Purchases and acquisitions
Counsel for buyers and sellers of businesses, commercial buildings, and investment property, combining legal work with a real estate broker’s view of how deals close.
What is being bought
An acquisition can be a building, a portfolio of rental units, a going business, or a business together with the property it occupies. Each carries its own risks: title and permits for real estate, contracts and liabilities for a business, and tenants and rent rules for rental property. Daniel R. Butt is a California attorney (since 2012) and a licensed California real estate broker, and he handles both the transaction and the disputes that can follow one.
Due diligence
- Title reports, easements, and survey questions
- City permit history, open code cases, and zoning or use-permit conditions
- For rental property in Richmond: Rent Program enrollment, registration, fees, rent history, and whether units are covered by the Richmond Rent Ordinance (see Richmond landlord counsel)
- Existing leases, estoppel certificates, and security deposits
- For a business: contracts that must be assigned, licenses, liabilities, and employee or contractor arrangements
- Construction and condition issues (see construction law)
The deal documents
The office drafts and negotiates letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements, asset purchase agreements, lease assignments, and closing documents. The goal is a contract that allocates risk clearly: what the seller represents, what the buyer can investigate and when, what happens if a problem turns up, and how disputes are handled.
Why the rent ordinance matters in a Richmond purchase
A buyer of Richmond rental property generally inherits the existing tenancies and the property’s compliance history. If the seller never enrolled units or paid fees, or charged rents above what the ordinance allows, those problems can follow the property. Reviewing Rent Program records and rent rolls before the contingency period ends is often the most valuable diligence step for a Richmond multifamily purchase.
Sellers
Sellers benefit from preparation too: assembling disclosures, resolving title or permit issues before listing, and negotiating terms that limit post-closing exposure. The office also helps family owners plan sales or transfers alongside estate planning.
If a deal goes wrong
When a transaction fails or a buyer discovers a problem after closing, the office evaluates contract, disclosure, and related claims and handles negotiation and, if needed, litigation.
Frequently asked questions
Should I involve a lawyer before signing a letter of intent?
It helps. A letter of intent often sets the price, timing, and key terms that are hard to change later, even if most of it is non-binding.
What should I check before buying a Richmond rental property?
At a minimum: title, permits, existing leases, rent history, and whether the units are covered by the Richmond Rent Ordinance and in compliance with enrollment and fee requirements.
Do you act as the broker and the lawyer on the same deal?
Each engagement is defined in writing. Whether Daniel acts in a legal capacity, a brokerage capacity, or neither is set out at the start so the roles are clear.
Do you handle business acquisitions without real estate?
Yes. Asset and ownership purchases of small and mid-sized businesses are part of the practice.
Talk with the office
Call (510) 255-1094, email daniel@buttlaw.com, or use the contact form. The office at 111 Park Place, Suite 204, in Point Richmond is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please do not send confidential details until the firm has confirmed in writing that it represents you.