PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
AttorneyBritt, Atlanta, Georgia
Attorney At Law 2008 to Present
Mr. Britt has also helped
his clients prepare for the succession of their privately held assets and
businesses to subsequent generations of owners and
managers.
AttorneyBritt provides service and consultation in such
matters as: the purchase or sale of a business; commercial real estate
agreements and leases; employment contracts; buy-sell, shareholder, and
partnership agreements; business entity formation, dissolution,
organization, and governance; licensing; litigation of disputes as
necessary to protect our clients' interests; trusts and estates; wealth
management; estate planning; asset protection; business succession; and
family office services.
Prior to founding the law office of AttorneyBritt, Mr. Britt spent over 23 years serving as either General Counsel or lead outside counsel for various multifaceted business groups involved in: multistate commercial real estate development, leasing, and management; hotels; restaurants; manufacturing; franchisees and franchisors; an independent music label; an internet application service provider; and various medical and dental service groups.
In keeping with his commitment to continued excellence and education, Mr. Britt has also completed one year of graduate level study in Tax Law at DePaul University, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Tax Law, with an emphasis in estate and business planning, through Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
General Counsel Group, Tifton, Georgia
General Counsel 2004 to 2008
General Counsel for an entrepreneurial group of companies headquartered in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia. These companies operate a consumer finance company handling "B" grade paper, a commercial real estate development company, a retail home appliance distributorship, two hotels, a restaurant, and a retail art gallery operation. In addition to the normal legal matters handled by General Counsel, Mr. Britt's work included managing, supervising, and setting the strategy for handling various California and Georgia state and federal legal actions. These lawsuits spanned a two year period and involved complex multi-jurisdictional issues of federal and state law, including appeals to the Ninth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal. These lawsuits involved, contract law, conflicts of law, the federal arbitration act, copyright, trademark, cybersquatting, and unfair trade practices claims. Mr. Britt managed the outside counsel on these cases, dealt with insurers on coverage issues, and set litigation strategy and objectives. Outside counsel managed by Mr. Britt included Holland & Knight, Arnall, Golden, & Gregory, and Schreeder, Wheeler & Flint.
Stafford Development Company,
Tifton,
Georgia
Stafford Development Company is a 150 million dollar diversified mini-conglomerate of companies operating six hotels, six restaurants, 2.2 million square feet of commercial real estate, an internet health plan service provider, and eight agricultural and heavy equipment dealerships. As General Counsel Mr. Britt's work involved all legal aspects of these diversified companies including, without limitation, preparing and/or reviewing purchase and sale agreements, leases, llc operating agreements, loan agreements, general corporate contracts, handling the corporate secretary function, selecting and managing outside counsel, and attending and giving counsel during regular and specially-called meetings of the shareholders and board of directors. Deals, loans, and investments for Stafford Development Company ranged in size from $2 million to $30 million with an average size in the $8 million range. Mr. Britt was also able to reduce outside counsel fees for the Stafford companies by over 70%.
The Clawson Group, Cartersville, Georgia
Vice-President and General Counsel 1995 to 2001
Vice-President and General
Counsel for all companies comprising this group of "brother-sister"
entities. Mr. Britt had primary responsibility for all legal
planning and compliance, corporate contracts, management of outside
counsel, banking, and other financing relationships, corporate governance,
and strategic mergers and acquisitions. This conglomerate operated
in a diverse set of markets ranging from temporary staffing solutions in
light industrial markets of Georgia, Texas, California, and Arizona, to
restaurants, brewpubs, and small hotels in Georgia, to commercial real
estate acquisition and development.
Counseled clients on all aspects of their legal needs. Reviewed, evaluated and drafted contract agreements, including licensing, acquisitions and divestitures of subsidiary corporations, asset acquisitions, commercial real estate leases, joint venture and partnership agreements, and other contract matters. Counseled clients on the organization, structure, and governance of their business and personal transactions. Provided consultation to the board of directors of a very large metropolitan Ford auto dealership. Conducted civil litigation of various types involving contractual disputes between various parties. Mr. Britt was lead trial counsel on the successful prosecution of a breach of contract and wrongful disclosure of proprietary information lawsuit against a Fortune 200 company. This lawsuit resulted in a multimillion dollar settlement to Mr. Britt's client.
Ernst & Young, Chicago, Illinois; Northwest Industries, Inc., Chicago, Illinois; Price Waterhouse Coopers, Houston, Texas
Certified Public Accountant 1974 to 1985
Involved in all phases of corporate auditing, accounting, and tax services at each of these companies.
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL
LICENSES
Texas A & M University - STCL, Houston, Texas
Doctor of Jurisprudence,
May, 1985. Licensed to practice law in both Georgia ('00) and Texas
('85). Licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Illinois ('75)
and Texas ('78). Passed the CPA exam on his first attempt, placing
Mr. Britt in the top 4% in the nation on the November, 1974 CPA
exam.
DePaul University, Chicago,
Illinois
Bachelor of Science in
Commerce, with High Honors, June, 1974. Also subsequently
completed one year of graduate level study in Tax Law at DePaul
University.