Author Archives: Spencer Holland

About Spencer Holland

Spencer is an associate in the Firm’s Land Use and Environmental Law Group and the Public and Municipal Law Group. The focus of Spencer’s practice is representing clients buying, selling, financing, and leasing commercial real estate. He represents a diverse group of clients, including startups, municipalities, life science companies, educational institutions, and regional developers. His experience includes the acquisition and disposition of commercial, industrial, residential, and mixed-use properties, as well as the negotiation of office, retail, and solar leases. Spencer also has experience advising clients on a broad range of land use matters, including zoning, permitting, and title issues.

SJC Reverses Appeals Court on Standing Requirements Under the Zoning Act – With Record Speed

Posted on March 11, 2020 by Spencer Holland

All zoning conformities are alike, to rephrase Tolstoy’s famous opening line, but each zoning-related injury is injurious in its own way. Such has been the time-honored tenant of Massachusetts law for abutter standing under the Zoning Act. To successfully challenge … Continue reading →

Appearance of Bias Not Enough to Invalidate Appraisal – Unless the Contract Says Otherwise

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Spencer Holland

When parties enter a contract involving an appraised value of real estate, they need eventual finality with respect to that appraised value, but they also want fairness in the appraisal process. In Buffalo-Water 1, LLC v. Fidelity Real Estate Company, … Continue reading →

Posted in Contracts, Lease | Tagged appraisal, Contracts, Lease, Supreme Judicial Court | Leave a comment

The New Massachusetts Clean Energy Bill: Solar Advocates Left Waiting for the Next Installment

Posted on August 16, 2018 by Spencer Holland

On July 31, 2018, the final day of its formal session, the Massachusetts legislature passed H. 4857, An Act to Advance Clean Energy, which Governor Baker signed into law on August 9. The bill represents several important steps forward in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

(Reluctantly) Open for Business: Momentum Gathering for Expanded Use of Continuous Operations Clauses

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Spencer Holland

Two recent court decisions may embolden commercial landlords to use a familiar lease provision in an unusual way when responding to tenants seeking to close their business operations before the end of the lease term. Continuous operations clauses are common … Continue reading →

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What Recent CFPB Rules Mean for the Private Lender

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Spencer Holland

There are many potential advantages to private mortgages, for lenders and borrowers alike. Borrowers can benefit from lower interest rates, more flexibility in repaying the loan, less paperwork, and fewer closing costs, while lenders can enjoy a steady income stream … Continue reading →

Posted in Mortgage | Tagged cfpb, closing disclosure, family mortgage, lending regulations, loan originator rule, private lending, tila-respa rule | Leave a comment

Upset About Your Easement? Why You Might Reconsider Turning to the Zoning Act for Relief

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Spencer Holland

In its recent June 2016 decision in Picard v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Westminster, et al., the SJC held that “a claimed injury to a private easement right [was not] sufficient to confer standing to challenge a zoning determination … Continue reading →