Commercial Real Estate Attorneys in Texas

A commercial real estate deal combines several legal workstreams at once: a purchase agreement with representations, warranties, and closing conditions; title and survey review; environmental due diligence; loan documents that may include personal or carve-out guaranties; and a closing that has to be coordinated among buyer, seller, lender, and title company. A mistake in any one of them can cost more than the legal fees for the whole deal.

Texas deals span office, retail, industrial, multifamily, mixed-use, and raw land, and each has its own issues. Retail leases deal with percentage rent and exclusive-use clauses. Industrial sites usually need environmental review. Multifamily purchases require rent roll and lease verification. Texas law also adds state-specific issues, from mechanic’s and materialman’s liens to the 2025 restrictions on purchases by buyers tied to designated foreign countries. Related guides cover real estate litigation attorneys in Texas, construction law attorneys in Texas, environmental law attorneys in Texas, and mergers and acquisitions attorneys in Texas.

What Commercial Real Estate Attorneys Handle

Acquisitions and Dispositions

Purchase and sale agreements allocate risk through representations, warranties, indemnities, due diligence periods, and closing conditions. Attorneys negotiate those terms, manage due diligence, review the title commitment and survey, clear objections, and handle closing. Portfolio deals in several states require coordination with local counsel.

Foreign Ownership Restrictions

Senate Bill 17 (2025), effective September 1, 2025, added Subchapter H to Chapter 5 of the Property Code. It prohibits certain buyers from purchasing or otherwise acquiring an interest in Texas real property, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential property, mineral interests, and water rights. Covered buyers include governmental entities of a designated country; companies headquartered in a designated country, controlled by its government, or majority-owned by covered individuals or companies; and individuals who are domiciled in a designated country, who are citizens of a designated country living in another country without having completed naturalization there, who are citizens of a designated country unlawfully present in the United States, who act as agents of a designated country, or who are members of a designated country’s ruling political party (Property Code § 5.253, added by SB 17), with exceptions for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, companies they own or control, leaseholds of less than one year, and a homestead purchase by an individual lawfully present and residing in the United States. Designated countries are those identified in the federal intelligence community’s most recent annual threat assessment, plus any the governor designates. Buyers with foreign ownership in their structure should have counsel review the deal under these rules.

Development and Construction

Development requires land acquisition, zoning and entitlements, construction contracts, and construction and permanent financing. Attorneys work through municipal approvals, negotiate construction contracts that address cost overruns and delay, and structure the project to manage risk. Incentive agreements and public-private partnerships add government parties.

Leasing

Major commercial leases often run dozens of pages and cover rent, operating expense pass-throughs, tenant improvements, assignment and subletting, exclusives, co-tenancy, and default remedies. Attorneys draft landlord lease forms and negotiate with tenants, or review landlord forms on behalf of tenants.

Financing

Real estate finance covers acquisition and construction loans, mezzanine debt, intercreditor agreements, and restructurings. Attorneys represent lenders protecting their collateral or borrowers negotiating loan terms, guaranty limits, and prepayment provisions. When a loan is distressed, they handle workouts, deeds in lieu of foreclosure, and foreclosures.

How to Choose a Commercial Real Estate Attorney

Transaction type. Leasing, acquisitions, development, and finance are different practices. Ask for recent deals similar to yours in property type and structure.

Deal size. Large firms staff major transactions with teams of specialists, while boutique firms can be more cost-effective for middle-market deals. Match the firm to the transaction.

Local knowledge. Familiarity with local title companies, lenders, and municipal approval processes, and with Texas-specific rules such as lien law and the 2025 foreign ownership restrictions, saves time.

Responsiveness. Due diligence periods and financing commitments expire on fixed dates. Ask who will handle the day-to-day work and how quickly they respond.

Texas Commercial Real Estate Law Firms

Kane Russell Coleman Logan PC (KRCL)

Location: Dallas and Houston, Texas

Website: https://www.krcl.com

Phone: 214-777-4200

KRCL operates a substantial commercial real estate practice in Texas. The firm represents owners, developers, investors, and lenders in acquisitions, development, construction, leasing, lending, partnerships, joint ventures, and fund formation.

Practice Focus:

• Acquisitions and dispositions
• Development and construction
• Commercial leasing
• Real estate finance
• Joint ventures and fund formation

Jackson Walker LLP

Location: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Angelo, San Antonio

Website: https://www.jw.com

Phone: 214-953-6000

Jackson Walker’s real estate practice extends across multiple Texas offices with attorneys handling transactions in numerous states. The firm represents investors, owners, and developers in acquisitions, leasing, and capital markets transactions.

Practice Focus:

• Acquisitions and dispositions
• Land use and zoning
• Real estate finance
• Development transactions
• Leasing

Wilson Cribbs + Goren

Location: Houston, Texas

Website: https://wcglaw.com

Phone: 713-222-9000

Wilson Cribbs + Goren has focused exclusively on commercial real estate since 1985, building a national practice from Houston. The firm represents clients on complex transactions, land use and zoning matters, and real estate litigation. Their team approach assigns experienced attorneys to craft solutions for deal obstacles. The firm emphasizes partnership with clients to move transactions forward without unnecessary delays.

Practice Focus:

• Commercial real estate transactions
• Land use and zoning
• Real estate litigation
• Development projects
• Lease negotiations

Costs and Fees

Transactional real estate work is usually billed hourly, and the total depends on deal size, the number of issues in title and due diligence, and how hard the other side negotiates. Some attorneys offer flat fees for defined tasks, such as preparing a standard lease or handling a simple closing, and blended rates for clients with ongoing deal flow. Real estate litigation, such as title or lease disputes, is billed separately. Ask for an estimate by phase of the transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an attorney for a commercial real estate purchase?

Texas does not require one, but commercial deals carry significant financial exposure. The purchase agreement allocates risk for title defects, environmental problems, and seller representations, and the financing documents can create personal liability. Most buyers in deals of material size engage counsel.

What due diligence should I conduct before purchasing commercial property?

Typical due diligence includes title examination, survey review, environmental assessment (a Phase I, and a Phase II if the Phase I finds concerns), physical inspection, review of income and expenses, review of leases and tenant estoppels for income-producing property, and zoning verification. Buyers with foreign ownership should also confirm the deal is not barred by the 2025 Property Code restrictions. The scope depends on property type and deal size.

How are commercial real estate attorneys typically paid?

Hourly billing is the most common model for transactional work. Flat fees are used for defined tasks, and some litigation can be handled on contingency or hybrid terms.

What is title insurance and do I need it?

Title insurance protects against losses from covered title defects, such as undisclosed liens or recording errors. Lenders typically require a loan policy protecting their lien. An owner’s policy protects the buyer, and most commercial buyers purchase one along with any endorsements the deal requires.

Sources

• Senate Bill 17 (2025), adding Property Code Chapter 5, Subchapter H: enrolled text

Disclaimer: This directory is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, endorsement, or recommendation of any attorney or law firm. Information about attorneys and law firms was compiled from publicly available sources and may not be current or accurate. We make no representations or warranties about the qualifications, experience, or quality of any attorney listed. Always verify attorney credentials with the State Bar of Texas, confirm current contact information, and conduct your own due diligence before hiring legal counsel. No attorney-client relationship is created by use of this directory.