Jennifer Sawyer is a Partner in the Savannah office, and is the Group Leader for the Commercial Finance and Real Estate Practice Group. Ms. Sawyer practices in the areas of Commercial Finance, Real Estate, Timber Law, Environmental Law, and Business Law, representing national and regional lenders and borrowers in the financing, acquisition, disposition, construction, leasing, and development of undeveloped, commercial, office, retail, warehouse, timber, and industrial properties.  Ms. Sawyer's practice also includes assisting both lenders and borrowers through loan modifications, forbearance agreements, and workout agreements, as well as assisting landlords and tenants through lease modifications and workout agreements.

Ms. Sawyer received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology from Smith College in 1995. While at Smith College, Ms. Sawyer was a recipient of the General Electric Women in Science Grant and she was elected as a member of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society.

Ms. Sawyer received her Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2001. While at the University of South Carolina School of Law, she was a member of the student editorial board of the ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal, upon which she served as Article's Editor from 2000 to 2001. Ms. Sawyer received Dean's Honors from the University of South Carolina School of Law during the Spring and Fall of 2000 and the Spring of 2001 and was a member of the Order of the Wig & Robe Society. Ms. Sawyer was the recipient of a CALI Award, as well as the recipient of the Outstanding Senior Research Paper Award in 2001.

Mrs. Sawyer is the co-author of "Shifting Sands: The Implication of Lucas on the Evolution of Takings Law and South Carolina's Application of the Lucas Rule," which appeared in the Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal, Winter, 2003 issue.

• Representative Engagements

  • Counsel to national lender in loan modification involving pledging of additional collateral through personal guaranties, deed to secure guaranty and tenant in common agreement.
  • Counsel to regional lender on various underperforming loans, as well as the negotiation of forbearance agreements and loan modifications related thereto.
  • Represented Southeastern warehouse owner/operator in the divestiture of seven large industrial warehouse sites across three Southeastern States.
  • Represented a timber investment company in the acquisition and management of 390,000 acres of land in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, including title review and negotiation, third party contract review and negotiation, and easement negotiation and acquisition.
  • Transactional ranges include: portfolio to single property transactions, several hundred thousand to in excess of 325 Million in value, single 1031 like kind exchanges to multi-party tenant in common 1031 like kind exchanges, with subject property locations up and down the east cost from Florida to New York.
    

• Professional Affiliations and Awards

  • International Council of Shopping Centers: Member
  • Georgia Association of Convenience Stores: Affiliate Member
  • South Carolina Association of Convenience Store: Affiliate Member
  • State Bar of Georgia
  • State Bar of South Carolina