We advise institutional and private investors, project developers, property companies, landowners, and public corporations on the purchase, sale and leasing of real estate. We negotiate Heads of Terms and localise risks in legal and tax due diligences, structure the transaction and negotiate key contracts. We focus on what makes most commercial sense and take into account the tax implications. Pragmatism is also essential when dealing with pollution risks and other environmental issues. We will be with you every step of the way.

Financing is frequently pivotal to the success of a project. So we support our clients by drawing on the latest financial structures and products. Total reliance on equity finance is rarely the only or the best option and a blend of different financial instruments is usually necessary to achieve the optimum result. Components of structured financing often extend from equity capital and secured borrowings to mezzanine and hybrid instruments, and increasingly private equity also has a role to play. We create project consortia with private equity houses or real estate funds within compliant optimal financing structures.

We advise investors, banks, private equity houses and funds to achieve successfully structured real estate and project finance. Our clients include leading national and international funds. We can draw on longstanding expertise and an established network of external partners to enable us to operate efficiently and within tight timeframes - even when dealing with complex financial structures.

Property Development is a complex process that begins with the initial concept phase and extends through planning and execution until the financial goals are eventually attained. Project Development requires a thorough understanding of technical, commercial, financial and tax-related matters and the ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary project team.

Planning is far from abstract legal theory. Securing, creating, and implementing the right to build requires balancing the many different and opposed interests of investors, public authorities, and residents. Social and cultural aspects play an ever-increasing role. Dialogue and consultation between the stakeholders is integral to achieving a successful outcome. We see ourselves as part of this network, assisting our clients in negotiations with public authorities and special interest groups, finalising contracts subject to public law, local zoning plans and other issues concerning state, regional and municipal planning which need to be overcome for the project to be a success.

European legislation has propelled Public Procurement Law into the spotlight in recent years. Many public sector clients consider procurement law delays their objectives but we help our clients by expediting the process . We work closely with project managers, architects, engineers, chartered surveyors and property consultants to achieve the best possible outcome .

With ever tighter constraints on the public purse, Public Private Partnerships represent an attractive alternative to public sector investment. Public Private Partnerships raise a multitude of legal questions and closing the transaction requires lawyers with expertise in Public Procurement Law, Corporate Law and Tax Law as well as financing expertise and knowledge of the industry. We advise both public and private sector clients using our expertise across all these areas.

The boundaries between advice to the private and public sectors are starting to blur as public institutions are increasingly required to conform to private sector norms.

Our strong contextual understanding and access to key players enables us to adapt conventional structures to the new circumstances. We consult across the public sector including support organisations with public investments or public remits to enable these entities meet their obligations, particularly in the areas of healthcare, utilities and large infrastructure projects.

Construction projects are rarely straight forward. Competition in this market is fierce and friction between counterparties is endemic. There is rarely a project in this industry that does not require the services of lawyers and few that do not involve long and drawn out disputes.

We offer an alternative approach. We collaborate with the core project team from the earliest possible stages and our focus is firmly on the delivery of our client’s project on time and to budget. We help to establish the structures and processes that prevent disputes without confrontation and ensure time and budget-compliant delivery as well as quality.

There are many reasons why projects are inclined to go off the rails but we will draft and negotiate the contracts that give you the greatest possible protection. We are experienced in managing difficult projects and we are adept at working with a project’s many stakeholders to get it back on track.

Our lawyers know the industry. We speak the language of our clients. Deep understanding of the commercial background, building technology and project management are a prerequisite for effective consulting in the construction arena.

The legislator and many courts consider protection of the consumer against the residential developer as a primary duty. We will lead you through the maze of legislation and judicial decisions relating to Residential Development. “Basel II” has cast a long shadow over the industry. Working closely with our Corporate & Finance and Tax Practice Groups, we support residential developers in the creation and implementing of the financial strategy.

We draft contracts for architects, planners, engineers and project managers. We coach architects, engineers and projects managers in all project-related legal matters. Frequently we work in cooperation with leading project management and engineering firms to support the planning and execution of construction projects. We number many of the largest German architect, engineering and planning consultancies amongst our clients.

SIBETH real estate is a member of the German Association of Project Managers in the Construction and Real Estate Industries (Deutscher Verband der Projectmanager in der Bau – und Immobilienwirtschaft e.V – DVP).

In the last few years, there has been a dramatic increase in claims made under professional liability insurance taken out by architects and engineers. We enforce claims against architects and engineers or protect against them as required. We represent one the largest professional liability insurance companies.

Court proceedings in real estate frequently rank amongst the most complex and lengthy in the legal world. In the interest of our clients, we will do our best to avoid the court room. We are experienced in Alternative Dispute Resolution proceedings. In those cases where litigation is necessary we will support our clients through every step of the process. We participate in national and international arbitration proceedings. Partners of various Sibeth real estate teams are themselves active as arbitrators.

Our knowledge and experience of construction and project management differentiates us from our often corporate oriented peers. We offer a service that goes beyond the negotiation of contract documentation and embraces the full life cycle of the project. High-profile clients ranging from medium-sized to listed businesses in the Dax and M-Dax engage us to undertake their national and international projects. As leaders in our field, our team members are frequently invited to speak at key industry events.

We support our clients in managing their real estate portfolio. We draft and negotiate agreements for commercial leases, including contracts for outsourcing, energy supply and facility management. We offer high quality advice and respond quickly across a wide spectrum of matters that arise from day to day in the implementation of these contracts and agreements. We provide advice on reconstructing, redeveloping and revitalising projects. We support you with real estate due diligence and legal portfolio management concerns. Our team can advise you on condominium and realtor rights.

We offer our clients our expertise in legal project management both in Germany and beyond. Legal project management is the structured, well planned and proactive support of the legal aspects of a project. Successful project execution depends upon the effective participation of the legal team. Our consultants combine their legal expertise with knowledge of project management, property management, building technology and commerce. The quality of our legal project management is a core value which the Sibeth real estate offering delivers.

Our experience in innovative procurement models and partnering schemes is unrivalled in Germany at every stage of the process from planning to structuring and implementation. With the right people working on the right projects SIBETH can create added value for developers.