1. Lawyer-Led Legal Due Diligence, Coordinated Technical Review and Transaction Structuring

This is the investigation and risk-assessment stage of the acquisition. Simple Legal Consulting leads the legal review to determine whether the property is safe to acquire for the client’s intended purpose, under what conditions and with what contractual protections.

The review may involve title, Registry, cadastral, municipal, environmental and transactional information. When boundaries, terrain or development potential are relevant, SLC also coordinates independent professionals to examine the physical and technical condition of the property.

A title search alone cannot confirm that physical boundaries match the cadastral plan, that visible access is legally protected or that the client’s proposed project is compatible with the applicable land-use rules. Likewise, technical findings must be interpreted within the purchase agreement so that any discrepancy results in an appropriate legal response.

Why the lawyer leads the process

The scope of due diligence depends on the property and the client’s objectives. A condominium unit, rural parcel, coastal property and development site require different questions and professional assessments.

SLC leads the process by:

• Defining the legal and transactional questions

• Determining which matters require independent professional review

• Coordinating the relevant specialists

• Interpreting their findings within the legal due diligence

• Connecting each material issue to a contractual or negotiation strategy

• Advising the client whether and under what conditions to proceed

Independent professionals remain responsible for their own methodology, measurements, reports, plans and regulated technical conclusions.

Legal due diligence and transaction strategy

SLC reviews the legal and transactional condition of the property, identifies the principal risks and protects the client’s position through the purchase agreement.

Depending on the property and transaction, the review may include:

• Title, ownership and registered encumbrances

• Mortgages, liens, easements, annotations and limitations

• Contract conditions and due diligence deadlines

• Legal and physical access

• Registry, cadastral and municipal records

• Land-use information and property-specific restrictions

• Taxes, condominium obligations and local charges

• Available permits and documentation for existing structures

• Legal interpretation of independent specialist findings

• Transaction structure and proposed closing conditions

Coordinated surveying and cadastral review

When physical or cadastral verification is justified, SLC defines the questions that must be answered and coordinates an independent licensed land survey professional.

Depending on the agreed scope, the survey professional may:

• Verify dimensions, perimeter, area and boundaries

• Locate reference points and visible physical features

• Compare field conditions with cadastral and Registry information

• Identify potential overlaps, gaps or encroachments

• Prepare elevation data or contour information

• Support procedures involving segregation, consolidation or area correction

The surveying professional prepares, signs and assumes responsibility for the resulting measurements, plans and technical reports.

Site-potential and specialist review

When the buyer intends to build, subdivide, operate a business or develop the property, SLC helps define the project objectives and coordinate the appropriate professional assessments.

These assessments may consider:

• Topography, slopes and elevation changes

• Rivers, streams, drainage patterns and other natural features

• Vegetation and areas that may require environmental review

• Legal and physical access

• Land-use regulations

• Setbacks, density and maximum site coverage

• Apparent opportunities and constraints affecting the proposed project

• Matters requiring environmental, engineering, geological, geotechnical or licensed architectural review

Municipal land-use information may establish maximum site coverage and other development parameters. However, these percentages do not necessarily represent the property’s final buildable area. Water availability, access, environmental restrictions, easements, drainage, slope, soil conditions and other regulatory requirements may further limit development.

Any site-potential review is preliminary and intended to support the buyer’s decision-making. It is not an approved design, permit drawing, engineering opinion or guarantee that a proposed project will be authorized.

From findings to a property decision

SLC integrates the legal review with the independently prepared technical findings and explains how each material issue may affect the purchase agreement, negotiation and closing.

Depending on the results and the rights established in the agreement, the client may decide to:

• Proceed with the acquisition

• Request additional information or verification

• Require corrections before closing

• Add contractual protections or closing conditions

• Renegotiate the price, timing or other terms

• Extend the due diligence period

• Reconsider or withdraw from the transaction

At the beginning of the engagement, we clarify what the client intends to acquire, how the property will be used, what the seller or agent has represented, whether construction or subdivision is contemplated and which risks would materially affect the investment decision.