Brooklyn Commercial Lease Lawyer

Commercial Lease Attorney Serving Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn's commercial real estate market has expanded rapidly over the past decade, bringing new office developments to Downtown Brooklyn, retail corridors along Atlantic Avenue and Fifth Avenue, and restaurant and creative spaces throughout Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Gowanus. Whether you are a business owner looking to sign your first lease or a landlord preparing to lease a storefront, a Brooklyn commercial lease lawyer can protect your interests before you commit to a binding agreement.

Our firm reviews and negotiates commercial leases for tenants and landlords across Brooklyn. We handle everything from initial letter of intent review through lease execution, including rent escalation analysis, permitted use provisions, build-out and improvement allowances, assignment and subletting rights, and personal guaranty negotiations. A commercial lease in New York City is not a simple document. These agreements typically run 30 to 80 pages with complex riders, and the terms you agree to will govern your obligations for years.

Our Lower Manhattan office is a short ride from Brooklyn via the 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, F, or R trains. We regularly work with Brooklyn tenants and landlords in neighborhoods throughout Kings County, from DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights to Crown Heights, Flatbush, and Sunset Park. If you are entering a commercial lease or renewing an existing one, schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation.

Commercial Lease Review and Negotiation in Brooklyn

Office Lease Review

Brooklyn's office market has expanded significantly in Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, and Industry City, attracting tech companies, creative firms, and professional services businesses. Brooklyn has become one of the fastest-growing office markets in New York City, with new Class A developments in Downtown Brooklyn and converted loft spaces in neighborhoods like DUMBO, Industry City, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Office leases in these buildings often include complex provisions around operating expense escalations, electricity submetering, after-hours HVAC charges, and tenant improvement allowances. Our commercial lease attorneys review each provision to make sure the financial terms are clear and the obligations are reasonable for your business.

Retail and Restaurant Lease Attorney

Brooklyn's restaurant and retail leasing market spans vibrant corridors in Williamsburg, Park Slope, DUMBO, and Atlantic Avenue, where terms vary significantly by neighborhood, foot traffic, and property type. Brooklyn's restaurant scene is one of the most vibrant in the country, and restaurant lease negotiations in neighborhoods like Williamsburg, Carroll Gardens, and Fort Greene involve specialized provisions for kitchen exhaust, liquor licenses, and hours of operation. Retail and restaurant leases in Brooklyn carry risks that go beyond standard office leasing. Permitted use clauses must align precisely with your intended business operations, and restrictions on signage, hours of operation, odor, and noise can limit your ability to run your business effectively. Brooklyn restaurant tenants in particular need to verify that the space has the proper certificate of occupancy, that ventilation and exhaust requirements can be met, and that the lease allows for the necessary build-out. Our firm negotiates these provisions for tenants along commercial corridors in Williamsburg, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, and Prospect Heights.

Industrial and Warehouse Lease Review

Brooklyn's industrial market in neighborhoods like Sunset Park, Red Hook, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard includes warehouse, manufacturing, and distribution space with specialized lease terms. Brooklyn's industrial market remains active in areas like Sunset Park, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, East New York, and parts of Bushwick and Gowanus. Tenants leasing warehouse, manufacturing, or distribution space face unique issues around environmental compliance, loading dock access, zoning restrictions, and insurance requirements. We review industrial leases to address these concerns and negotiate terms that protect tenants from unexpected liabilities tied to the building's condition or prior use.

Lease Renewal and Extension

Brooklyn commercial tenants approaching lease expiration should begin renewal negotiations well in advance, particularly in high-demand neighborhoods where landlords may have competing offers from new tenants. If your Brooklyn commercial lease is approaching its expiration, renewing on existing terms without legal review can be a missed opportunity. Lease renewals are a chance to renegotiate rent, update maintenance and repair obligations, address any unresolved building issues, and adjust the term to match your business plans. Our attorneys review renewal offers, identify areas for improvement, and negotiate on your behalf so you are not locked into outdated or unfavorable terms for another cycle.

What Brooklyn Tenants and Landlords Should Know About Commercial Leases

Brooklyn's commercial leasing landscape varies significantly by neighborhood. A retail lease on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg involves different landlord expectations, foot traffic considerations, and rent structures than a lease on Court Street in Downtown Brooklyn or along Third Avenue in Bay Ridge. Understanding these local dynamics before negotiating your lease gives you leverage and helps avoid costly mistakes.

One of the most important provisions in any Brooklyn commercial lease is the personal guaranty. Most landlords require some form of guarantee, and the "good guy" guaranty is standard in New York City. Under a good guy guaranty, the individual guarantor remains personally liable for lease obligations only until the tenant properly vacates and surrenders the space. The specific conditions for release, including notice periods and the state in which the space must be surrendered, should be carefully negotiated. Without proper legal review, a guarantor can remain on the hook for obligations well beyond what they anticipated.

Brooklyn tenants should also pay close attention to rent escalation structures. Many leases include fixed annual increases, consumer price index adjustments, and real estate tax pass-throughs that compound over a long lease term. A five-year lease with a 3% annual escalation results in significantly higher rent by the final year, and understanding that number before signing is essential to your financial planning. Our firm models these escalations so you understand your total lease obligation from day one.

Landlord Representation for Brooklyn Commercial Properties

We also represent Brooklyn landlords and property owners who lease commercial space to tenants. Whether you own a mixed-use building in Bed-Stuy, a retail strip in Bensonhurst, or an office building in Downtown Brooklyn, our commercial lease attorneys draft leases that protect your investment while remaining competitive enough to attract quality tenants.

For landlords, we draft and review standard lease forms, negotiate tenant improvement allowances and build-out provisions, structure good guy guaranties and security deposit terms, and address insurance, indemnification, and liability provisions. We also advise on assignment and subletting clauses that give landlords appropriate control over who occupies their space without unnecessarily restricting the tenant's ability to operate.

Why Brooklyn Clients Choose Agarunov Law Firm

Agarunov Law Firm has been representing Brooklyn commercial tenants and landlords from our Lower Manhattan office since 2012. Our familiarity with Kings County's commercial corridors, zoning patterns, and landlord practices gives us a practical edge when negotiating your lease.

• Experienced in Brooklyn office, retail, restaurant, industrial, and mixed-use leases
• Representation for both tenants and landlords across all Brooklyn neighborhoods
• Accessible from Brooklyn via multiple subway lines to our Financial District office
• Direct attorney access throughout the lease review and negotiation process
• Licensed in both New York and New Jersey for businesses operating across state lines

How Our Commercial Lease Review Process Works

Our lease review process is designed to be efficient and thorough so you can move forward with confidence.

• Step 1: Initial Consultation. We discuss your business needs, the property you are considering, and your goals for the lease term. This consultation is free and helps us understand the key issues in your transaction.
• Step 2: Lease Review. We review the complete lease document, including all riders, exhibits, and amendments. We identify provisions that create risk or financial exposure and prepare a detailed summary of the key terms.
• Step 3: Negotiation. We communicate directly with the landlord's attorney to negotiate changes to the lease. We focus on the provisions that have the greatest financial and operational impact on your business, including rent, escalations, permitted use, build-out, guaranty, and exit provisions.
• Step 4: Final Review and Execution. Once negotiations are complete, we review the final lease to confirm all agreed changes are reflected. We walk you through the executed document so you understand your obligations before you sign.