journey Home {LJH} E Baron Helmut Zemo/ reader/ James Buchanan Barnes *158k+ words and counting, 238k+ for all the related stories combined*

{ MM } The Lion's Pride {Lion's Pride} M au!villain-Mads Mikkelsen *6.8k words*

[hotchkiss-and-tell]

Dates or Time of Year for Each Nancy Drew Game

whatamagicalplace made one of these charts last year. Those efforts gave me a starting point but I wanted to tweak it after doing my own research. I decided to share my final result since my version differs from hers in several ways. My reasoning for each game is discussed below; but if you have any evidence to add, feel free.

SCK: Nancy says in the opening letter she took a semester off school to visit Eloise in Florida. The banners for Senior Prom are still prominent throughout the school and the event is scheduled for May 23. Game takes place in a single day but that day could be any time in late spring semester prior to May 23.

SCK2: Homecoming banners are prominent and the event is scheduled for Sept 23. A flyer with Jake’s secret messages has a date of Sept 05, so let’s assume Jake was still alive then. The game says Nancy is there to investigate after Jake was murdered “last week.” That could mean three to seven days after the murder since it happened on a Thurs. Thus Remastered takes place in a single day but that day could be anywhere from Sept 08 to 22.

STFD: Nov 13 (confirmed with calendar). Game takes place for as many days and nights as player needs.

MHM: “Winter Festival” and Charlie studying for finals indicates late Nov to early Dec. Newspaper about the lost gold at the end is dated Mar 03; it could’ve been published after money settlement and the renovations completed though. Game takes place for as many days and nights as player needs.

TRT: December. The Spanish letter from Lisa’s friend is dated Nov 30 and acknowledges that Lisa is already in Wisconsin. By now, time should be well into Dec. 

FIN: Possibly Nov (game’s release) but there are no confirmed dates on anything. It’s likely during the school year since Maya is doing the interview for the student newspaper. Game takes place over three days.

SSH: Calendar on Henrik’s desk is for the month of April. The book version takes place during the DC Cherry Blossom parade which usually occurs last week of March or early April. Game takes place for as many days as player needs. (Early April timeline would match with end of game trailer and dates for DOG.)

DOG: Jeff’s calendar is open to April. Culprit’s log book says Sally is due to move in to the cabin on April 19. Sally says she spent four weeks at Moon Lake, implying the game starts May 18. But I really don’t see Jeff’s character forgetting to change the calendar, so either Sally moved in early or she means four weeks total including seeing the property, bidding, and the final sale plus moving in. And let’s remember there’s no safe water source, so it’s unlikely Sally could live there for four weeks straight. Sally says the dogs howled a full week before they attacked the house and then they appeared every night since; maybe Sally lasted 9-14 days with the ghost dogs. The game could likely begin anywhere between Apr 28 and May 18. Then continue for as many days and nights as the player needs.

CAR: Culprit’s emails with black market dealer date from May 23 through June 04. Harlan’s appt book opens to June 09-13 with the significant clue on June 10. Game is a single day, likely on June 10, but could be as early as June 05.

DDI: June 17 (confirmed with calendar). Single day of gameplay.

SHA: Sept 15 to 17. Nancy’s airline ticket confirms arrival date in AZ. Timeline of the game takes place in three days. (Tex’s b-day is Sept 16!)

CUR: This is anybody’s guess. Hugh and Linda were married Aug 22. The lawyer’s letter to Mrs. Drake states Linda must live at the manor for another three months to fulfill the “six-month-habitation-clause” and those six months must be consecutive in the first year of marriage. Game could be late Nov at the earliest. However, frogs are chirping when Nancy arrives at the manor which is a spring thing and Bess and George say they are attending sailing camp. The fact that no one is suggesting that Linda can leave due to health reasons and start the six months over when she’s well again makes me think the year is half gone already. So the game could also be taking place in April or May at the latest.

CLK: May 07 (confirmed with calendar). Single day of gameplay.

TRN: We see snow in Copper Gorge, but it’s in Colorado and snow can be any time of year there. Frank and Lori are wearing the puffy vests and everyone else has jackets and sweaters. Fatima says it’s the off-season now and summer is the busy season. Makes me think winter is my best guess.

DAN: Game takes place for as many days as player needs. The newspaper on Day 1 is dated Aug 28. Newspapers continue to appear through Sept 06, which publishes that the journalists are negotiating for raises and the sounds of the impending strike are occurring outside JJ’s apartment. Day 11 (Sept 07) and onward have no more newspapers appear on the kitchen table. Let’s say Aug 28 to Sept 07 for simplicity.

CRE: Mike’s calendar is set to March. Quigley’s tape recorder log updates as of Mar 28. Craven’s shipping records say his latest sample was sent to Aikens Biotech on Apr 09. Game takes place in a single day, probably Apr 09 or 10. (Mike just hasn’t turned over the calendar yet)

ICE: Newspaper in the lodge is dated Jan 13. Elsa’s resignation letter is dated Jan 15. Lodge computer says Lupe checked in on Jan 15 and she noticed the lack of maid services for days. Game likely takes place that same week, starting maybe Jan 18 at the earliest, and lasts over several days and nights.

CRY: May 31 (confirmed with calendar). Single day of gameplay.

VEN: Newspaper in the Ca’ terrace says chalice was stolen “this morning” and the police records say the theft happened Jan 25. When Nancy nabs Nico on the stakeout, the next day’s newspaper is dated Feb 03. Since game takes place over several days, it likely plays from Jan 25 to Feb 03.

HAU: Night of May 28. The wedding is set for June 01. The end dialogue says Kyler and Matt couldn’t stop saying “I love you” from when the rocket launched to four days later, which was their wedding day.

RAN: The float plane pilot says resorts like Dread Isle shut down in the summer for “hurricane season” in the Bahamas. And the game was released in July. Since we see the map that charts all of Nancy’s past cases (including HAU) so the game is after the wedding on Jun 01. But there is no reference to the current date aside from “summer.” Single day of gameplay.

WAC: The essay Mel receives from her teacher with the plagiarist comments is dated Nov 21. Since two more nights of sleep are required to trigger events in the game, we can figure that the game takes place from Nov 21 to 23.

TOT: Scott’s calendar is open to May and filled in with code until the 19th. The log book of precipitation is filled out until May 24. Game likely takes place from May 20 to 25.

SAW: The TE-Japan brochure in Nancy’s teacher tote says her exchange program runs from Jun 01 to Sept 15 with different durations of 2 weeks, 3-4 weeks, and 5-8 weeks. With no specific date in the game and the player taking as many days and nights as needed to solve the mystery, we have to settle for saying it takes place in “summer.”

CAP: Karl’s daily calendar is on page March 12. When Nancy finds the final forged email from “Markus” she remarks that it has tomorrow’s date, which is Mar 13. Game is a single night of play on Mar 12.

ASH: Newspaper and police report of Nancy’s arrest say the game is done in a single day of August 18. The fire took place on Aug 17.

TMB: It’s the desert and there are no dates on any clue in the game. Since Lily is a student and Abdullah and Jon are professors, perhaps the game takes place in summer between any busy semester/class schedules.

DED: Ellie’s notepad in the control booth says she gave the coil demo to Nancy on Oct 29. Nancy arrived in daylight hours but since Ellie is on the night shift, the demo could have taken place on either side of midnight which means the game could start on either Oct 28 or 29. (Nancy arrived 10/28, night fell and midnight passed, then Ellie gives demo 10/29 OR Nancy arrives 10/29, night fell and it’s not midnight yet, then Ellie gives the demo still on 10/29.) Game continues for as many days and nights as the player needs.

GTH: Jessalyn’s phone recorded her bachelorette party antics from the night of Oct 27 to early morning of Oct 28. Addison says Jess had vanished for the second time after sun-up. It is unclear how many days Jessalyn has been missing before Nancy arrives on the island. Nancy was deep asleep when Savannah calls her for help, which means Jess has been gone at least a full day. Then Nancy arrives on the island at night which either means it’s evening on the same day of Savannah’s call or another day has passed by the time Nancy gets there. Oct 29 is the earliest possibility. Game takes place over three nights. Likely set between Oct 29 and Nov 01.

SPY: The newspaper reports that July 14 is near and it will be the eighth anniversary of Revenant’s first attack. Alec’s letter documents that his sister was kidnapped on the first of the month and has not been seen since. Game takes place between Jul 02 and 14. While Nancy cannot sleep or change the time of day, it is hard to believe that traveling back and forth throughout Scotland’s towns and the different phases of the spy operation all take place in a single day.

MED: Summer in the southern hemisphere, so datewise it’s set between Dec and Feb. Again there’s no sleep or time of day transitions but the elimination rounds likely take place over several days.

LIE: Employee timecards are recorded through July 05, the artifact exchange log is filled out through July 06, and the packing slip on the open crate says received July 06. Game is a single day of play, likely on July 06 or 07.

SEA: Soren’s winter guest log says Nancy is visiting in January. Game takes place for as many days and nights as player needs.

MID: Minion’s plane ticket TO Austria where the game begins is dated Oct 26 and the game goes into Halloween.

[esqmelaw]

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