10 steps to commercial lease negotiating — without the pain 05.05.16 Austin Business Journal People: Parker, David | Bernstein, Joshua Experience: Real Estate Offices: Houston | Austin Dealing with commercial leases in Austin is an unavoidable reality of operating a business — but it doesn’t have to be a painful one. Leases can be, and usually are, complex. However, by focusing on several key issues, you can greatly simplify and demystify the negotiation process. Below are some tips — gained from our experience in lease negotiations, both good and bad — to take the pain out of commercial leasing. Pick your battles On most things, you probably already know what is “market.” Don’t get bogged down in minutiae — instead, look at the bigger picture. Consider making a top-10 list of the items that matter most to you, then focus your negotiation on those items. A little empathy goes a long way Often, parties get too keyed on their role and position in a lease and fail to view the lease from the other party’s perspective.

Remember, this is a “marriage” and not a war. Don’t just write; talk Word processing and comparison programs make drafting and reviewing much easier, but often minimize (or eliminate) actual discussion. A call — or, better yet, an in-person meeting with the other side — can significantly reduce negotiation time. Continue Reading (subscription required). Greenberg Traurig, LLP | gtlaw.com 1 .