Commercial Property Lawyers in Johannesburg
Commercial property agreements must work for the investment and the business using the premises. Hugh Raichlin Attorneys advises on commercial acquisitions, disposals, leases and related disputes, with particular attention to owners, landlords and property businesses.
The initial telephone discussion is free and helps us understand whether the firm can assist. A paid consultation is arranged where appropriate. We aim to respond within one working day after receiving your enquiry.
Principal Attorney & Accredited Mediator
Commercial agreements and property disputes, including lease and property-broker commission matters.
This page is for you if…
- You are buying or selling commercial property.
- You need a new lease, renewal, amendment or independent review.
- A tenant, broker or transaction counterparty is in dispute with you.
- The property is held through a company, trust or estate.
How Hugh Raichlin Attorneys can help
Commercial property work falls into transactions (buying or selling), leases (drafting, renewing or disputing) and disputes (breach, arrears, occupation or commission). We help you identify which one you are dealing with, the due diligence it needs, and where specialist tax or structuring advice should be coordinated rather than assumed.
- Current offers, agreements and title or lease details.
- Company or trust authority documents and signing authority where relevant.
- Broker mandates, notices and correspondence.
- The financial terms, intended use of the property and any zoning or land-use questions.
- Material due-diligence information already available (title, existing tenancies, compliance).
Transactions and due diligence
We assist with agreement preparation and review, conditions, transaction authority and legal due diligence. Specialist tax, technical or planning advice may need to form part of the wider team.
Lease drafting and negotiation
A clear lease should address the premises, use, rent, escalation, deposits/security, maintenance, improvements, defaults and exit arrangements. What happens at renewal or termination is as important as the initial term.
Disputes and enforcement
We advise on breaches, notices, arrears, occupation, broker commission and appropriate remedies. Negotiation, mediation or litigation may be appropriate depending on the documents and the objective.
What to consider before deciding
Do not assume a standard residential form is suitable
Commercial premises can raise different operational, security, tenant-installation and reinstatement issues. A copied form may leave costs or permissions unclear.
Structure and tax need coordination
The identity of the parties, VAT or transfer-duty treatment, financing and transaction structure affect the legal work. Confirm the specialist advice required rather than assuming one generic exemption applies.
Evidence matters in commission disputes
A broker's entitlement depends on the mandate, the agreed trigger and the facts. It is not settled solely by which agent first mentioned the property.
The commercial property lifecycle
- 1
Investigate
Due diligence, title and authority checks.
- 2
Agree
Negotiate and prepare the agreement.
- 3
Transfer / occupy
Complete transfer and take occupation.
- 4
Manage
Administer the lease and the relationship.
- 5
Resolve / exit
Address disputes or end the arrangement.
Not every client requires all five stages. The work depends on the transaction and the issue.
The next steps
- 1Define the transaction or dispute and commercial objective.
- 2Review the documents, authority and required due diligence.
- 3Negotiate or prepare the appropriate agreement or legal step.
- 4Manage completion, registration or dispute implementation.
Information to prepare
A brief enquiry is enough to start. Keep the relevant information below available for the consultation where possible. Send sensitive documents only when the firm requests them through an appropriate channel.
- Current offers, agreements and title or lease details.
- Company or trust authority documents where relevant.
- Broker mandates, notices and correspondence.
- The financial terms and intended use of the property.
- Material due-diligence information already available.
Common mistakes to avoid
Keep written records of amendments, check signing authority, avoid assuming a lease authorises every intended use and do not terminate or exclude an occupier without advice.
Relevant experience for your matter
HRA has acted for listed property funds. Hugh acted for the successful respondent in Nach Investments v Knight Frank, concerning an estate agent's commission and effective cause of sale.
Hugh Raichlin
Principal Attorney & Accredited Mediator
BA, LLB · University of the Witwatersrand
Hugh Raichlin is the founder and principal attorney of HRA, established in 1993. He brings 40 years of legal experience, with a practice spanning commercial litigation, property disputes, family and divorce matters, estates and mediation.
View Hugh's profile
Abigail Sher
Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer
LLB · University of South Africa
Abigail Sher is an attorney, notary and conveyancer at HRA. She assists with residential and commercial property transfers, notarial work, antenuptial contracts and deceased estates.
View Abigail's profileFrequently asked questions
Can you review a commercial lease before I sign?
Yes. We can assess the key obligations, risk allocation and areas that require clarification.
Do you act for landlords?
Yes. Owners, landlords and managing agents are a priority audience. Instructions remain subject to suitability and conflict checks.
Is mediation an option for a lease dispute?
It may be, depending on the dispute and any contractual process. It does not automatically suspend deadlines.
Can you handle the conveyancing element?
The firm has conveyancing capability. The transaction and any separate lender appointments must be assessed.
Related services
Legal Insights
Is your tenant’s business permitted? Check zoning before relying on the lease
A signed lease does not establish that the tenant’s intended use is permitted. Review land-use rights, contractual warranties and the available remedies.
Lease renewal options: exercise the right before negotiating the future
Review a lease renewal option before its deadline. Understand notice, authority, rental mechanisms and the evidence needed when a landlord or tenant disputes renewal.
Signing with a trust: a quorum, a vote and authority to bind are not the same
Before a trust signs a contract or suretyship, check its deed, current trustees, decision process and the authority behind the signatures.
Useful sources
- SARS transfer duty guidanceExplains transfer duty, who pays it and the declaration process, with links to rates and guides for commercial property transactions.
- Companies Act 71 of 2008Full legal text on company formation and management, useful when a company is buying, selling or holding commercial property.
Fees for this matter
The standard initial consultation fee is R3,450 including VAT. A brief initial telephone discussion is free and helps us assess whether the firm can assist. We will confirm the scope and arrangements before booking.
Different intake criteria may apply to distinct parts of this service. Please indicate the specific work you need.
Commercial property transfer instructions
For the transfer/conveyancing part of our service, HRA accepts enquiries where the property value is R1.5 million or more. Please tell us whether you are the buyer or seller, the approximate property value and the location. Lease and property-dispute enquiries are assessed according to their own scope.
Feedback on working with Abigail Sher
Selected feedback shared about HRA. Excerpts are labelled. Every matter is different.
“Hi Hugh, thank you very much to you and your team for the excellent professional service provided to us. Especially Abigail who always remain calm and professional no matter how much pressure there was.”
Tommy Steyn
Facebook recommendation
Put the legal issue in its commercial context.
Explain the transaction, lease or dispute, and the firm will assess the next step and the documents required.
How to get started
- 1
Send a brief enquiry, or start an AI-assisted WhatsApp enquiry at any time.
- 2
The initial telephone discussion is free and helps the firm assess whether it can assist. Where the firm may be able to help, an attorney ordinarily follows up within one working day after receipt.
- 3
Where appropriate, a paid consultation is arranged. Its scope and fees are confirmed separately; consultations are usually in person, with remote arrangements considered where suitable.
WhatsApp AI gathers initial information; it does not provide legal advice. An enquiry does not confirm an appointment, acceptance of a matter or action on a deadline.