--- title: "Real Estate, Construction, and Land Use Litigation" id: "2015" type: "expertise" slug: "real-estate-construction-and-land-use-litigation" published_at: "2026-01-25T18:27:27+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-23T09:33:14+00:00" url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/real-estate-construction-and-land-use-litigation/" markdown_url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/real-estate-construction-and-land-use-litigation.md" excerpt: "Protecting and defending your real estate operations Real estate litigation involves significant financial, operational, and strategic stakes. Each dispute has the potential to halt a transaction, delay a project, or jeopardize an operating model. We intervene at every stage of..." taxonomy_language: - "English" taxonomy_post_translations: - "pll_6976608f38714" taxonomy_tax_expertise: - "Real Estate, Construction, and Land Use Litigation" taxonomy_tax_famille_expertise: - "Dispute Resolution" --- ## Protecting and defending your real estate operations Real estate litigation involves significant financial, operational, and strategic stakes. Each dispute has the potential to halt a transaction, delay a project, or jeopardize an operating model. We intervene at every stage of the asset lifecycle, including office buildings, retail premises, logistics facilities, hotels, residential properties, and alternative assets. Our work focuses on preventing, managing, and resolving disputes related to transactions, construction issues, and operational matters. Our approach combines in-depth case analysis, mastery of civil, commercial, administrative, and arbitral procedures, and a systematic search for effective solutions, whether through litigation or negotiated outcomes. We represent developers, investors, funds, real estate companies, institutional landlords, and construction firms before all courts and tribunals, acting for plaintiffs or defendants, on the merits and in interim proceedings. ## *our*Capabilities ### (01) Investment Disputes Sale agreements, SPAs, indemnity clauses, and warranty insurance all require careful protection when the terms of a real estate transaction are challenged or when guarantees must be triggered. We defend our clients’ interests in every dispute arising from the negotiation, performance, or enforcement of these commitments. ### (02) Real Estate Litigation Claims for title, demolition actions, and enforcement of easements are among the many disputes we handle involving ownership, use, and real property rights. ### (03) Lease Litigation Renewal rents, eviction indemnities, landlord–tenant disputes, and enforcement of guarantees are among the matters in which we assist both landlords and tenants. Our services cover all commercial, professional, and residential leases. ### (04) Construction Litigation Pre-contract injunctions, court-appointed expert investigations, builder liability, cost overruns, and delays are frequent sources of construction disputes. We intervene from the procurement stage through project completion to prevent or manage conflicts arising during construction. Every project carries specific risks, including technical, contractual, and insurance-related issues, which can lead to significant and disruptive litigation. We represent project owners, developers, general contractors, and subcontractors before all competent courts, in interim proceedings as well as on the merits. ### (05) Urban Planning and ICPE Litigation Planning permissions, building permits, commercial zoning approvals, and environmental permitting for classified installations (ICPE) are frequent targets of administrative challenges or third-party objections. We defend real estate projects facing such claims, relying on our mastery of urban planning law, environmental regulation, and emergency procedures before administrative courts. ### (06) Restructuring and Distressed Real Estate Ad hoc mandates, safeguard proceedings, judicial reorganizations, and liquidations all require highly coordinated support. We assist real estate stakeholders facing financial or operational difficulties, guiding them through each stage of restructuring and insolvency proceedings to preserve value and secure continuity. Collective excellence at the service of the *highest standards.* Team [Guillaume Aubatier ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/guillaume-aubatier/) [Hélène Billery ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/helene-billery/) [Dorian Scemama ( Counsel )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/dorian-scemama/) [Malvina Dahan ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/malvina-dahan/) [Aboubacar Diawara ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/aboubacar-diawara/) [Alix Kianpour ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/alix-kianpour/) [Victoire Le Calvez ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/victoire-le-calvez/) Précédent Suivant ## Contact Us ## *our*References Real Estate, Construction, and Land Use Litigation #### Energy Company – Environmental Permits for Nuclear Facility Advice to a major player in the energy sector on environmental and urban planning law aspects related to the structuring of operations for the construction of a nuclear waste storage basin at an operating nuclear site, including classified installation permit procedures and regulatory studies. Real Estate, Construction, and Land Use Litigation #### Real estate company – Administrative litigation (urban rehabilitation) Advising and representing a real estate company in multiple administrative appeals initiated by local residents contesting the rehabilitation of a highly visible building in central Paris. The case raises issues relating to urban renewal in dense areas and the rights of local residents in the face of restructuring projects. Real Estate, Construction, and Land Use Litigation #### Real estate fund – Building permit dispute Representation of a real estate fund in litigation regarding a building permit issued to a third party, whose project encroaches on our client’s property. Our role covers litigation strategy, defense of property rights, and determination of the limits of authorized construction. *Rankings*& Recognitions m - (01)Chambers and Partners 2025 – Global Real estate - (02)Décideurs 2025 – France Real Estate - (03)Décideurs 2025 – France Promotion & Construction [More distinctions](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/distinctions/?search_tax-expertise%5B%5D=real-estate-construction-and-land-use-litigation) ## *FAQ* ### (01) How does a law firm specializing in real estate litigation defend your interests in a disputed transaction? Sale agreements, SPAs, indemnity clauses, warranty insurance, title claims and easement disputes: litigation arising from transactions and real property rights can halt an operation or jeopardize an investment. Every challenge to transaction terms, every guarantee activation and every dispute over ownership, use or real property rights requires a swift and well-documented response. We represent developers, investors, funds, real estate companies and construction firms before all courts, acting for plaintiffs or defendants, on the merits and in interim proceedings. Our approach combines in-depth case analysis with a systematic search for effective solutions, whether through litigation or negotiated outcomes. ### (02) What remedies are available in lease litigation involving a commercial lease? Disputes between landlords and tenants frequently concern renewal rents, eviction indemnities, service charges or enforcement of guarantees. Article L. 145-14 of the French Commercial Code requires any landlord refusing to renew a commercial lease to pay an eviction indemnity equal to the loss caused by non-renewal, including in particular the market value of the business. We assist both landlords and tenants in managing their lease disputes, whether involving commercial, professional or residential leases, favouring the resolution best suited to each situation. ### (03) How should you handle real estate construction litigation involving the ten-year builder’s liability? Every construction project carries technical, contractual and insurance-related risks that can lead to significant and disruptive disputes. Article 1792 of the French Civil Code imposes strict liability on builders for a period of ten years from the reception of works for any damage compromising the structural integrity of the building or rendering it unfit for its intended purpose. We intervene from the procurement stage through project completion: pre-contractual injunctions, court-appointed expert investigations, cost overruns and delays. We represent project owners, developers, general contractors and subcontractors before all competent courts. ### (04) How can you challenge or defend a building permit in a planning law dispute? Planning permissions, building permits, commercial zoning approvals and decisions relating to classified installations (ICPE) are frequently challenged by third parties, potentially delaying or blocking a project. The time limit for challenging a building permit is two months from the first day of a continuous two-month display period on site, pursuant to Article R. 600-2 of the French Urban Planning Code. We defend real estate projects against such administrative challenges, drawing on our mastery of urban planning law, environmental regulation and emergency procedures before administrative courts. ### (05) How can you protect a real estate project facing financial difficulties or insolvency proceedings? Real estate stakeholders (developers, property companies, operators) facing financial or operational difficulties must act quickly to preserve asset value and project continuity. Ad hoc mandates, safeguard proceedings, judicial reorganization and liquidation each operate within strict deadlines and require close coordination between real estate law, insolvency law and construction law. We support these stakeholders at every stage of restructuring, securing stakeholder interests and pursuing solutions best suited to preserving asset value. ### (06) Why choose August Debouzy as your law firm for real estate and construction litigation? Developers, investors, funds, real estate companies, institutional landlords and construction firms entrust us with their most complex disputes. We intervene at every stage of the asset lifecycle (offices, retail, logistics, hotels, residential, alternative assets) to prevent, manage and resolve disputes related to transactions, construction and operations. Our approach combines mastery of civil, commercial, administrative and arbitral proceedings with a systematic search for effective solutions. The coordination between our litigation and transactional teams ensures a comprehensive understanding of the issues at stake.