This article, written by Hinshaw partner Rolfe A. Worden, explores several elements of a commercial lease that have financial ramifications on the parties to the document. Issues covered include:

• The Lease Listing Agreement
• Space Measurement
• Term Sheets
• Consumer Price Index (CPI) Escalators
• Personal Guarantees of Lease Payments
• Gross-Up Clauses
• Improvement of Tenant Space
• Base Rent
• Operating Costs
• Percentage Rent
• Checking the Tenant’s Financial Standing