Johanna Benett

Johanna Benett advises on every aspect of a real estate transaction by providing comprehensive legal counsel regarding its inherent opportunities and risks while delivering the negotiation savvy and momentum required for a successful closing. Johanna also consults with business owners and entrepreneurs on mergers and acquisitions, including asset purchase agreements and membership interest purchase agreements, and assists with associated due diligence.

Johanna goes the distance to represent business owners, real estate developers, individuals and entrepreneurs, and commercial and other organizations seeking to leverage their real property interests across the full array of purchase, sale, and leasing transactions for commercial real estate. She advises on multi-million-dollar commercial real estate contracts, including letters of intent, sale and purchase agreements, leases, licenses, easements, and restrictive covenants and deeds. She executes due diligence and title review for the purchase and sale of tenant-occupied real estate (such as golf courses and car dealerships); reviews surveys, title commitments and policies, tax records, tenant estoppels, and environmental reports; and facilitates title review, prepares title objection letters, and resolves title issues.

Johanna helps clients enforce the terms of various leases, such as rent collection, default notices, tenant estoppel certificates, subordination and non-disturbance agreements, and assignment of lease agreements. Skilled in corporate entity formation, Johanna also drafts articles of incorporation and organization, certificates of assumed name, bylaws, operating agreements, management agreements, and other corporate governance documents. She advises on commercial contracts ranging from independent contractor and nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements to a multitude of service contracts.

Known for her candor and credibility as an advisor, Johanna provides her clients with options for their distinct risk tolerance threshold. Valued by everyone around her for being a fixer, there is no problem too difficult for Johanna, who is at her best when faced with major deals that require creativity, people skills, and a strategic approach to problem-solving.

Johanna began her career litigating breach of contract, construction lien claims, collection, landlord-tenant, and real estate matters in circuit and district courts, including mediation and settlement negotiations. As a result, she can readily identify potential contractual issues that might result in costly future litigation. Through her in-house experience, she understands the challenges businesses face and has the practical experience to know what clients need when it comes to realizing tangible value from their legal spend.