Christopher Azuoma, Associate
When you give up, it means you never wanted it.
Christopher is an Associate in the firm’s Real Estate Practice, where he represents developers, investors, lenders, landlords, and tenants in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions. His practice focuses on complex transactions involving acquisitions, leasing, affordable housing, community development, and institutional financing.
Chris assists clients throughout the full life cycle of a transaction. He has extensive experience preparing and reviewing a broad range of key real estate and transaction documents such as deeds, loan documents, purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases, and joint venture agreements. Chris works closely with clients and deal parties to efficiently advance transactions and resolve issues that arise during the closing process.
In addition, Chris has experience working on community development projects involving Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC). In these matters, he assisted developers, lenders, and investors with drafting and negotiating partnership/operating agreements, regulatory agreements, and financing documents, as well as coordinating with lenders, tax counsel, and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with program requirements.
Chris was recognized as one of the National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 African American Lawyers in Washington, DC in 2022.
Representative Matters
Leasing Transactions
- Dental Office: Represented dental practice tenant in negotiation of lease for approximately 2,000 rentable square feet in a commercial office building located in Columbia, Maryland.
- Commercial Office: Represented landlord in leasing transaction for approximately 2,380 rentable square feet in a multi-tenant office building located in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Charter School Facility: Represented landlord in negotiation of long-term net lease for approximately 5,052 rentable square feet, consisting of school buildings, modular classrooms, and related facilities for public charter school operations located in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Retail Laundromat: Represented landlord in negotiation of retail lease for approximately 2,660 rentable square feet in shopping center property located in Cockeysville, Maryland, for laundry service operations with drive-through facilities.
- Industrial/Distribution: Represented tenant in negotiation of long-term industrial lease for approximately 24,339 rentable square feet in a distribution center owned by institutional industrial landlord.
- Industrial Warehouse: Represented tenant in negotiation of long-term industrial warehouse lease for approximately 16,600 rentable square feet.
- Office and Warehouse: Represented tenant in negotiation of lease for approximately 8,910 rentable square feet in an office and warehouse building for IT equipment storage and distribution operations.
- Retail Comic Book and Game Store: Represented tenant in negotiation of retail lease for approximately 12,212 rentable square feet in a shopping center property located in Pikesville, Maryland, for comic book and game store operations.
- Office Lease Amendment and Expansion: Represented tenant in connection with office lease expansion for approximately 1,336 rentable square feet of additional premises in a multi-tenant office building located in Columbia, Maryland.
Acquisitions and Dispositions
- Multi-Property Commercial Portfolio: Represented purchaser in acquisition of multiple commercial properties in Prince George’s County, Maryland for $2,500,000.
- Seller-Financed Commercial Property: Represented purchaser in acquisition of commercial property in Prince George’s County, Maryland for $800,000 with seller financing component.
- Mixed-Use Commercial Property Sale: Represented seller in sale of mixed-use property in Washington, D.C. for $19,700,000.
Financing, Management and Real Estate Support Matters
- Commercial Real Estate Financing: Represented borrowers and other transaction parties in commercial real estate financing matters, including review and preparation of loan documents and related closing documentation.
- Cooperative Sale and Transfer Transactions: Represented cooperative apartment corporation in connection with sale and transfer transactions at multi-unit residential cooperative building, with responsibility for assisting with the entire co-op closing process.
- License and Easement Agreements: Drafted and negotiated license and easement agreements involving temporary or limited use of real property and access rights.
- Program Occupancy Agreements: Drafted program occupancy agreements for hospital allowing workers from hospital-sponsored transitional housing program to work and live in dormitory space at no charge.
- Lease Enforcement and Demand Letters: Drafted demand letters and advised landlords and tenants regarding lease defaults, property conditions, and enforcement of contractual rights and remedies.
- Condominium and Common-Interest Community Matters: Assisted with condominium and homeowners’ association matters, including preparation and review of real estate documents and lien-related notices.
Honors
Recognized in The National Black Lawyers Top 100, 2022
Teams
Education
J.D.,
Howard University School of Law,
2018
B.A.,
Political Science,
Dean's List,
University of Southern California,
2015
Bar Admissions
Maryland,
2019