Jim has more than 30 years of diverse and extensive experience in commercial real estate and focuses on development transatctions pertaining to mixed use, retail, office, residential and hospitality projects.
He guides his clients in complex transactions of all types, including purchase and sale, lending, development, leasing, and joint venture matters. His clients are located throughout the United States and involved in all aspects of commercial real estate projects—office, industrial, retail, multifamily and mixed use.
Jim has spent much of his career engaged representing clients involved in the development and redevelopment of projects of all types, including mixed use, retail, office, residential and hospitality projects. As part of his development practice, Jim has long been leasing of all types, and he is regularly engaged in ground leasing and the leasing of retail, office, and industrial projects.
Jim devotes substantial time to retail development and leasing matters. Jim represents developers and retailers in diverse product types—ranging from freestanding facilities, to neighborhood and power-center developments, to enclosed regional malls and “high street” retail. Much of his recent work in the retail sector has pertained to mixed-use projects, including office and residential space, in addition to retail space, which often involve a condominium form of ownership.
Over the course of his career, he has seen commercial real estate transactions become more complicated and complex. Jim has represented lenders, borrowers, owners and tenants in distressed real estate transactions, including workouts, foreclosures, deeds in lieu of foreclosure and Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
- Represented national developer in connection with development of projects to be located on property ground leased from airport authorities.
- Represented Fortune 500 Company as to the development and financing of its corporate headquarters building in Atlanta.
- Represented major regional real estate developer as to mixed use development projects in Atlanta, Charleston and Southeast Florida.
- Represented Fuqua Development in connection with the development of mixed-use and retail projects in the metropolitan Atlanta area, Florida and other locations across the Southeast. Projects include The Battery at Trusit Park and other regional retail and mixed use projects.
- Represented a large brand-name retailer in connection with more than 50 self-developed retail sites across the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and other international locations.
- Everybody Into the Pool! Allocating Expenses Among Diverse Occupants of Mixed Use Projects, October 16, 2020, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) National Law Conference
- Are You My Tenant? Advanced Assignment and Sublease Issues, October 30, 2015, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) National Law Conference
- Reinventing the Wheel: Reengineering Existing Shopping Center Projects, November 4, 2010, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) National Law Conference
- Help! My Shopping Center has Fallen and Can’t Get Up, October 21, 2009, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) National Law Conference
- Report on Legal Opinions to Third Parties in Georgia Real Estate Secured Transactions dated October 15, 1997 approved by the Executive Committee of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia and by the State Bar of Georgia (Co-Chair of Legal Opinion Committee of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia and Editor of Report)
- Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of real estate (2009-2012, 2015-2018, 2020-2023)
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America in the area of real estate (2003-2024)
- Recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of real estate (2004-2023)
- Selected for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers® (2004-2021)
- Recipient, George A. Pindar Award, State Bar of Georgia Real Property Law Section (2015)
- Recommended by PLC Which Lawyer? in the area of real estate (2008-2012)
- Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as Atlanta Real Estate Lawyer of the Year (2010)
- Co-Chair, Legal Opinion Committee, Real Property Law Section, State Bar of Georgia (1997, 2008-2009)
- Member, American College of Real Estate Lawyers
- Chair, Executive Committee, Real Property Law Section, State Bar of Georgia (1999)
- Member, Executive Committee, Real Property Law Section, State Bar of Georgia (1992-2000)
- Member, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- Member, NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- Georgia
- B.B.A., with highest honors, University of Michigan,
Phi Beta Kappa
- J.D., magna cum laude, University of Michigan Law School,
Order of the Coif
Latest Insights
- InsightsChanges to 2021 ALTA Survey Standards – what you need to know
- InsightsCOVID-19 forbearance request provisions in new issuance securitizations
- InsightsCARES Act and the real estate industry: understanding the impact of COVID-19
- InsightsImpact of hotel operators on distressed asset workouts
- InsightsThe COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on US lease obligations
- InsightsCOVID-19 checklist for real estate and construction projects
Latest News
- NewsNine Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 137 Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
- News29 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 112 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2023 Legal 500 United States
- News34 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 81 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2023 Chambers USA
- NewsThree Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 111 Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
- News26 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 107 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2022 Legal 500 United States
- News34 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 83 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2022 Chambers USA
- NewsEight Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 112 Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
- News22 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 102 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2021 Legal 500 United States
- News31 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 79 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2021 Chambers USA
- News21 Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named 2021 Georgia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- NewsThree Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 115 Attorneys Recognized in 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
- News19 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 102 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2020 Legal 500 United States
- News24 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 63 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2020 Chambers USA
- News21 Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named 2020 Georgia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
News
Nine Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 137 Attorne...
News
29 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 112 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s ...
News
34 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 81 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s B...
News
Three Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 111 Attorn...