"Calfee takes a practical approach and works to find a solution. I have had a great experience with the team. They offer invaluable assistance."
Client quote, Chambers USA
Overview
Calfee’s Real Estate Litigation practice provides public and privately held companies with experienced representation in large-scale, complex litigation involving real property disputes.
Our real estate litigation lawyers have extensive experience in enforcing the rights of commercial property owners, investors, and trustees and defending real estate developers. We also are experienced in the prosecution and defense of major commercial real estate foreclosure and receivership proceedings involving virtually every type of commercial property imaginable and in commercial landlord-tenant repossession and other leasehold litigation issues.
Calfee has represented numerous property owners in tax revision proceedings before county boards of revision and The Ohio Board of Tax Appeals.
Our litigators routinely represent owners and others in litigation involving eminent domain, zoning, partition, and mechanic’s lien issues. We also provide plaintiff and defense counsel for litigants in disputes regarding title and ownership to property including, but not limited to, adverse possession, easement by prescription, possessory interests, and claims to title.
Calfee’s Real Estate litigation attorneys also counsel plaintiffs and defendants in litigation regarding actions to enforce rights against title insurance companies. Additionally, our litigators’ experience includes negotiating issues of fees on the sale of property based on land development as well as working with non-profit land development groups.
Noteworthy
Chambers USA Leading Law Firm Rankings
For 12 years, Calfee has been recognized as a Leading Law Firm for Real Estate Law by Chambers USA, most recently in Band 3 in Ohio (2024). Since 2005, Calfee has been recognized as a Leading Law Firm for Litigation: General Commercial by Chambers USA, most recently in Band 2 in Ohio (2024).
Clients interviewed by Chambers USA researchers commented, "We're very pleased with the firm's breadth of expertise and ability to bring together the right people. I think they are a good balance of practical and strategic. Calfee is very responsive; it's an excellent firm. They're savvy, quick to adapt, and put people at ease in complex commercial litigation. The team is exceptionally responsive. The entire team provides outstanding legal services."
Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings
Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2025 "Best Law Firms" rankings in Real Estate Law (National Tier 3, Regional Tier 1 Cleveland) and numerous Litigation practice areas.
Benchmark Litigation Rankings
Calfee was selected for inclusion by Benchmark Litigation 2025 as a Highly Recommended Law Firm in Dispute Resolution in Ohio. Additionally, 16 of Calfee's Litigation partners have been ranked by Benchmark Litigation as "Litigation Stars" in the U.S. (National), Midwest, and Ohio and as “40 & Under" and "Future Stars" Honorees.
Professionals
Professionals
Experience
Experience
- Served as foreclosure and collections counsel for a foreign limited liability company client with respect to defaults on a secured promissory note. The client purchased a loan made to several medical practice entities owned by or affiliated with one specific doctor. The note was secured by mortgages on four different commercial properties. Calfee obtained a cognovit judgment against several borrowers and guarantors and is foreclosing on the secured properties.
- Served as litigation counsel for a publicly traded, Fortune Global 500, European company client in connection with an attempt to exercise a right of first refusal for an industrial property. The client is the successor in interest to certain parcels of real property in the Midwest. An adjoining landowner gave the client company’s predecessor a right of first refusal to purchase its property, but it later transferred the property to an affiliated entity and sold the entity’s membership interests to a third party. The client's operations would have been adversely impacted by the current owner's intended use, but Calfee was able to obtain a favorable settlement for the client that involved the transfer of a portion of the disputed property.
Services
Services
- Real property ownership insurance and transfer litigation
- Complex commercial foreclosures and receiverships
- General Services Administration lease administration and litigation
News & Events
News
