Profile
Gregory Schultz represents developers, borrowers and lenders in the acquisition, development, financing and leasing of commercial real estate. As a former CPA, Mr. Schultz brings his accounting and financial background to each engagement.
He has represented clients in numerous transactions in multifamily, office, retail, senior living, adaptive-ruse, affordable housing and industrial real estate development transactions. A number of these transactions involve tax planning, such as tax-free exchanges and opportunity zone acquisition and development transactions. Mr. Schultz also has represented numerous tenants and landlords in lease negotiations. His practice also includes representing lenders and borrowers in real estate lending transactions. He has more than 25 years of commercial real estate experience.
Mr. Schultz also has extensive experience in construction and real estate litigation, including title disputes, mechanic’s liens, construction defects and insurance coverage. In particular, he has represented insurers and policyholders in connection with insurance coverage disputes and contribution actions for defense and indemnity involving significant claims throughout the country. In addition, he represents lenders, borrowers, title insurance companies and lien holders in real estate litigation matters, such as quiet title litigation, reformation, lien priority disputes and similar matters.
Prior to joining Taylor English, Mr. Schultz was a partner at an Atlanta- based, full service law firm, and prior to attending law school, Mr. Schultz practiced as a certified public accountant with a big six accounting firm, where he performed audit and tax services for real estate clients, and as a controller for an Atlanta-based real estate developer.
Memberships
American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Past Vice Chair
Atlanta Bar Association, Real Estate Section Board of Directors, 2020-2021
State Bar of Georgia, Real Property and Bankruptcy Sections
Community Involvement
Active at Buckhead Community Church, 2004-present
Active in Boy Scouts of America, Troop 298, 2000-2015
Practice Highlights
Experience
Real Estate
Lead counsel to developer in connection with acquisition and development adaptive reuse project in 2019 of former city prison into approximately 70,000 s.f. of Class A creative office space, financed in part with state and federal historic tax credits. Total investment in excess of $20 million.
Lead counsel to developer in acquisition and development of adaptive reuse of former cotton warehouse in 2019 into a mixed-use retail and multifamily property in South Carolina. Total investment (including multifamily) in excess of $22 million.
Lead counsel to developer in connection with acquisition and development of multiple townhome for rental multifamily properties from 2018-present in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina. Transaction value of multiple investments in excess of $200 million.
Lead counsel to developer in connection with acquisition and construction financing of approximately 1,000,000 s.f. industrial warehouse/logistics center space in Atlanta, Georgia 2019-2021.
Lead counsel to publicly-traded manufacturer in connection with acquisition and development of new foundry in Illinois. Transaction value approximately $16 million.
Lead counsel to Borrower in 2019 in connection with the refinance of portfolio of workforce housing multifamily properties in three states with Fannie Mae DUS lender. Transaction value in excess of $30 million.
Lead counsel to developer in connection with the sale of multiple LIHTC properties in Georgia during 2017-2020 period with a combined transaction value in excess of $74 million.
Lead counsel to lender in connection with the 2020 acquisition and financing of a 125,000 s.f. medical office portfolio in Illinois.
Lead counsel to developer for acquisition and construction financing for approximately $180 million Class “A” continuing care retirement community.
Lead counsel to developer in various opportunity zone transactions in 2018-2019 pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Subchapter Z, including significant office development in south Florida, mixed-use retail and multi-family adaptive re-use project in Greenville, SC and office and multi-family adaptive re-use project on west Atlanta’s “Beltline.” Cumulative transaction value in excess of $150 million.
Lead counsel to seller in sale of 24 industrial properties located variously in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina in 2016.
Local and opinion counsel to borrower in connection with $83 million loan for workforce housing in Columbus, Georgia with Fannie Mae lender under DUS program in 2020.
Lead counsel to Georgia-based private fund in connection with acquisition and financing of $23.5 million multi-family portfolio of five properties in Tennessee and Georgia in 2015.
Lead counsel to developer of 90 unit multifamily “Beltline” project on East side of Atlanta in 2015.
Lead counsel to real estate developer in connection with disposition of multiple office buildings in Norcross, Georgia. Transaction value in excess of $18 million in 2014.
Lead counsel to real estate developer in connection with new development of industrial park near Tampa, Florida, in 2016.
Lead counsel to national cold storage company in connection with acquisition of 4.7 million cubic foot facility in Louisiana under lease purchase option from national food conglomerate, including negotiation of complex easement agreements regarding interface of adjoining plant facilities between business partners in 2013.
Lead counsel to developer in connection with phased sale and co-development of 90-acre retail and mixed use development near Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2013 and 2014.
Lead counsel to regional commercial real estate developer in connection with purchase of 175,000 square feet of office buildings in Gwinnett County, Georgia, in 2014.
Insurance Coverage
Lead counsel to manufacturer in connection with two carriers (primary and excess) in connection with coverage for asbestos claims. In October 2018, the Georgia Court of Appeals issued a sweeping ruling that requires two insurance companies to fulfill their obligations to make available $117 million in coverage to a fabric manufacturer defending ongoing personal injury litigation resulting from exposure to asbestos that its products contained years ago, which ...
Lead counsel to general contractor involving multi-million dollar allegations of lost inventory and personal injury claims stemming from industrial accident in North Carolina arising during course of construction.
Lead counsel to widow involving $1 million accidental death policy. Matter settled satisfactorily following motion for summary judgment hearing and mediation.
Lead counsel to governmental entity in connection with general liability insurance coverage of employment discrimination claims brought by current and former employees. General liability carrier denied coverage for a significant portion of the claim. Claim was satisfactorily settled prior to hearing on cross motions for summary judgment.
The insurance and indemnity claims at issue arose from the construction of a distribution warehouse in Pennsylvania. Dispute involved pursuit of subcontractors and their insurers for defense and indemnity. The claims at issue exceeded $14 million. Retained by carrier for general contractor to pursue contribution claims against subcontractors and their insurers. The case involved litigation in three states and was settled on favorable terms with no ...
The claims arose from civil suit against officers and directors involving allegations of fraud, negligence and breach of contract claims. The matter also involved criminal allegations.
The insurance claims at issue involved a construction dispute at a warehouse distribution facility in Texas involving general liability carrier for general contractor and general liability carrier for numerous subcontractors. The claims at issue exceeded $4 million. The case involved multiple motions for summary judgment and one appeal [by an insurer to a motion granted to the policyholder]. Represented general contractor in settling claim following ...
Represented general contractor in connection with alleged defective construction at a manufacturing plant in Alabama. Dispute involved claims in excess of $5 million that resulted in litigation with subcontractors and their general liability insurers as well as dispute with general contractor’s general liability insurer. The case was settled on favorable terms with general contractor making no contribution toward settlement.
Represented manufacturer facing numerous claims involving product distributed to national retailers. Dispute involved litigation with general liability carrier for manufacturer. The claims at issue exceed $10,000,000.
The claims arose at a $70 million distribution warehouse in North Carolina. Dispute involved general liability carrier for general contractor and general liability carrier for numerous subcontractors. Assisted general contractor in settling claim and recovering in majority of settlement amount from clients’ insurance carriers and from third-party insurers.
Represented insured general contractor in connection with coverage for design allegations made in connection with claims of faulty construction at a distribution warehouse in North Carolina. Insurer denied coverage. Recovered a significant sum from the denying insurer.
Represented insured general contractor in connection with alleged construction defects arising at a $20 million distribution warehouse in Oregon. Dispute involved general liability carrier for general contractor and general liability carrier for numerous subcontractors. Assisted general contractor in settling claim and recovering a significant portion of the claim from general liability and E&O carriers.
Newsroom
Speaking Engagements
- March 8, 2018
- April 26, 2016
- April 14, 2016
- State Bar of Georgia Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Insurance Coverage for Faulty Construction Claims2011, 2013, 2014, 2015
- June 19, 2014
- "Preparing for and Attending the Closing," Closing Georgia Commercial Real Estate TransactionsJune 19, 2014
- "Insurance Coverage for Business Torts," Georgia Trial Lawyers Association2011
Publications
- September 1, 2020
- October 4, 2016
- "Commercial/General Liability Coverage of Faulty Construction Claims," Tort and Ins. L.J. 33: 2571997
- "Statutory Deconstruction: An Examination of Critical Legal Studies in Context," Cumberland Law Review 26: 4591996
Headlines
- December 6, 2019
- June 19, 2019
- December 6, 2018
- May 8, 2018
- June 3, 2017
- June 3, 2017
- May 31, 2017
- August 1, 2016
News Releases
- December 5, 2019
- November 13, 2019
- December 6, 2018
- Ten Attorneys Also Recognized as Leaders in Their FieldsMay 30, 2017
- Six Attorneys Also Recognized as Leaders in Their FieldsMay 27, 2016
- May 28, 2015
- May 23, 2014
- December 5, 2012
- April 2, 2012
- February 18, 2010
Alerts
- March 31, 2020
Events
Education
The University of Georgia, JD, cum laude, 1992
The University of Georgia, BBA, accounting, cum laude, 1983
Bar Admissions
Georgia
Courts & Adjudicative Bodies
Georgia Superior Courts
Georgia State Courts
Court of Appeals of Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Accolades
Chambers USA: Leading Business Lawyers – Real Estate, 2014-2017
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, 2001-present
"2013 Top Lawyer" in Construction, ALM and Martindale-Hubbell
Georgia Trend's Legal Elite, Construction Law, 2019
Georgia Trend's Legal Elite, Real Estate Law, 2012, 2018-2019