In the second episode of the second season of Landmarks, KingSpry attorneys Karley Biggs Sebia and Taisha Tolliver-Duran welcome Matthew Tranter and Ryan Dietrick to explore commercial lease negotiations and how to avoid disputes.
KingSpry is pleased to announce the launch of a new episode of Landmarks, the firm’s podcast exploring the legal and business issues shaping today’s commercial real estate industry.
In this episode, KingSpry real estate attorneys Karley Biggs Sebia and Taisha Tolliver-Duran welcome commercial real estate professional Ryan Dietrick and KingSpry Real Estate Practice Chair Matt Tranter for a practical conversation about navigating commercial leases. Using Coca-Cola Park as a backdrop and baseball-inspired metaphor, the discussion explains why a lease should function like a clear rulebook: defining rights, responsibilities, costs, and remedies before disagreements arise.
“A well-negotiated lease agreement helps commercial landlords and tenants understand their rights and responsibilities before disputes occur,” Karley notes.
The conversation highlights common sources of lease disputes, including ambiguous language, unexpected operating expenses, maintenance obligations, fit-out costs, and personal guarantees.
“The one thing that I always like to preach to my clients is to be patient,” Matt says. “Make sure that we’re working through those items now, so that down the road we’re not coming back to figure out what each party expected.”
Matt and Ryan emphasize the importance of patience, careful planning, and having the right professional team in place early—especially for new businesses or tenants unfamiliar with commercial leasing structures such as triple net leases.
“Define everything. Don’t assume anything is standard in a lease,” Ryan advises.
Taisha adds, “A well-drafted and thoughtfully negotiated commercial lease can help prevent disputes before they ever arise, setting both landlords and tenants up for long-term success.”
Landmarks is produced by KingSpry’s Real Estate Law Practice Group and is designed to provide timely, informative conversations on the legal issues influencing real estate development, investment, ownership, and management. The podcast is meant to be informational and does not constitute legal advice.
