Top 10 Real Estate Headlines from All Regions As we all know, Michael Jackson died this past summer. Although the stories of his unusual lifestyle and abuses have flooded the media, it appears that his estate plan was rather conventional. With the events of 2008 and 2009, the industry's outlook seemed bleak. Sponsors, broker-dealers, and registered representatives spent most that time wrestling with problems and asset management. The electricity industry’s movement toward renewable energy development presents a unique opportunity for owners and developers of large-scale real property (e.g., warehouses and distribution centers). Last week the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill completed its passage through the House of Commons. The nature of a construction project gives rise to the possibility of numerous individual defects or losses arising which may be brought together in one or more claims. An issue that continues to bedevil the construction industry is whether general damages are recoverable when the parties agree that liquidated damages are not. Since November 2008 when the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued a proposed roadmap for the mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) for public companies, there has been a significant level of speculation regarding the future of the US accounting framework. The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has published its long awaited preliminary guidance on the application of the public procurement rules to development agreements between public bodies and developers. The primary tax concerns for property owners include income tax, loss relief, CGT and deductible expenses. Florida's legislature has just amended various provisions of state law relating to condominiums and homeowners associations. | 
