Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Re: Sublease of Commerical Property

You can call it a master lease, a lease, or whatever you wish, but it is a contract.

If the tenant signed it, he is entitled to whatever he signed, i.e. the sublease.

You have an unusual situation, which seldom arises.

I do not know of legal principle involving a master lease, and since I donate several hours a day to answer questions for free (i.e. pro bono) in this forum, I don't have the time to research rare, and complex questions such as yours.

My initial reaction is why you would hesitate? If a lawsuit is filed, the attorney is automatically entitled to the document during "discovery", and you would have to turn it over. Moreover, if you force the lawyer (assuming he is that adamant) to file proceedings to have you turn the lease (well, a copy) over to him, you would almost certainly lose and be hit with court costs, and possibly attorney fees.

I don't know the common practice, since it isn't a common situation.

If you really want to find out, use the "ask a law librarian" link from the California Superior Court website.http://www.247ref.org/portal/access_law3.cfm