DUNCAN OGILVIE, counsel, has spent his career spearheading and facilitating countless commercial real estate transactions and projects, leveraging his pragmatic approach and extensive, diverse experience to efficiently consummate deals and achieve client goals.
Balancing an appreciation and wariness of risk with a determination to keep deals on track, Duncan focuses his practice on the acquisition, disposition, development, leasing, and financing of all types and scales of commercial real estate projects, including extensive residential condominium development and commercial leasing experience.
Duncan’s approach emphasizes realistic timelines, comprehensive deal-tracking, and effective communication with his clients and the other parties to a transaction, such as lenders, title companies, engineers, architects, and governmental authorities, whose combined efforts play determinative roles in a project’s success. He understands that while the parties to a commercial real estate transaction may all share a common goal of a timely closing, they have distinct interests, priorities, and concerns that must be considered and addressed to reach that objective. His diplomatic nature and commitment to his clients combine to make him a valued ally and trusted partner who continues to leave his mark on Detroit’s and Michigan’s commercial real estate landscape.
In addition to his work on behalf of his clients, Duncan has used his knowledge and experience in real estate matters to help his community. Notably, after the 2008 financial crisis, he contributed his time and efforts to Community Legal Resources, helping develop strategies for addressing vacant and blighted properties, including coauthoring the organization’s Vacant Property Legal Manual.
