Commercial Lease Review and Negotiation
You found a location for your business. Now make sure you understand what comes with it.
Marlles Law, PC helps business owners review and negotiate commercial leases with attention to the terms that affect their costs, responsibilities, and day-to-day operations. For a predictable capped fee that we quote up-front before starting any work, we can help you identify concerns, understand your options, and pursue an agreement that supports your business objectives.
The Right Location Is Only Part of the Decision
A commercial lease is more than a monthly rent payment. It can shape what you spend on the property, who pays for repairs, how you use the space, and what happens when your business is sold or needs to relocate. A favorable rental rate does not necessarily mean favorable lease terms.
Whether you are opening your first location or renewing an existing lease, our firm’s focus is on helping you understand the agreement as a business decision and not just a document to sign. We work to identify the provisions that deserve attention, explain their practical consequences, and prioritize the changes that matter most to you.
Focus on the Terms That Affect Your Business
Your costs beyond base rent.
We review rent increases, common area maintenance charges, property taxes, insurance, and other expenses the lease may pass through to you.
The condition of the space and your opening timeline.
We examine repair obligations, responsibility for building systems, tenant improvement allowances, and the relationship between delivery of the premises and the start of rent.
How you can operate and grow.
We review permitted uses under the lease, signage, access, exclusivity provisions, and restrictions that could affect your plans.
Your exposure when something goes wrong.
We assess proposed personal guarantees, default provisions, notice requirements, and opportunities to correct a breach. Our review also considers termination provisions and obligations that may continue after you stop using the space.
Triple-Net, Gross, or Modified-Gross: Know What You Are Paying For
The name of the lease does not tell the whole story.
A triple-net, or NNN, lease generally requires the tenant to pay specified property expenses. These usually include property taxes, building insurance, and maintenance, in addition to base rent. Gross leases generally include more expenses within the rent, while modified-gross leases divide expenses between the parties according to the agreement. The actual language determines the allocation.
We look beyond the label to examine which charges you would assume, how they are calculated, and what could cause them to increase. That means considering not just the initial quoted rent but the obligations you would be accepting over the lease term.
Residential Leases for Property Owners
In addition to drafting and negotiating commercial leases, our firm also has experience preparing and negotiating residential leases for luxury properties. California law requires mandatory disclosures and disclaimers in residential leases that, if omitted, can cause landlords to face significant difficulties in evicting problematic tenants or recovering unpaid rent and costs. If you own one or more residential properties and are considering offering them as short-term or long-term rentals, we invite you to contact us so we can explain how we can help prepare a lease that protects you.
Let’s Discuss Your Lease Before You Sign
Have a proposed lease, an upcoming renewal, or terms you would like to negotiate? Contact our firm today.
Palm Springs: (760) 989-1834
Email: psinfo@marlleslaw.com
Manhattan Beach: (310) 359-8307
Email: mbinfo@marlleslaw.com
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
© 2026 Marlles Law, PC