Real Estate Transactions

Commercial Real Estate Transaction Attorneys — Nationwide, Based in Dallas

Commercial real estate deals move fast — and the stakes are high. Whether you are acquiring an office campus in Dallas, negotiating a ground lease or land development deal for a mixed-use space in Houston, or closing an industrial portfolio across multiple states, having the right legal counsel at every step of the transaction is not optional. It is essential.

At McCathern Shokouhi Evans, our real estate transactions team brings seasoned, hands-on experience to every deal. Our attorneys have advised buyers, sellers, developers, lenders, landlords, and investors across some of the most complex commercial transactions in markets throughout the country. Representing several of the nation’s largest homebuilders and developers in the acquisition, development, and sale of real property, our experience is focused on general corporate transactions, entitlements, and document preparation — both in Texas and nationwide.

Navigating Complex Commercial Real Estate Deals with Confidence

Commercial real estate transactions don’t respect geographic boundaries — and neither does our practice. We represent clients in deals across Texas and throughout the country, from urban core acquisitions to multi-state portfolio transactions. The DFW metroplex is among the most active commercial real estate markets in the country, and our Dallas base puts us at the center of significant deal flow — but our attorneys are equally at home advising on transactions in markets well beyond North Texas.

Our attorneys understand this landscape intimately. We combine rigorous legal analysis with practical business judgment, working to close transactions efficiently while protecting our clients from hidden risks. We do not create obstacles. We remove them.

Our Real Estate Transaction Services

We represent clients across the full spectrum of commercial real estate transactions, including:

Acquisitions & Dispositions

Contract negotiation and drafting, due diligence coordination, title and survey review, entity structuring, and closing for office, retail, and industrial properties.

Mixed-Use & Development

Counsel for developers and landowners from site acquisition and entitlements through construction financing, joint ventures, and final disposition.

Commercial Leasing

Landlord and tenant representation on office, retail, and industrial leases — including ground leases, sale-leasebacks, and build-to-suit arrangements.

Financing & Lending

Representation of borrowers and lenders in secured real estate financing, construction loans, bridge loans, and loan workouts.

Joint Ventures & Fund Structures

Formation and documentation of real estate partnerships, joint ventures, and investment fund structures for institutional and private investors.

Due Diligence & Title

Comprehensive due diligence review, title commitment analysis, and resolution of title defects, encumbrances, and survey matters.

From Contract to Closing: How We Work

We take a deal-forward approach to every transaction. From the moment a letter of intent is signed, we move quickly to identify issues that could delay or derail a closing — and we come to the table with solutions.

Our transaction process typically involves:

Initial consultation to understand deal structure, timeline, and client objectives
Letter of intent review and negotiation strategy
Purchase and sale agreement or lease drafting and negotiation
Due diligence coordination — title, survey, environmental, zoning, and physical inspection
Financing coordination and lender counsel interface
Entity formation and structuring where needed
Pre-closing issue resolution and title clearance
Closing representation and post-closing documentationbefore they become costly delays.

Clients receive direct attorney attention throughout the process — not just at signing. We stay in communication, provide timely updates, and anticipate problems before they become costly delays.

Where We Work: Texas, California, Virginia, D.C., and Beyond

Unlike litigation, transactional real estate work follows the deal — not the courthouse. Our attorneys represent clients on acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and development projects wherever those assets happen to be. Our office is in Dallas, which puts us at the center of one of the country’s most dynamic commercial real estate markets. But the deals we handle extend well beyond Texas — including active work in California, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, markets where our attorneys have deep transactional roots.

Across Texas, we work with clients from DFW and Houston to Austin, San Antonio, and markets in between. For clients with assets in California, Virginia, or D.C., we bring the same level of transactional experience those markets demand — without requiring you to manage a separate set of counsel. Whether your portfolio is concentrated in one state or spans the country, our team is built to handle it from a single point of contact.

For national transactions, we offer seamless coordination with local counsel in other states while maintaining a single point of contact for our clients — keeping communication clear and accountability undivided.

Attorney Experience You Can Count On

The attorneys in our real estate transactions practice at McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans with deep market experience already behind them. Our team brings a rare combination of law firm and in-house counsel perspective to every transaction, structuring and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, ground leases, commercial leases, development agreements, construction contracts, and complex financing arrangements from site acquisition through stabilization and final disposition.

Our attorneys have handled sophisticated transactions nationwide across hospitality, multifamily, land, and retail assets – closing hundreds of transactions and developing deep fluency in title and survey review, due diligence, and transactional execution at the highest levels of the market.

When you engage McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans, you work directly with counsel who has seen these deals from every angle — as outside counsel, as in-house advisor, and as a trusted partner to developers, investors, and operators navigating complex, high-stakes markets.

Speak with a Dallas Commercial Real Estate Attorney Today

Whether you are evaluating an acquisition, negotiating a lease, or structuring a development deal, the time to involve legal counsel is before problems arise — not after. Our attorneys are ready to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Contact McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans to schedule a consultation with a member of our real estate transactions team.

PROSPER ISD PARENTS QUESTION DISTRICT RESPONSE TO BUS DRIVER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING STUDENTS

December 15, 2025

Author: Rebecca Lopez with WFAA Watch the interview here. PROSPER, Texas — Parents of two young girls who say they were repeatedly sexually assaulted by a Prosper ISD school bus driver are speaking out about what they describe as serious failures by the district — including delayed notification to families and promised safety changes they say were never fully implemented. The parents asked that they not be identified to protect their children, who were just elementary school age at the time of the abuse. In a lawsuit filed in 2023, the girls — identified only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — allege former bus driver Frank Paniagua assaulted them repeatedly during the 2021–2022 school year. According to the lawsuit, Paniagua would wait until other students exited the bus, then assault the girls, sometimes holding one child back so he could take her to the rear of the bus. Attorneys say the abuse occurred over several months and was captured on bus surveillance video. How the abuse was discovered The girls’ mother said the abuse came to light after their grandmother noticed troubling comments about gift cards offered by the bus driver. When the mother later questioned the girls again, they disclosed what had been happening. Prosper ISD police reviewed surveillance video from the bus in May 2022. Paniagua was arrested two days later and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and indecency with a child. Paniagua later died after jumping from the second floor of the Collin County Jail while awaiting trial. Concerns about delayed notifications Attorneys for the family say more than 100 days passed after Paniagua’s arrest before Prosper ISD publicly acknowledged the allegations — a delay parents say may have prevented other potential victims from being identified. At a packed school board meeting, Prosper ISD parent Morgan Grahovec, a child psychologist whose daughter attended the same school as the victims, told trustees that delays in notifying parents can have serious consequences. “Children who are victims of abuse need to be identified and interviewed as soon as possible because memory fades over time,” Grahovec said. “The longer you wait, it’s harder to get a child to report abuse accurately.” Parents at those meetings called for Superintendent Holly Ferguson’s resignation, arguing district leaders should have acted sooner and communicated more transparently. Ferguson did not step down, instead promising changes to safety protocols. District response and former statement In an earlier written statement to WFAA, Prosper ISD said it took appropriate action once allegations surfaced: “We are horrified that an employee violated the trust of our families and students, as Prosper ISD’s foremost priority is to protect our students’ safety and well-being at all times. We strongly condemn the actions of any adult who would cause mental or physical harm to a child, and we do not tolerate such behavior.” The district has declined additional comment, citing pending litigation. Disputed claims about safety changes Prosper ISD previously told parents it would implement additional safeguards, including increased supervision during bus drop-offs, a volunteer “bus buddy” program, and improved monitoring of bus surveillance video. But the parents and their attorneys say those changes were not consistently put in place. Attorney Levi McCathern says the district does not regularly review bus surveillance footage — even though video captured the alleged abuse in this case. “You would think the first thing you would do after this happens is change your monitoring program,” McCathern said. “They don’t monitor them at all.” McCathern and co-counsel Kristin Hecker say the lawsuit is aimed at forcing policy changes rather than seeking financial gain. Questions about oversight and leadership The case has also raised broader concerns about district leadership and oversight. Prosper ISD’s school board president later resigned in an unrelated child abuse case, further shaking confidence among some parents. Families have also questioned the independence of the district’s internal review, noting that the law firm hired to investigate the district’s response is also defending Prosper ISD in the lawsuit. “All we want is an independent investigation,” McCathern said. Parents push for accountability and change The parents say their children remain enrolled in Prosper ISD, but they continue to press for reforms they believe could prevent similar abuse. “We want justice for our kids,” the girls’ mother said. “But we also want changes to happen at the district so that this doesn’t happen to other children.”