C. George  Kleeman, IV
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C. George Kleeman, IV

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C. George  Kleeman, IV
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George Kleeman is a member of GDCR’s Business and Transactional Law practice. He represents business owners, investors, private equity funds, venture capital groups, and lenders in mergers and acquisitions, business purchases and sales, debt and equity financings, commercial lending and finance transactions, formation and start up, real estate transactions, joint ventures, spinoffs, restructurings, formation of investment funds, corporate governance issues and assisting with business succession planning.


Mr. Kleeman also has significant experience serving as outside counsel for businesses from sole proprietorships to closely held and middle-market companies, assisting them with their everyday business needs, including reviewing, drafting and negotiating all types of business contracts, providing practical legal advice on day-to-day business and legal issues, and coordinating and overseeing legal work performed by other Practice Groups at the Firm for those businesses. He has also litigated numerous business disputes including shareholder and partnership disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, workouts, construction disputes, and general contractual and breach of contract claims.

Mr. Kleeman also represents regional and community banks, as well as private lenders, in negotiating and documenting loan and finance transactions, including secured and unsecured lines of credit, senior and junior real estate loans, construction loans, asset-based loans, leveraged and buyout loans, and acquisition financing. He also serves as borrower’s counsel for the Firm’s clients including individual investors, real estate developers, manufacturers and other businesses in negotiating and closing complex loan and debt financing transactions.

A large portion of Mr. Kleeman’s practice also involves representing owners (both public and private), general contractors, subcontractors, material and equipment suppliers and developers in construction matters, including drafting and negotiating construction contracts, counseling, negotiating and resolving issues including acceleration, disruption and delay claims, payment, bond and lien disputes, design disputes, and contract interpretation and performance issues and advising on procurement-related issues.

Education
J.D., University of Georgia, School of Law, Cum Laude
B.B.A., University of Georgia, Terry College of Business
Admissions
Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
Georgia Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Professional Organizations and Memberships

  • State Bar of Georgia (Member)
    Business Law Section
  • American Bar Association (Member)
    Business Law Section
    Served on State Bar of Georgia’s Committee on the Judiciary
  • Cobb Bar Association Business Law Section 2010-2011 President (Co-Founder)
    Former Trustee of the Cobb Bar Association
Education
J.D., University of Georgia, School of Law, Cum Laude
B.B.A., University of Georgia, Terry College of Business
Admissions
Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
Georgia Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Mergers & Acquisitions:

  • Represented family-owned home services company in connection with reorganization and sale to publicly traded competitor in excess of $100MM
  • Represented a closely held specialty pharmacy in sale of company to one of the largest health care companies in the U.S.
  • Represented software developer in connection with negotiation of $10MM strategic investment by venture capital fund
  • Represented developer of MRI centers in connection with $20MM+ sale to local hospital group
  • Represented private-equity backed, European-based company in connection with multi-million dollar acquisition of Georgia-based manufacturing firm and subsequent resolution of post-closing claims and disputes with former owners
  • Represented owners of durable medical equipment supplier in connection with $10MM+ sale of company to publicly traded competitor
  • Represented family-owned transportation company in connection with acquisition of multiple businesses, entry into new business lines and markets, corporate reorganization and financing transactions

Financing Transactions:

  • Represented regional bank in connection with negotiating and closing a $30MM buyout loan to fund acquisition and roll-up by private equity fund of industrial businesses
  • Represented regional bank in connection with negotiation and closing of $10MM working capital line of credit and $5MM equipment line of credit to general contractor
  • Represented local bank in connection with negotiating and closing $4MM line of credit to leading local homebuilder to refinance intercompany loans and secured by junior interests in properties not yet ready for development
  • Represented leading local homebuilder in negotiating and closing $6MM development and construction loan with mezzanine lender for multi-phase townhome development
  • Represented food processing company in connection with leveraged buyout of second-generation by a third-generation family member, including negotiating and closing on $50MM+ in financing from national lender
  • Represented developers of senior living facilities and multi-family communities in connection with acquisition, development and financing of projects across the U.S., from negotiating and documenting investment terms with leading sponsors and private investors through project exit, including closing sale and leaseback transactions with leading publicly traded REITs
  • Represented local manufacturing firm in connection with multiple refinancings of $10MM+ ABL facility with multiple lenders, including private equity firms and regional and national banks
  • Represented regional bank in connection with $5MM loan to employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to fund purchase of local contracting firm from two founders
  • Represented local manufacturing firm in negotiating and closing $12MM acquisition loan for consolidation of multiple locations into new, state of the art manufacturing facility, including provision for structured repayment upon sale of closed locations in reverse-1031 transactions
  • Represented borrowers and lenders in connection with negotiating and documenting tax exempt sale and leaseback transactions with local development authorities across Georgia
  • Represented mezzanine lender in connection with workout of multi-million dollar loans secured by equity interests in grocery-anchored shopping centers throughout the Southeast
  • Represented nine guarantors in the workout of $21MM loan for construction of three lakefront condominiums after developer quit on project and fled the country, including asserting numerous counterclaims against the lender and obtaining very favorable releases on behalf of the guarantors
  • Represented Georgia-based brewery in connection with start-up, real estate acquisition, debt and equity financing transactions, and ongoing operational issues

Construction-Related Matters:

  • Serve as outside general counsel to a national general contracting firm and providing general day-to-day business and legal advice, as well as contract review and negotiation, for commercial and retail projects throughout the United States
  • Represented large, family-owned heavy civil contractor in corporate governance matters
  • Represented Atlanta-based design-builder in connection with negotiating and work-out of project disputes on $21MM food processing facility in upstate New York; resolved approximately $3MM+ of disputes, including multiple subcontractor claims, errors and omissions claims, defective construction and delay claims, following a 4-day, 12-party mediation
  • Serve as primary counsel to a local school district in connection with $700MM+ construction program, including providing advice with respect to procurement, finance, bond, lien and payment disputes, contractor defaults and performance bond claims, acceleration, disruption and delay claims, A/E and design errors and claims, and day-to-day contract interpretation matters

Represent local school districts in connection with defaults by general contractors and performance bond claims, including negotiating resolutions with surety companies for completion of projects

Education
J.D., University of Georgia, School of Law, Cum Laude
B.B.A., University of Georgia, Terry College of Business
Admissions
Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
Georgia Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Mergers & Acquisitions:

  • Representing family-owned home services company in connection with reorganization and sale to publicly traded competitor in excess of $100MM
  • Representing a closely held specialty pharmacy in sale of company to one of the largest health care companies in the U.S.
  • Representing software developer in connection with negotiation of $10MM strategic investment by venture capital fund
  • Representing developer of MRI centers in connection with $20MM+ sale to local hospital group
  • Represented private-equity backed, European-based company in connection with multi-million dollar acquisition of Georgia-based manufacturing firm and subsequent resolution of post-closing claims and disputes with former owners
  • Representing owners of durable medical equipment supplier in connection with $10MM+ sale of company to publicly traded competitor
  • Representing family-owned transportation company in connection with acquisition of multiple businesses, entry into new business lines and markets, corporate reorganization and financing transactions

Financing Transactions:

  • Representing a regional bank in connection with negotiation and closing of $10MM working capital line of credit and $5MM equipment line of credit to general contractor
  • Representing local bank in connection with negotiating and closing $4MM line of credit to leading local homebuilder to refinance intercompany loans and secured by junior interests in properties not yet ready for development
  • Representing food processing company in connection with leveraged buyout of second-generation by a third-generation family member, including negotiating and closing on $50MM+ in financing from national lender
  • Representing family-owned developer of senior living facilities in connection with acquisition, development and financing of multiple senior living facilities across the State of Georgia and sale and leaseback transactions with publicly traded REITs
  • Representing local manufacturing firm in connection with multiple refinancings of $8MM+ ABL facility with multiple lenders, including private equity firms and regional and national banks
  • Representing mezzanine lender in connection with workout of multi-million dollar loans secured by equity interests in grocery-anchored shopping centers throughout the Southeast
  • Representing nine guarantors in the workout of $21MM loan for construction of three lakefront condominiums after developer quit on project and fled the country, including asserting numerous counterclaims against the lender and obtaining very favorable releases on behalf of the guarantors
  • Representing developers in connection with acquisition, financing and development of senior living facilities and commercial and industrial projects, including negotiation and closing of joint ventures with leading private equity funds and sponsors and assisting in raising equity from local investor groups
  • Representing Georgia-based brewery in connection with start-up, real estate acquisition, debt and equity financing transactions, and ongoing operational issues

Construction-Related Matters:

  • Serving as outside general counsel to a national general contracting firm and providing general day-to-day business and legal advice, as well as contract review and negotiation, for commercial and retail projects throughout the United States
  • Representing large, family-owned heavy civil contractor in corporate governance matters
  • Representing Atlanta-based design-builder in connection with negotiating and work-out of project disputes on $21MM food processing facility in upstate New York; resolved approximately $3MM+ of disputes, including multiple subcontractor claims, errors and omissions claims, defective construction and delay claims, following a 4-day, 12-party mediation
  • Serving as primary counsel to a local school district in connection with $700MM+ construction program, including providing advice with respect to procurement, finance, bond, lien and payment disputes, contractor defaults and performance bond claims, acceleration, disruption and delay claims, A/E and design errors and claims, and day-to-day contract interpretation matters
  • Representing local school districts in connection with defaults by general contractors and performance bond claims, including negotiating resolutions with surety companies for completion of projects
Education
J.D., University of Georgia, School of Law, Cum Laude
B.B.A., University of Georgia, Terry College of Business
Admissions
Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
Georgia Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia