CHICAGO –  To an owner, landlord or property manager, the filing of a mechanics lien can dramatically impact the ownership and operation of a property.  A mechanics lien can prevent new financing from being obtained.  It can trigger a default of existing loan agreements and it can prevent the sale and transfer of property.  It can even cause double payment for the same construction work.  At a minimum, a mechanics lien is an unwanted headache in the operation of property. 

Attorneys, Richard Reizen, David Arnburg, Ellen Chapelle and Eric Sparks, of the law firm Gould & Ratner LLP, legal and business advisors to entrepreneurs and closely held family-owned, middle market and Fortune 500 companies, presented a program entitled "Don't Lien on Me: A Practical Guide to Mechanics Liens" on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 in the Conference Center of their offices at 222 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois.

The audience of property owners, landlords, property managers, lenders and other real estate practitioners were presented with a basic sense of how mechanics liens work, best practices to avoid liens on property and strategies on how to handle problems when they do arise.  The presenters advised on how to handle construction projects to provide protection from liens claims and double payments; how to recognize when a lien claim is defective; and how to handle tenant construction work to protect a landlord's interests.

Topics also included a discussion on the elements necessary for obtaining and perfecting a lien claim; payment procedures, waivers and contractor's sworn statements; lien issues for tenant-occupied buildings; and, tips on language usage when crafting construction contracts.

Richard Reizen is chair of the firm's Construction Law Group.  His practice concentrates on representing corporations, partnerships, owners, general contractors and subcontractors in federal and state court litigation over construction, architectural, engineering and design defects, and other construction related claims. 

David Arnburg advises owners, developers, and lessees of commercial and industrial real estate. A significant portion of his real estate practice involves leasing and management of commercial office buildings, the form and structure of real estate ownership, ground leases, acquisition and sale of commercial properties, financing of real estate projects, property management agreements, and construction contracts.

Ellen Chapelle's practice focuses on complex commercial litigation with an emphasis on insurance coverage issues and construction litigation.  She has extensive experience in all phases of litigation including contract disputes, trade secrets, defamation, professional liability, local governmental taxation, and constitutional issues.

Eric Sparks focuses his practice in the area of commercial litigation, including disputes involving construction, pharmaceutical development and registration, real estate, employment, and trusts/estates.  He has experience in jury trials, binding arbitration proceedings, and appellate proceedings.

For addition information on this presentation or questions regarding Mechanics Liens, please contact Richard Reizen at rreizen@gouldratner.com or 312.236.3003.

 For more than 70 years, Gould & Ratner LLP has provided comprehensive legal counsel and business advice to sophisticated entrepreneurs, family businesses and middle market companies operating in a range of industries, including manufacturing and distribution, technology and telecommunications, financial services, real estate, construction, food & beverage, gaming and emerging new economy areas, to name a few.  Gould & Ratner's attorneys have handled more than $8 billion of transactions and an average of 25 merger/acquisition and 20 venture capital and lending transactions per year in the last decade.  Gould & Ratner LLP acts as General Counsel for domestic and international companies with annual sales in excess of $1 billion and has structured sophisticated and complex domestic and foreign transactions as well as tried and settled thousands of lawsuits and workouts.  For additional information, visit www.gouldratner.com.