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MMM’s Annual Commercial Real Estate Investment Conference Draws Hundreds: Event Focused on 2013 Market

10.11.2012

Atlanta (October 12, 2012) ─ “What to Expect in 20­13” was the theme of The Third Annual

Commercial Real Estate Investment & Finance conference sponsored by Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP in concert with France Media’s InterFace Conference Group.

The conference was held October 4 at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta, and drew over 400 attendees, many of them executives of leading national commercial real estate companies, private equity funds, banks and related service providers.

The keynote address for the conference was delivered by Dr. Peter Linneman, the nationally-acclaimed real estate economist. Dr. Linneman currently serves as the Albert Sussman Emeritus Professor of Real Estate, Finance and Business Public Policy at the Wharton School of Business.

He is considered by many within the commercial real estate sector to be the leading authority for economic forecast. Dr. Linneman reviewed the current state of the real estate market, both locally and nationally, and provided insight into what the real estate industry can expect in 2013 and beyond.

Georgia’s Governor, Nathan Deal, addressed the conference over lunch. The Governor outlined the current state of the Georgia economy and further defined his successful pro-business, pro-growth platform for the State.

“We want as many Georgians out of unemployment lines and into jobs as possible,” Governor Deal said. “More jobs means a higher demand for commercial real estate. And a more productive commercial real estate market means even more economic benefits for Georgia and its citizens,” he added.

His address focused on the positive impacts to be expected from Georgia’s improved transportation system and the future expansion of the Port of Savannah. Governor Deal was introduced by Sam Massell, the President of the Buckhead Coalition and the former Mayor of Atlanta.

Three dozen speakers from leading companies shared their experiences, predictions and advice on topics including the current market cycle, the availability of debt and capital, tax and the “fiscal cliff,” and the development pipeline. The speakers represented the following companies:

Wood Partners 
Lubert-Adler Group 
USAA Real Estate 
Daniel Corporation 
The Brookdale Group 
MetLife 
Allegro Advisors 
Foram Group 
Camden Development 
Reznick Group
Regions Bank 
Jones Lang LaSalle
Eastdil Secured

Cole Real Estate Investments 
Noble Investment Group 
Jacoby Development 
Prudential Mortgage Capital Company 
Regent Partners 
Argosy Capital 
Cousins Properties 
Walker & Dunlop 
Ernst & Young 
JPMorgan Chase 
Almanac Realty Advisors 
Strategic 1031 Exchange Advisor

Post conference, MMM Founding Partner Sonny Morris, recently named an Atlanta Real Estate Icon by Real Estate Forum magazine, provided his personal thoughts on the outlook for the coming year. "The commentary provided during our conference confirmed that certain sectors of the commercial real estate market have recovered, both in terms of asset classes and locations ─ while others continue to experience ongoing substantial weakness," Morris said.

In addition to title sponsor MMM, other conference sponsors included Cole Real Estate Investments, Ernst & Young, Strategic 1031 Exchange Advisors, Reznick Group, Jones Lang LaSalle and Walker & Dunlop.

About Morris, Manning & Martin

Morris, Manning & Martin (www.mmmlaw.com) is an AmLaw 200 law firm with national and international reach. We dedicate ourselves to the constant pursuit of our clients’ success. To provide our clients with optimal value, we combine market-leading legal services with a total understanding of their needs to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and opportunity. MMM enjoys national prominence for its real estate, litigation, technology, healthcare, intellectual property, capital markets, environmental, green industry, insurance, mergers & acquisitions and timberland & forest products practices. MMM has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah, Taipei, Beijing and Washington, D.C. and an alliance with FGCN in São Paulo, Brazil.

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Media Contact: Terri Thornton, (404) 932-4347, Terri@TerriThornton.com