News & Resources

By Rebecca Urland Monzi In today’s competitive commercial real estate market, there is great value in establishing a strong and recognizable brand. Whether you are a developer, brokerage firm, property management company, or commercial landlord, your brand identity distinguishes you from competitors.  However, creating a name, logo, or slogan is just the first step—securing a trademark or service mark is what truly protects your brand’s value.  Intellectual Property in Real Estate  A strong, legally protected brand helps establish trust, attract clients, and create long-term business value. For real estate businesses, intellectual property (IP) may include:  Company names  Logos and design marks  Slogans and taglines  Names of unique developments or projects  Property management services and branded amenities  Domain names  Trade names  Why is Intellectual Property Crucial for Real Estate Companies?  Without proper trademark and service mark protection, companies risk brand dilution, legal conflicts, and lost opportunities for expansion. Below are key […]

By Jennifer Jette In January 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order requiring federal employees to return to in-person work at their respective duty stations full-time, with exemptions determined by department and agency heads. Such executive order follows a growing trend of many private sector companies ramping up pressure on workers to return to the office – from JPMorgan to Dell and Amazon. Putting politics aside, these directives have the potential to positively impact the D.C.-area economy significantly, particularly the commercial real estate sector.  Potential Increased Demand for Office Space  The return-to-work mandates could spark a renewed demand for office space in Washington, D.C. However, this demand differs from pre-pandemic norms as tenants now prioritize features that accommodate evolving work models, including: Flexible Workspaces: Hybrid work models have shifted preferences toward office layouts with open spaces, hot-desking options, and collaborative areas. Amenities and Wellness Features: To attract employees to […]

By Rebecca Urland Monzi If you can’t keep up with the BOI Reporting rollercoaster of the past few months, you are not alone. The stay on FinCEN BOI filings related to litigation in Texas was just lifted this week. As a result, FinCEN has extended the reporting period to March 21, 2025. Notwithstanding the extension, FinCEN also stated that prior to the new deadline it will be “assessing its options” to potentially further modify the deadline, as it claims to now be prioritizing reporting for those entities that pose the most significant national security risks (notably, FinCEN has not stated how it will determine those entities). FinCEN has also stated that it intends to initiate a process this year to revise (but not eliminate) the BOI reporting rule to reduce the burden for lower-risk entities. It is unclear when, if at all, FinCEN will provide an update potentially revising the reporting […]

By Jennifer Jette On February 12, 2025, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser introduced the Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords Act (RENTAL Act)—a legislative package designed to stabilize D.C.’s housing system amid growing market distress. The proposed changes could have significant implications for developers, property owners, investors, and tenants navigating D.C.’s complex real estate landscape.  The RENTAL Act seeks to reform existing regulations to balance the interests of tenants and landlords while encouraging housing development.   Key provisions include:  Exempting certain properties from the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA)   Accelerating eviction proceedings  By making these changes, the RENTAL Act is designed to boost real estate activity, attract investment, and ensure a more functional housing market across Washington, D.C.  Exemption of Market-Rate and Certain Mixed-Income Properties from TOPA  A noteworthy provision in the RENTAL Act is the exemption of market-rate and select mixed-income apartment buildings from the Tenant Opportunity to […]

By Rebecca Urland Monzi On January 14, 2025, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development launched the Central Washington Activation Projects Temporary Tax Abatement, commonly known as the “Office to Anything” program. This initiative addresses a critical issue in Washington, D.C.’s commercial real estate market: the oversupply of underutilized office buildings.    This program is pivotal for stakeholders in Washington, D.C. commercial real estate. It has the potential to transform the city’s urban core while creating new opportunities – as well as challenges – for property owners, developers, and tenants.   The Office to Anything Program: An Overview    The Office to Anything program offers a 15-year temporary property tax freeze to incentivize the conversion of vacant or underused office spaces into other property types, such as retail, hospitality, or mixed-use developments. The total of available tax abatements is subject to a cap of $5 million for 2027, $6 […]