Wes Pickard

Overview

Wes Pickard concentrates his practice on commercial real estate law, with an emphasis on developer, owner, and borrower representation. His client-centered approach to transactional work means he responds quickly and efficiently to issues using his knowledge of the commercial real estate industry to enhance his advice to clients. Having spent much of his career at Parker Hudson directly advising clients on sophisticated and complicated legal issues, Wes is able to accommodate his clients in a cost-conscious environment without sacrificing experience or a thorough approach to solving problems.

Wes has handled numerous commercial real estate transactions, including large-scale mixed-use developments in a public-private setting, construction and permanent financing, acquisitions and dispositions, mezzanine financing, and equity investment. Additionally, his practice includes the representation of local and national landlords and tenants in a variety of leasing transactions in the retail, office, industrial, and healthcare space.

Wes also serves on the Firm's Recruiting and IT Committees.

Experience

Represented developer in 100-acre mixed use redevelopment and ground lease of university campus with infrastructure, office, retail, multifamily and student housing components.
Represented the developer of a mixed use project in West Midtown Atlanta. The project includes Class A office and retail components.
Served as lead borrower's counsel to a joint venture in the refinancing of a Class A office building in Midtown, Atlanta, GA, provided by a major private equity lender.
Represented a major, national bath products company in its leasing of multiple industrial properties and office space in two Southeastern states.
Counsel to a major private industrial developer and its affiliates in a complex transaction for the development of three industrial buildings, ultimately to comprise approximately 657,000 square feet in a newly designed and constructed project in Tampa, Florida, involving senior construction loan of approximately $30,000,000 and an equity contribution by a national real estate investment firm, exceeding $16,000,000.
Represented the landlord in the lease of 51,000 square feet to an insurance provider for its Southeast US headquarters.
Represented the landlord in the lease of 104,000 square feet to a Fortune 100 tenant in the Sanctuary Park project.
Served as counsel for Ulta in leasing over 200 stores throughout the United States.
Counsel to healthcare provider in acquisition of ground leased medical office facilities having prices exceeding $87,600,000 and $70,300,000, respectively.

Thought Leadership

Co-presenter, "Negotiating SNDAs and Estoppels: Overcoming Deal Fatigue and Keeping Your Clients Awake," ICSC+U.S. Law Conference (October 23, 2024)
Presenter, "Are Taxes Certain? Discussing Tax Abatement Schemes and Their Impact on Retail Development," 2023 ICSC Law Conference (October 27, 2023)
Presenter, "Navigating the Future of Office Leasing: Trends and Strategies in the Age of Hybrid Work," Association of Corporate Counsel/Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta CLE Challenge (August 16, 2023)
Author, "Cold Piazza: Judicial Construction of the Chapter 7 'For Cause' Provision," Volume 64, Issue 5, Emory Law Journal (2015)