The POWER 30: Christine Eid

Vantage Law Group

Vantage Law Group, located in southeast Minneapolis, started with lawyers who decided not to work in a large firm environment.

“We are a smaller firm that focuses on commercial real estate. We don’t dabble in other types of law, including litigation. We focus on sophisticated real estate transactions,” said Christine Eid, who left Stinson to join colleagues at Vantage. They bring their big law firm experience and their own expertise to clients, she explained. “Clients get the same representation as with a large firm, but it’s less expensive.”

Eid continued, “We provide a very unique service. At a large firm there are a lot of associates. We want to give the service at a more palatable rate. The practice involves a team approach to cases, but the team members are partners. It’s easy for a partner to step in.

“Sometimes clients ask how deep our bench is. It’s deep with experienced attorneys. We’re comfortable with whoever is on the team. The market is so hot that buyers want to buy.”

“The last quarter of 2023 was a slowdown, and the first quarter 2024 the market picked up. I don’t know if it’s a pattern or leftover deals from 2023,” Eid said.

Eid further noted that property prices are still upsetting to buyers. There is some potential for distressed properties to result in deals, she said. “It would benefit everyone to work out a deal before foreclosure.  It is happening primarily in office space.”

Her construction clients are proceeding carefully, Eid said. “They are doing a ton of due diligence, keeping a close eye on [their projects] especially with construction costs.”

Vantage also represents banks. “Our banks are solid. We’re seeing what our clients are hearing,” she said. “The market forces are all over the board, which means the clients are not affected more than all of us,” she said. Real estate sellers are finding it more difficult because buyers want lower prices, Eid said. At the same time, the market is “cautiously optimistic. People are looking for places to put their money. Real estate is one of those assets that could diversify a portfolio. There’s dry powder out there.”