Troutman Pepper Partner Shelli Willis Returns to Firm, Expanding Finance and Restructuring, Real Estate and Corporate Governance Practices in Atlanta
ATLANTA – Partner Annette Michelle (Shelli) Willis, a senior finance and restructuring, real estate and corporate governance attorney, has joined Troutman Pepper’s Regulatory and Finance Department in Atlanta. Willis returns to Troutman Pepper after spending over six years in-house with SunTrust (now Truist) as a deputy general counsel, assistant corporate secretary and senior vice president, where she collaborated with executive management, board directors and senior business leaders to deliver creative solutions on a wide range of legal and business issues.
Willis has extensive experience in the compliance, audit, regulatory and legal frameworks of financial institutions and publicly traded companies in highly regulated industries. She focuses her practice on real estate, finance and workout matters as well as corporate governance, ESG matters, commercial lending, fintech, financial services M&A and complex transactions.
“Shelli’s deep connections with our existing clients and unique expertise in real estate finance, workout and commercial lending, make her an incredible asset to the team,” said Amie Colby, chair of Troutman Pepper’s Regulatory and Finance Department. “We look forward to working with her again in Atlanta and beyond.”
Willis holds several leadership positions with Urban Land Institute Atlanta, serving on its HouseATL Affordable Housing Task Force and Capital Markets Council and as a prior Advisory Board member. She is a past Chair of the Georgia Bar’s Real Property Law Section Executive Committee and is currently serving on an Advisory Board for the committee. She is also a member of The Trust for Public Land’s Georgia Advisory Council and chairs its Urban Parks Committee and serves on the Society for Corporate Governance Southeastern Chapter Advisory Committee.
“We are delighted to welcome Shelli back to the firm,” said Chuck Palmer, managing partner of Troutman Pepper’s Atlanta office. “Her experience working in-house with Truist, especially through the company’s recent merger, and familiarity with our firm and teams, make her an ideal fit – she is sure to make an immediate impact for our clients.”
A frequent speaker on topics such as real estate, finance, CSR/ESG, and diversity and inclusion, Willis has held adjunct professor and guest lecturer positions at several universities, including Emory University School of Law, Georgia State University College of Business and Oglethorpe University. She has been recognized by several industry authorities, including Best Lawyers and Chambers USA. She is a fellow in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and has been recognized for her support of diversity and inclusion efforts by the National Diversity Council.
Troutman Pepper’s Finance and Restructuring practices help clients across industries navigate a wide variety of sophisticated financing matters and provide clients in distressed situations with creative solutions to resolve
crises or prevent them from arising. The firm’s finance attorneys handle all aspects of commercial lending and execute transactions involving the full range of financing structures and funding models.
“I am excited to return to Troutman Pepper and private practice,” Willis said. “My experience at Truist has given me invaluable insights to understand and deliver what clients and in-house counsel value, and
I am looking forward to hitting the ground running and applying that experience to provide tailored solutions to benefit our clients.”
Willis earned her JD from Emory University and her undergraduate degree from Duke University.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm known for its higher commitment to client care. With more than 1,100 attorneys in 23 U.S. cities, the firm partners with clients across every industry
sector to help them achieve their business goals. Read more about the firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices at
troutman.com.