Navigating Foreign Sovereign Immunity in Real Estate Transactions

Foreign sovereigns frequently engage in real estate transactions in the United States, ranging from embassies and consulates leasing property for their offices to sovereign wealth funds investing in real estate. Owners of real estate might interact with foreign sovereigns for other reasons as well — for example, if your neighbor is an embassy or consulate, you may need to negotiate access during construction or repair work. Because foreign sovereigns are generally immune from lawsuits in the U.S., property owners negotiating leases and other contracts should be aware of certain key points regarding sovereign immunity. In this episode, Owen Wolfe and Eddy Salcedo join James O’Brien to discuss the key points that property owners should keep in mind when dealing with foreign sovereigns. View Owen and Eddy’s related blog post here: https://www.internationaldisputeresolutionlaw.com/2023/03/new-york-state-court-decision-provides-practice-guidance-for-sovereigns-and-landlords/