ICSC+U.S. LAW 2023 will tackle the most-pressing legal conundrums facing the Marketplaces Industry today, from the ethics of data usage to the structuring of increasingly complex joint ventures between developers to lease language addressing tenants’ environmental, social and governance demands.

Attorneys and executives from and representing retailers like Gap Inc., Giorgio Armani, Hobby Lobby Stores, Nike, Panda Restaurant Group, PetSmart, P.F. Chang’s, The Wendy’s Co., Victoria’s Secret and Ulta Beauty will be on stage at ICSC+U.S.LAW to discuss late-breaking trends.

To be held at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa Oct. 25 through 27, the event will feature hands-on opportunities for legal professionals to learn from others’ past experiences and to share their own advice on fast-morphing legal issues affecting the industry.

In addition to broad-themed general sessions at the event, peer-to-peer sessions, seminars and workshops will offer personalized guidance and advice on topics from construction insurance and leasehold financing to maintaining an ethical multijurisdictional practice.

ICSC+LAW has the answers to your legal questions, whether you’re a lawyer or not:

Are you unsure about the zoning requirements and lease language for adding cannabis tenants to your center?

Legal and regulatory uncertainties make leasing a significant challenge for cannabis-related businesses. A seminar on cannabis leasing will address the sector’s unique challenges.

Would you like to know how top big-box retailers are approaching today’s legal decisions?

Big-box users are rethinking how their stores serve consumers, and that will impact lease language. In a seminar called Big-Box Tenants, top brass from Life Time, Academy Sports + Outdoors and Target will talk about all aspects of their businesses and the legal ramifications.

Are you considering adding residential use to your shopping center?

A peer-to-peer session called Residential Uses: Mixed-Use to Mixed-Up will help you balance the competing demands and priorities of retail and residential uses, including zoning and other land-use restrictions, common area maintenance charges and obligations, parking concerns, construction and antiquated documents of record.

Are you looking for ways to increase your ancillary income?

A peer-to-peer session called Ancillary Income: Whose Common Area Is It Anyway? will address issues that arise when landlords seek to monetize otherwise non-income-producing space in so-called “ancillary income agreements.” The speakers will present hypotheticals covering financial and liability concerns, as well as possible impacts of common area use on existing tenants. Attendees will develop creative ways to meet landlords’ and tenants’ operational goals more harmoniously through better written contracts.

What are big retail landlords’ top priorities for the future?

During a seminar called Developers: Behind the Curtain, in-house attorneys from CenterCal Properties, Macerich, Oxford and Taubman will discuss issues they’re tackling. They’ll offer candid perspectives on standard lease provisions like gross sales, co-tenancy and force majeure, as well the various evolving legal needs of operating their properties and developing new ones, managing investors, and cooperating with joint-venture partners.

Do you need to improve your negotiating skills?

In a keynote presentation, Harvard Law School lecturer Gillien Todd will use the popular 1981 self-help book Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In to explore best practices for creating value in negotiation and managing repeat negotiation relationships within the Marketplaces Industry.

Are outdated reciprocal easement agreements complicating your redevelopment project?

A general session called Redevelopment: The New REA — Built to Last! will discuss the latest strategies and best practices for drafting and amending reciprocal easement agreements to reflect changes in development goals, for incorporating condominium regimes and for integrating traditional retail users with online retail, mixed-use and nontraditional uses and public spaces.

Learn more and register for ICSC+U.S. LAW here.