Experience

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  Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

  • Greater Atlanta Area

  • Special Counsel

    • Mar 2019 - Present
    • Greater Atlanta Area

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  Pursley Friese Torgrimson, LLP

  • 1230 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 1200, Atlanta, GA 30309

  • Of Counsel

    • Apr 2016 - Feb 2019
    • 1230 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 1200, Atlanta, GA 30309

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  Tishman Speyer

  • Greater Atlanta Area

  • Regional Counsel

    • Oct 2006 - Dec 2015
    • Greater Atlanta Area

    • Prepared and negotiated office and retail leases in-house for all properties owned by Tishman Speyer in the southeastern United States. Originally this portfolio consisted of approximately 4 million square feet of space in Atlanta and Miami. • Negotiated purchase and sale agreements and managed closing of real estate sales and acquisitions, including Courvoisier Centre in Miami, Florida, Palisades, One Alliance, Two Alliance, Interstate North Office Park and Midtown Plaza in metropolitan Atlanta. • Negotiated construction loan and construction management contracts for development of Two Alliance Center and Three Alliance Center in Atlanta. This included review of construction and architectural contracts, drafting covenants and easements, and analysis and negotiation of zoning with applicable government entities.• Negotiated tax abatement agreements with the Development Authority of Fulton County for both Two Alliance and Three Alliance Centers.• Monitored collection of past due accounts and other litigation.• Supervised provision of third party legal services with emphasis on cost effectiveness.

• 

  Trizec Properties

  • Greater Atlanta Area

  • Regional Counsel

    • Dec 1998 - Oct 2006
    • Greater Atlanta Area

    • Prepared and negotiated office and retail leases in-house for properties in region. Originally this portfolio consisted of approximately 13 million square feet of space, which covered properties located in Atlanta, Memphis, Miami, Columbia, Charlotte and Dallas. Supervised a staff of four based in Atlanta. The Atlanta portfolio was purchased by Tishman Speyer in October 2006.• Negotiated purchase and sale agreements and managed closing of real estate sales and acquisitions, including Park Central in Dallas; Camp Creek, Highlands Overlook, Interchange, Newmarket, Lakeside and a portion of Alliance Center (residential) in Atlanta; Bank of America Plaza, First Citizens Bank Plaza and Perimeter Woods in Charlotte: Clark Tower in Memphis; and several office buildings in Columbia, SC.• Member of development team for new office buildings constructed at One Alliance Center, Palisades and Interstate North in Atlanta. Reviewed construction and architectural contracts, drafted covenants and easements, including analysis and negotiation of zoning with applicable government entities.• Managed legal aspects of land bank for possible future development.• Monitored collection of past due accounts and other litigation.• Maintained relationships with outside legal firms including management of outside legal costs.• Assisted General Counsel and other regional counsel in updating lease forms.• Member of Six Sigma teams reviewing lease process and credit review.• Member of bankruptcy process and terrorism compliance review teams.

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  Laing Properties (LPI)

  • Greater Atlanta Area

  • House Counsel, Vice President and Corporate Secretary

    • Feb 1993 - Dec 1998
    • Greater Atlanta Area

    • The above duties at Trizec were essentially the same at LPI. All remaining properties owned by LPI and its subsidiaries were purchased by Trizec in December 1998.• Coordinated disposition of LPI's multifamily property portfolio (over 7000 units consisting of twenty properties located in nine states); assisted living facilities (five properties in three states); and the office/industrial portfolio and land bank (nine properties in Georgia, North Carolina and the District of Columbia).• Member of conversion team at LPI, when it discussed and drafted initial documents for REIT conversion, which was never consummated, since sales of assets generated greater revenue for parent companies of LPI.• Worked with joint venture partners of LPI and third party owners for whom LPI leased and managed property.• Reviewed insurance coverage with risk management team to ensure proper coverage for United States property group for parent of LPI.• Monitored compliance with employment laws and successfully coordinated litigation of significant employee claims against LPI.

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  Prime Bancshares, Inc.

  • Decatur, GA

  • General Counsel, Senior Vice President, Secretary

    • Apr 1991 - Feb 1993
    • Decatur, GA

    Served as general counsel for the thrift institution and its publicly traded holding company with emphasis on regulatory compliance activities, preparation and supervision of loan closing procedures and documentation. Also, handled employee benefit issues, including compliance with Labor Department audit and significant wrongful termination claim. Holding Company merged into SouthTrust Bank in February 1993.

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  Carter & Ansley

  • Greater Atlanta Area

  • Partner

    • Apr 1975 - Apr 1991
    • Greater Atlanta Area

    • Partner in charge of Decatur branch office of law firm with responsibility for all commercial and residential real estate transactions, representing sellers, purchasers, developers, and institutional lenders.• Supervised all compliance and litigation activities as well as foreclosure and problem loan workouts for DeKalb Federal Savings and Loan Association, later known as Prime Bank, Federal Savings Bank.• Coordinated legal activities resulting in conversion of Prime Bank from mutual to stock ownership in 1989.

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  US Army

  • Fort Benning; Fort Holabird; Vietnam.

  • First Lieutenant

    • Sep 1970 - May 1972
    • Fort Benning; Fort Holabird; Vietnam.

    Received an Honorable Discharge as a First Lieutenant. Awarded Bronze Star for service, U.S. Army – Vietnam, May, 1972. Served as Executive Officer and Training Officer for Military Intelligence Company consisting of more than four hundred men.