Leslie Secrest has been practicing law in Atlanta, Georgia since 1981, and has concentrated her practice in commercial real estate acquisitions, sales and development, and associated real estate finance work on behalf of both borrowers and lenders, since 1983. Her practice has included a wide array of real estate-related transactions, including stock acquisitions, acquisitions and sales of partnership and limited liability company interests, acquisitions and sales of raw land, developed properties, ground leases and air rights; complex easement agreements; development, leasing, property management and leasing agreements; office and industrial warehouse and retail leasing; tax-free bond financings; resolution of environmental issues; and construction and permanent financing, and loan modifications, restructurings and work-outs.
Representative Experience
Counsel to a real estate investment trust in acquisition and development of a major mixed used development in Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia.
Counsel to a national real estate company in the purchase and leaseback of an office and retail project containing approximately 955,000 square feet of space.
Counsel to a national bank in numerous loan restructurings, modifications, note sales, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure transactions and foreclosures.
Counsel to real estate investment trust and various investment affiliates in the acquisition of numerous single-tenant and multi-tenant office and industrial projects in the United States, including Atlanta, Georgia, California, multiple locales in Florida, downtown and suburban Chicago, Illinois, various locales in Michigan, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.
Counsel to local and regional banks in sales of REO assets and notes, in both "one-off" and portfolio transactions, and in acquisitions and sales of branch banking locations.
Counsel to a real estate investment trust and related investment affiliates in the sales of numerous office and industrial projects throughout the United States, including both single asset sales and a portfolio sale of 27 properties in multiple states in a $786 million transaction.
Counsel to a business investment trust in leasing, construction and design issues involving a corporate headquarters campus in excess of 800,000 square feet in Pennsylvania.
Counsel to a development partnership of a national real estate development company in the development of a mixed-income residential community in Atlanta, Georgia.
Counsel to a nonprofit organization in the sale of property to adjoining churches and acquisition and redevelopment of a new headquarters facility in midtown Atlanta.
Counsel to various real estate owners in negotiating multiple office leases and lease modifications, renewals and expansions.
Counsel to investment sponsor in sale of office building in Tennessee owned by multiple tenants-in-common.
Counsel to a publicly traded real estate company in the redevelopment of a major medical campus project in Atlanta, Georgia, including development and leasing by a related joint venture of an office tower in air rights over the hospital.
Counsel to a real estate developer in the acquisition and development of a call center in Chandler, Arizona.
Counsel to national self-storage company in numerous acquisitions and development of self-store facilities in the southeast, midwest and northeast.
Counsel to a hospital in leasing multiple medical facilities throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Counsel to a publicly held Australian real estate company in the acquisition, development and leasing of regional malls in Denver, Colorado, Cincinnati, Ohio and Columbia, South Carolina.
Counsel to a private investment group in the acquisition of kaolin properties in Georgia.
Other Distinctions
Named to Georgia Trend magazine's Legal Elite in Real Estate Law (2008)
Selected as 2005 Super Lawyer by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine for Real Estate Law excellence.
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in Real Estate Law (2010-2012).
Work Experience
Partner, Troutman Sanders LLP, 2001-present
Of Counsel, Troutman Sanders LLP, 1997-2000
Counsel, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, 1995-1997
Partner, McRae & Secrest, 1993-1994
Partner, Hurt, Richardson, Garner, Todd & Cadenhead, 1992
Shareholder, McRae, Lambrecht & Wagner, P.C., 1988-1991
Associate, McRae, Lambrecht & Wagner, P.C., 1985-1988
Associate, Long & Aldridge, 1981-1984
Memberships
· State Bar of Georgia (member, Environmental Law Section; Real Property Section; and Corporate and Banking Section)
· Atlanta Bar Association (member, Environmental & Toxic Tort Section; Real Estate Section)
· American Bar Association (member, Natural Resources, Energy & Environmental Law Section, Business Law Section, and Real Property, Probate & Trust Section)