Carlton Fields is pleased to announce that three attorneys joined the firm’s Atlanta office. Charles T. Sharbaugh, a shareholder, and Jason W. Howard, an associate, are members of the firm’s Real Estate and Finance practice group. Philip M. Bresson, an associate, is a member of the firm’s Corporate, Securities, and Tax practice group.
Sharbaugh, an Atlanta resident and practicing real estate lawyer for nearly 40 years said, “Jason and I are delighted to join Carlton Fields. The firm offers its clients a unique value proposition. Its business model is practical and conservative, yet progressive. As the real estate and legal industries transform, successful client partnering depends on offering clients creative solutions, which is exactly what Carlton Fields does. In this next generation of my practice, I’m thrilled to be working with highly experienced attorneys at Carlton Fields who employ pragmatic solutions that accomplish clients’ objectives efficiently and responsively.”
Greg Null, a shareholder who started the commercial real estate practice for Carlton Fields’ Atlanta office said, “I’ve known Charlie for years, and worked with him a great deal. He is one of the best commercial real estate and finance lawyers in the country and his clients love him. For good reason, he is also greatly respected and admired by his peers. It’s a privilege to have the pleasure of practicing law with him.”
Null added that the firm’s real estate practice is immersed in assisting clients with distressed debt and problem loan workouts. “Through employing a combination of highly-skilled lawyers, technology, and proprietary documentation, we worked closely with one of the largest multi-family investors in the country to design and build a business-legal process to resolve more than 550 problem loans in 36 states over the last four years.
“Charlie and Jason’s move to our firm not only complements our vibrant distressed debt and workout practices, but provides additional depth for front-end transactions as the real estate climate improves over time. Their talent will undoubtedly enhance our client approach to providing creative solutions in the most sophisticated transactions.”
Sharbaugh, Howard, and Bresson join Carlton Fields during a busy and successful year. And last year the firm had yet another successful year. Since 2006, the last full year prior to the recession, the firm has grown revenues by 47 percent.
Dave Leonard, Carlton Fields’ Atlanta Office Managing Shareholder, said, “We are pleased to be adding three quality lawyers to our office. Charlie, Jason, and Phil share the strong commitment to exemplary client service that thrives at Carlton Fields. Their experiences in each of their practices enhance our capabilities in our core areas and they will be important assets in our very busy Atlanta office.”
Prior to joining Carlton Fields, Sharbaugh was a partner at Paul Hastings. His practice focuses on the representation of private equity funds in acquisitions, dispositions, and joint venture arrangements with respect to real estate assets. This includes representation of funds and other investors in the acquisition of distressed assets and loans. He has substantial experience in the representation of lenders in secured transactions, sale and disposition of large asset pools, sale leaseback transactions, and Section 42 tax credit transactions.
Sharbaugh also has experience in asset-based financing, lending arrangements, joint ventures, restructuring of debt obligations, and partnerships and limited liability companies, including partnerships with foreign capital sources and construction companies.
As community involvement is a key part of his business and personal life, Sharbaugh is actively involved in a number of organizations, including the Druid Hills Golf Club (President), Zoo Atlanta (past Treasurer, member of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Finance Committee, and member of the Board), The Atlanta Opera (member of the Board), the Midtown Alliance (member of the Board), the Woodruff Arts Center Real Estate Fund Raising Committee (member), the Kennesaw State University Foundation (member of the Board of Trustees and member of the Real Estate Committee), The Urban Land Institute, and the State Bar of Georgia. He is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Region of UNICEF.
Sharbaugh received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1974 and his B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University in 1971.
Howard also joined the firm from Paul Hastings. He concentrates his practice in the real estate and finance industries. He handles matters related to asset-based financing and lending arrangements, including workouts and restructuring of debt obligations. He has represented both lenders and borrowers in a wide range of financing transactions and workouts, including commercial mortgage and mezzanine loans, asset-based loans, and project financings. His practice also includes structuring joint ventures and representing purchasers and sellers in all aspects of the acquisition and disposition of office, multi-family residential, and industrial portfolios.
He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2009 and was elected to the Order of the Coif. While there, he was also a member of the Georgia Law Review. Howard received his B.S. in International Affairs from the Georgia Institute of Technology (highest honors) in 2006. He is a three-time Academic All-American in swimming at Georgia Tech. Howard is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the advisory board of Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta.
Bresson moved to the firm from Quarles & Brady, LLP. He joins Carlton Fields’ Corporate, Securities, and Tax practice group. His practice includes the representation of clients in general corporate and business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, public and private offerings of equity and debt, corporate finance, and federal and state securities law compliance. He also provides clients counsel with respect to corporate governance principles, board committee charters, responsibilities of board committees and independent directors, corporate policies, and general corporate matters.
Bresson received his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2009 and his B.S. in Finance from Grove City College in 2005. He has been active in the Economic Development Council of Collier County, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Florida and Protected Harbor, Inc., where he has served as a member of their Board of Directors.
