Real estate transactions

Comprehensive real estate transaction support services, including due diligence.

Case Studies

Property due diligence in Moscow: uncovered hidden restrictions and saved the client from buying a problematic asset

Challenge

The client was considering acquiring a plot of land and a building in Moscow. The property was intended for their own use, with potential future renovation. Before proceeding with the transaction, a comprehensive due diligence was required, covering its legal status, ownership history, and any restrictions that could impede construction and renovation.

Legal Work

The C Cases team conducted comprehensive due diligence on the property and the seller: they verified the rights to the land plot and building, the history of ownership transfers, and potential encumbrances on the properties; reviewed court disputes and enforcement proceedings against the owner; assessed contracts and obligations related to the property; analyzed urban planning restrictions and requirements for construction, installation works, and renovation; and checked for the presence of special land use zones affecting the properties. The urban planning analysis proved to be key. The property was located in an area with a complex historical and cultural regime: simultaneously a cultural heritage protection zone, a protected archaeological layer, a water protection zone, and a flood zone.

Result
C Cases prepared a legal opinion detailing all restrictions, the procedure for obtaining necessary documents, and an assessment of the realistic timelines and costs for the planned works. It became clear that acquiring the property would not allow the client to realize their plans without significant legal, time, and financial investments — disproportionate to the commercial benefit. The client withdrew from the transaction before its conclusion.

Real Estate Management Group of Companies (NDA)

Deal amount

500 million ₽

Challenge

Comprehensive transaction support (risk analysis, negotiation initiation, drafting of necessary documents, real estate due diligence) for the acquisition of a property, considering the need to attract financing from counterparties and banking institutions.

Result
Several options for implementing the transaction were developed to attract debt financing. A comprehensive analysis of each option was conducted to assess potential negative tax consequences.

Due diligence of assets on the Black Sea coast: uncovering risks not apparent at a glance.

Challenge

The client was considering acquiring a property complex on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Krai — a land plot and several buildings on it. Before signing the deal, the client needed a complete picture: the legal status of the property, the history of title transfers, the reliability of the seller, the stability of the tenants, and the real risks for the future use of the real estate.

Legal Work

The C Cases team conducted a comprehensive due diligence of the property and the seller. They reviewed the history of transactions involving the property and assessed the stability of the chain of title transfers — it was here that grounds for potential challenge were discovered. In parallel, they investigated the legal status of the land plot: the lease agreement, the permitted use, and the real possibility of future redemption revealed inconsistencies that affected the asset's value. They checked the seller and previous titleholders for litigation, enforcement proceedings, and financial risks. They also analyzed urban planning restrictions, areas with special land use conditions, and the specific regulations of the coastal zone.

Result
The client received a legal opinion and a concise summary outlining prioritized risks and specific recommendations for their mitigation. Among the findings were: vulnerability in the chain of prior transactions with a risk of challenge, inconsistencies in the permitted use of the plot, and several concerns regarding the seller's financial standing. The client was thus able to make an informed decision based on the actual legal landscape.

Multi-layered real estate transaction: synchronizing the interests of the buyer, seller, and bank

Challenge

The client planned to acquire a non-residential building and a land plot by purchasing corporate control over the SPV that owned the asset. The transaction was multi-layered, involving the buyer, seller, creditor bank, investors, and the property-owning company. The financing was combined: part of the funds was contributed by investors, and part was raised through a bank using a letter of credit and a bank guarantee.

Legal Work

The C Cases team developed the transaction structure and a step-by-step implementation plan. For the corporate aspect, they established the framework for the involvement of the SPV, investors, and the property-owning company, outlining the procedure for acquiring shares, changing corporate control, replacing the sole executive body, and subsequent corporate actions. For the financial aspect, they worked out the combination of investors' own funds and bank financing, the mechanics of the letter of credit and bank guarantee, as well as security instruments such as pledging of shares and a mortgage on the asset. Separately, they prepared a report on tax risks and addressed the implications of using an earnest money deposit and a security payment. Concurrently, they prepared a list of documents for the legal due diligence of the property-owning company and drafts of the main documents for launching and executing the transaction.

Result
C Cases developed the final transaction scheme, prepared a project implementation timeline, and addressed key risks in legal opinions. The client received an asset acquisition structure via an SPV, complete with a transaction roadmap, an analysis of tax and financial risks, and a package of draft documents for closing the deal. The seller gained a predictable payment mechanism, while the bank secured sufficient collateral and risk control.