Real Estate
SECTION UPDATE
Real Estate
By Joseph Farrell Quirk & Quirk LLC jpf @ quirklaw . com
In the real estate business you learn more about people , and you learn more about community issues , you learn more about life , you learn more about the impact of government , probably than any other profession that I know of . ~ Sen . Johnny Isakson
Real Estate Section Chair , Kevin Rys , has spearheaded an ambitious agenda to organize legal education for real estate attorneys , provide social opportunities for real estate attorneys , and to support charitable endeavors related to real estate . Additionally , Rys has focused on having joint CLE sessions with other sections to broaden the educational experience for real estate attorneys and to encourage real estate attorneys to connect with other attorneys . Comprised of several hundred lawyers , the Real Estate Section consists of a diverse group of professionals who practice real estate law , are dedicated to various aspects of work related to real estate , or are just have an interest in this complex area of the law .
Monthly Breakfast Meetings
The Real Estate Section continues to host its regular monthly breakfast meetings , which include presentations for which members can earn CLE credits . In September , 2016 , dynamic litigator Bryan Knight of Knight Johnson , LLC discussed a high profile , two-week jury trial where he obtained a $ 7.1 million verdict on behalf of a real estate investment company against a national title insurance company involving a title defect . In October , the Real Estate Section raided the rooftop of the Ponce City Market , and members enjoyed camaraderie and libations overlooking the Atlanta skyline .
In December , bankruptcy expert Will Rountree of Macey Wilensky & Hennings , LLC , presented “ Real Estate Issues for the Real Estate Practitioner .” Rountree succeeded in presenting detailed , relevant information in a manner easily digested and understood by all participants . On January 12 , 2017 , the Real Estate Section teamed up with the Tax Law Section to enlighten and inform participants about Recent Developments in the Taxation of Real Property Ownership Entities and Transactions . Robert Beard , of King & Spalding , helped clear up the intricacies of this complex subject and fielded a number of difficult questions from the audience . On February 9 , 2017 , the Real Estate Section sponsored a Happy Hour at the Painted Pin , an upscale boutique bar , bowling and entertainment venue in an industrial warehouse space in the heart of Buckhead ' s Miami Circle .
Giving Back
As part of its effort to serve the community , the Real Estate Section delivered Thanksgiving dinners to three families in conjunction with the Northside United Methodist Church who put our Section in touch with these families . Board Member Jon Neville quarterbacked this worthy effort .
Additionally , the Real Estate Section sponsored ten ( 10 ) race registrations for the Legal Runaround , a 5K sponsored by the Atlanta Bar Foundation Police Scholarship Fund which provides college scholarships to the children of Atlanta police officers who are killed or disabled in the line of duty .
The Real Estate Section also donated funds to Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta ( PBPA ), a nonprofit that matches nonprofits in need of free legal assistance with volunteer attorneys who provide pro bono advice in their area of expertise . PBPA real estate projects include assistance with property acquisition and lease reviews .
The Real Estate Section also sponsored Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation ’ s ( AVLF ) winetasting fundraiser . AVLF is the largest provider of pro bono legal services to tenants in the Atlanta metropolitan area . AVLF ’ s landlord-tenant efforts lead it to work closely with Purpose Built Schools to address ways in which substandard housing may impact school attendance . AVLF also works directly with the Fulton County Courts to enhance the Landlord-Tenant Court ’ s judicial process .
The Real Estate Section ’ s sponsors are Bennett Thrasher , Bull Realty , Inc ., and First American Title Insurance Company . We are grateful for their support and encourage our section members to utilize their services .
42 February 2017