Welcome to Chris Griswold P.C.℠
* Commercial Business Transactions
* Estate Planning & Realtors
* A Unique, Hybrid Law & Real Estate Services Firm Creating Solutions
Have you ever wondered how nice it would be if someone were to combine a successful, proven, diverse, commercial business transactions, estate planning and real estate law firm with a well-backed real estate brokerage company? If so, you’re thinking of us. Afterall, the diverse ownership of real estate has become the leading form of wealth in modern America – and these areas of law all highly impact it.
Chris Griswold and his team have not only practiced (among other areas) commercial real estate law, commercial business transactions, intellectual property law, estate planning, banking, tax, Indian, zoning, and many other areas of law – but they’re also Realtors™ in residential, zoning, commercial, investment and recreational realty – with licenses as both attorneys & Realtors™ in both Texas & Oklahoma. They also do business brokerage.
Just take a look at all the services we offer, in different areas, on the “About The Firm” tab of this site.
Here at Chris Griswold, PC, we are “cradle to grave”. What does that mean?
That means we routinely help clients all the way from their personal estate planning, to their legal entity formation, to site selection and property acquisition, to advising them on their leasing/tenant issues and operations, to helping them work with their vendors in their B2B contracts, to helping them make intellectual property decisions, to helping them institute and defend lawsuits, to helping them list and sell their business (and the related personal and real property of such business), to assisting them with winding down and dissolving their legal entity vehicle – and even more. If they have insurance issues or non-compete issues along the way, we’re there too.
All this know-how has been developed & sharpened through Chris’ involvement at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), where Chris has taught and mentored as a Professor in UCO’s highly esteemed, Real Estate Program. Chris’ Broker in both States is Brix Realty (469.775.9977) & (405.594.8341) – TX & OK, respectively. Please visit www.trec.texas.gov to view important information about Brokerage Services pamphlet.
Chris Griswold P.C. is a unique, first-ever, hybrid firm which efficiently combines and applies its well-proven experience as a law firm dealing in commercial business transactions, estate planning and real estate law – together with a modern realty & business brokerage practice. With such a unique set of skills, licenses, know-how and service offerings – Chris’ team can better serve clientele.
Call us when you’re ready.
Furthermore, Gena Timberman and Chris, both previously editors on the American Indian Law Review at the Oklahoma University College of Law – are now both collaborating Associates in The Luksi Group, LLC – a consulting company formed by Gena surrounding Indian Law issues and tribal investment strategies. Gena and Chris both interned together at the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. back in 1999 (during the Clinton Impeachment hearings) and, interestingly, had the joint privilege and honor of filing the seminole, landmark ” Cobell” Indian Law case as interns! They both now continue to work together and speak on Indian Law issues and tribal investment strategies and related matters.
Chris Griswold Bio
Chris is a father, attorney, professor, broker, mentor, book author (of 4 different genres, in 20 written books – including a business law book entitled “Common Laws For Uncommon People”), investor, speaker, guest columnist (of 60+ newspaper and magazine articles), social activist, frequent community volunteer and the writer of a monthly e-newsletter which has roughly 30,000 organically grown subscribers. Chris is also an actively practicing commercial attorney, realtor and business broker & he is licensed in all those respective capacities in both Texas & Oklahoma.
Chris is past President of both the Commercial Real Estate Council of OKC (CREC) and the Central Oklahoma Commercial Association of Realtors (COCAR). He is also a CoStar CRE Impact Awards Judge and, upon the invitation of the President of the Edmond Board of Realtors, serves on various committees of such Board of Realtors. Chris is also the longtime legal advisor to the Chaplains of the Oklahoma City Police Department.
Chris is a professor who teaches real estate and business law courses at the University of Central Oklahoma and stays closely connected to his students – even after they graduate (oftentimes, helping them get their first jobs by promoting them on his social media – the first Professor in Oklahoma to do so). He will also be teaching government, business and other courses at Rose State College.
He practices in many States transactionally as a lawyer, and is licensed in both Texas and Oklahoma by the method of examination in the year 2000 (not by the more common and lenient method of reciprocity).
Prior to private practice in 2007, Chris served as in-house, corporate counsel for both Pier One Imports and J.C. Penney in Texas (where he also practices). After spending a majority of his career performing major, commercial transactional work (routinely working with REITs in the $5-$500M range), he has acquired extensive experience.
Chris is a proud graduate from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas where he obtained his B.B.A. in 1996. Then he attended the Oklahoma University College of Law in Norman, Oklahoma and obtained his Juris Doctor in 1999.
— Actively practicing in Texas, Oklahoma and other surrounding States —
Let my team and I help you!
— Chris Griswold Positions Held —
- Bylaws Committee – Edmond Board of Realtors / 2023 – ongoing
- Public Relations Committee – Edmond Board of Realtors / 2023 – ongoing
- Adjunct Professor of Real Estate – The University of Central Oklahoma / 2017 – ongoing
- Judge – CoStar CRE Impact Awards / 2023
- President – Central Oklahoma Commercial Association of Realtors Summit / 2021 – 2022
- President – Commercial Real Estate Council of OKC / 2016 – 2017
— Chris Griswold Books —
——
Indian Law
Gena Timberman and Chris, both previously being editors on the American Indian Law Review at the Oklahoma University College of Law – are now both collaborating Associates in the Luksi Group, LLC – a consulting company surrounding Indian Law issues and tribal investment strategies. Gena and Chris both interned together at the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. back in 1999 (during the Clinton Impeachment hearings) and, interestingly, had the joint privilege and honor of filing the seminal, landmark “Cobell” Indian Law case as interns! They both now continue to work together and speak on Indian Law issues and tribal investment strategies and related matters.
Since the Supreme Court’s recent landmark McGirt Indian Law decision, Chris also works privately with young tribal entrepreneurs who wish to both: 1) partner with outside investment groups, while also 2) building a progressive coalition network with other young, like-minded Native American entrepreneurs. Chris’ 3 children are also proud, Choctaw blood quantum tribal members.
The Great Debate PanelHeld 2021 at Rose State College, on Supreme Court’s landmark Indian Law McGirt decision.
—–
— Some of Chris’ 60+ newspaper and magazine articles —
‘It depends’ is the answer to many pandemic rent questions
Contract clause may release parties from contracts during COVID-19
Q&A Misunderstanding surrounds noncompete agreements
Q&A Businesses should use reasonable care in preventing icy accidents
Q&A Diligence is crucial for renting property owners
Q&A Legal terms matter in contracts
Q&A Upfront agreements can protect commercial tenants’ business operations
Courts look to past behaviors when resolving commercial disputes
Q&A Tenant leases need carve-out clauses to cover tenant’s extended liabilities
Q&A Cannabis business could be deal breaker for prospective building buyers, sellers
Q&A E-scooter crashes could carry legal risks
Owners, landlords & managers can control weapons on commercial property
Q&A Visual Artists Rights Act creates notoriety for artists, their work
Q&A Misunderstanding surrounds noncompete agreements
Q&A Recent federal act more broadly defines trade secrets
Q&A New trust holders must change titles, insurance policies
Q&A Commercial property owners, managers may set gun rules
Q&A Diligence is crucial for renting property owners
Q&A Tenants, landlords should negotiate own terms regarding ‘enjoyment’ covenant
Concerns over Oklahoma pot law continue to emerge
Federal law fogs pot’s promise for real estate, Oklahoma panel says
Parents need legal documents to care for adult, unmarried children
Click to view Material Breach Article from Chris Griswold.
Click to view Feature Article on Chris Griswold.
Click to view Feature Article on New Ventures.
Click to view Feature Article on Tenant Leases.
Lot Lines: Disaster lessons for property owners
Lot Lines: How can property owners prepare for Brexit?
Griswold: Strong oil is good for all
Click to view Feature Article on Tenant Leases.
Click to view Feature Article on Tenant Leases.
Service Animal 101
1. How does the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) define a Service Animal?
The ADA defines a Service Animal as: any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, developmental, psychiatric, intellectual, or other disability. The Service Animal and Service Dog definition includes any dog trained to assist a person with a disability overcome obstacles affecting their daily life that directly result from their disability. So, Service Animals are skilled and highly trained dogs who partner with people with disabilities. Service Animals are also known as Assistance Animals, Assistance Dogs, and Service Dogs. The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and/or the provision of emotional support (e.g., from Emotional Support Dogs), well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
2. What do these Service Animals/Dogs do? These dogs utilize their special training to lessen their partner’s given disability and the difficulties caused by it. The dogs perform functions and tasks that an individual with a disability cannot perform easily and independently.
3. What are the requirements that a Service Dog/Animal must meet? A dog must be paired with a person with a disability that hinders their ability to function independently. Furthermore, the dog must have specific task training or work that directly lessens or reduces the impact of such person’s disability. Both of these pieces are required to make such dog, no matter how well trained, legally a Service Dog.
Contracts For Deed / Lease To Purchase Q&A
Message From Chris….
The real estate world sometimes uses terms like “contract for deed,” “lease to own,” “rent to own,” “lease to purchase,” and/or “lease with an option to purchase.” We’ve all heard of these. They’re actually all synonyms though, legally speaking…. What do they really mean?
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about these arrangements, and I’ve gotten a lot of calls on these lately, so I address them this month. When interest rates rise (as they are doing), this form of financing to “get deals done” becomes a large player in the deal financing arena, as some buyers want to avoid otherwise higher, market-rate interest rates and/or can’t qualify for a bank loan…. Few things keep the Court system as alive and healthy as divorces and these arrangements.
Note: While this piece admittedly covers the issues faced more by a Seller/Landlord, it doesn’t necessarily make a Buyer/Tenant happy either to learn that they already own something they thought they were just leasing (especially in terms of general liablity to the public, insurability issues related to such liability, tax liabilities, etc…). Everybody take note….
Contracts For Deed / Lease To Purchase Q&A
- I’ve heard these terms used a lot, but what are they really? They’re something the law calls a “contract for deed,” and the law views all of them the same way; no matter what you call them; no matter how you try to characterize or label them in your deal docs….
- How does the law view them? No matter what they’re called, they’re viewed by the law as a conveyance and sale. This means that the person purporting to be the “landlord” has, no matter what they meant to do, in fact, “sold” their property to the person purporting to be the “tenant.”
- Why do “Landlords/Sellers” agree to do these conveyances? Whether to get the deal done more quickly or to circumvent a would-be-tenant’s inability to otherwise get their own real, ortodox, deed/note/mortgage/loan from an institutional lender (excluding sellers that own their property debt free, with no encumbrances filed of record), some sellers entertain the prospect of “renting” their property to a “tenant” with the understanding that the “tenant” ultimately pays off the note and then “owns the property.” However, this isn’t as easy as it sounds…. Why?
- What are the complications with these conveyances? Oftentimes, the “tenant” defaults. So? Afterwards, the “landlord” goes to evict the “tenant.” Once things go to Court, the judge politely tells the “landlord” that they can’t evict, instead, they have to foreclose on their property to reclaim possession, because the arrangement was a conveyance and sale, not just a lease. And foreclosing is a much longer, more expensive process than an eviction. See the problem??
- What are other complications with these arrangements? Unless the property is completely paid off, something called the landlord’s/seller’s “due on sale clause” in the landlord’s/seller’s loan docs (with their own lender) will be violated. This means that, once the landlord’s/seller’s lender finds out about the “sale,” the landlord/seller has to pay off their own lender immediately because they’ve now sold their property to the “tenant.” And everyone’s hope that the lender won’t find out lasts until about hail season, when insurance companies begin paying out roof replacement claims as people struggle over who “actually owns the property.” See the problem??
What My Clients Are Saying
“I have been extremely pleased with the legal services provided by Chris. He is an expert on real estate issues; devotes immediate attention to our needs and follows through with all required action. I look forward to a continuing relationship with Chris.”
Harrison Levy / Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The information presented within this article is of a general nature and is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice in any particular matter without first consulting qualified counsel.
Chris Griswold, P.C.
McGirt Decision Q&A / Indian Law Update
Since we all continue to hear more and more about the recent Supreme Court ruling on the McGirt Decision, I thought reminding everyone about the facts/law/circumstances surrounding McGirt would be both helpful and relevant.
Whether or not you own real property, you should know something about it…. A thank you goes out to my own Gena Timberman, Esquire, a Choctaw tribal member, for having access to the information below which was provided from the Choctaw Nation and The 5 Civilized Tribes on this subject matter.
Question not addressed below or elsewhere yet: How will title companies, going forward, handle title insurance on properties located upon or within a Reservation?
McGirt Decision Q&A / Indian Law Update
- Does the McGirt ruling mean that the Choctaw Nation will become a reservation?The Supreme Court’s ruling in McGirt is specifically about the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and clearly establishes that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s treaty territory is a reservation. The decision also strengthens the Choctaw Nation’s position that it has and has always had a reservation.
- Does this ruling mean that Indian people who are in State prison will automatically be released? No.Today’s decision from the Court will not result in any prisoner’s automatic release. Any challenged conviction will be evaluated on its own merits and there are many other laws that could prevent a state prisoner from being retried. Any person whose conviction may be affected by today’s ruling will either remain in prison or face re-prosecution and re-incarceration by federal or tribal authorities.
- If I live within Choctaw Nation and an emergency arises, do I still call 911? Yes.Federal, tribal, state, and local officials already have many agreements in place to ensure that emergency response will continue to be handled the same way and that those committing criminal acts—whether they are tribal members or not—can be arrested by law enforcement to maintain law and order. Police protection and emergency response will continue to be provided for all.
- Who will prosecute crimes that occur within Choctaw Nation?No person within the Choctaw Nation—whether they are a tribal member or not—is above the law. Generally, tribal members who commit crimes will be subject to federal or tribal prosecution, and non-tribal members will remain subject to state prosecution.
- Does this decision mean non-Natives no longer own their homes or other property if they live within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation? No.Today’s decision has no effect whatsoever on anyone’s ownership of property, and all existing contracts, leases, and title to property remain as they were before this decision. State law remains applicable for the most part especially with respect to persons who are not members of the Choctaw Nation (or another tribe) and on lands not owned by the tribe or tribal members.
- Does this ruling change the boundaries of the state of Oklahoma?No, Oklahoma’s boundaries are not changed by any aspect of today’s ruling. The Muscogee (Creek) treaty territory remains part of Oklahoma, as does the treaty territory of every tribe in Oklahoma. Everyone living within the boundaries of those treaty territories, Indian and non-Indian, remains a citizen of Oklahoma and their rights and responsibilities as Oklahoma citizens, including voting, schooling, and many other rights guaranteed by state law, remain the same.
- Will this ruling change any existing agreements between the State of Oklahoma and the Choctaw Nation? No.All existing agreements between the Nation and the State regarding issues such as hunting and fishing will remain in effect.
- Is this decision related to the Tribes’ dispute with the Governor over the gaming compact? No.This has nothing to do with the gaming compact. It stems from appeals from Creek citizens who were convicted of crimes in state court and should have been tried in federal court. This litigation arose before the gaming compact dispute and will have no impact on it.
What My Clients Are Saying
“I have been extremely pleased with the legal services provided by Chris. He is an expert on real estate issues; devotes immediate attention to our needs and follows through with all required action. I look forward to a continuing relationship with Chris.”
Harrison Levy / Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Site Search
Chris Griswold Blog
- Business Issues & Business Transactions (73)
- Estate Planning (11)
- Intellectual Property Issues (2)
- McGirt Decision (2)
- Real Estate & Leasing (19)
- Service Animal Info (1)
Affiliates
12101 N. Meridian Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
405.229.7595 (Oklahoma Office)
DALLAS OFFICE
6505 West Park Blvd.
Suite 306-113
Plano, TX 75093
972.955.0453 (Texas Office)
[email protected]
"Getting Your Deal Done"