Jeff Upshaw has over a decade of experience advising clients on commercial real estate and related transactional matters. His clients range from large, institutional investors, to mid-market developers. His experience includes large-scale assemblage developments, financings secured by real estate portfolios, and joint ventures. Jeff is called upon for his expertise in structuring real estate investments and negotiating complex agreements in connection with his clients’ ownership, operation, and disposition of real estate. He has represented Fortune 500 companies, international developers, institutional investors, and property managers operating in the industrial, multi-family, office, retail, and hospitality spaces.

Jeff began his legal career with Alston & Bird LLP, an international AmLaw 50 firm, with offices through the U.S. and abroad. In his time at Alston & Bird LLP, Jeff developed a broad-based equity side real estate practice involving sophisticated clients with complex legal issues in each region of the U.S.

Prior to law school, Jeff began his career in the development department of a local non-profit, Senior Connections, that provided meals on wheels, home repair, and in-home care to financially distressed senior citizens. After one year, Jeff was promoted to the Director of Development for Senior Connections. During his tenure, he increased fundraising revenue by 60% in the midst of the Great Recession.

Jeff graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Education, with a major in Sports Studies. As part of the Sports Studies program, Jeff participated in externships with the Georgia Football Team, as well as internships with the Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Foundation. He attended law school at the University of Tennessee where he was a member of the Tennessee Journal of Business Law. During law school, he participated in the Sports and Entertainment Law Society and Christian Legal Society.

When he is away from work, Jeff enjoys collegiate and professional sports, running, racquetball, reading, and spending time with his wife and three children.

Represented a NY-based developer in the acquisition of a property in Midtown Atlanta in one of the most expensive per acre prices in the City’s history.

Represented a national industrial developer in a series of construction loan financings and a $210 million portfolio financing.

Advised a national office developer to formulate and effect a high level strategy for lease workouts with delinquent tenants during the COVID pandemic.

Represented a regional multi-family operator in the formation and negotiation of a series of real estate joint ventures with outside investors.

Represented a national developer in the acquisition and financing of a luxury resort in the southeast.

Served as counsel to a private equity-backed healthcare company in the negotiation of leases for its medical practices throughout the U.S.

Represented an office operator as exclusive leasing counsel for Class A buildings around the Atlanta perimeter.

Represented the owner of a distressed building in Manhattan in connection with a bankruptcy filing and subsequent 363 sale.

Represented a family business in the disposition of fully-operational resort properties located in California.

Served as outside general counsel to a commercial property owners association on behalf of a Fortune 100 company.

“A Nonrecourse Creditor Cannot Use Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code to Transform into a Recourse Creditor If Its Application Would Put the Creditor in a Better Position Than It Would Have Been Outside of Bankruptcy,” Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law, Vol. 13, No. 1, Fall 2011.”

Jeff is on the Board of Directors of Thrive Academy, is a member of the State Bar of Georgia , and a former member of the University of Tennessee College of Law Alumni Council.