Firm recognized for work in real estate
by Lori Johnston, Contributing Writer
One of Atlanta's largest law firms, Troutman Sanders LLP, has had a presence in major real estate deals in the city and a presence in NAIOP's Georgia chapter.
That contributes to the firm being named the 2007 Associate Firm of the Year as part of the NAIOP Georgia chapter's 19th Annual Awards Program and Annual Meeting.
"We have certainly helped clients in the both the acquisition and sale of some of the premier properties that have been bought and sold in the last year, two years," said Larry Gramlich, a partner in the Atlanta-based firm.
The Associate Firm of the Year Award is presented to an active associate member firm that exemplifies these traits: service to metro Atlanta community and Georgia, service to NAIOP chapter, involvement in the industry, and successes and accomplishments in the past 18 months.
Troutman Sanders' involvement in NAIOP stems far past its membership. Gramlich sits on the board, serving as secretary. Troutman Sanders partner Mark Elliott has moderated panel discussions at the group's monthly meetings. The firm also sponsors events, including the awards program.
"It's probably the premier real estate trade organization, certainly in Atlanta," Gramlich said. "It's the movers and the shakers and the people that you want to see and to listen to and be associated with."
Despite troubles in the residential market, he's optimistic about Atlanta's industrial and office industry as 2008 approaches.
"I think Atlanta is better situated than a lot of cities to weather the storm because people continue to and will continue to move to Atlanta. And those people are going to need a place to work, they're going to need a place to shop, and they're going to need a place to live," he said.
Troutman Sanders is Atlanta's fifth-largest law firm, with 242 attorneys specializing in areas including real estate, litigation, corporate law, finance and public law, according to Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2007-2008 Book of Lists. The firm has 12 offices worldwide, with more than 500 attorneys.