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Clay A.
Lanham

Position
Partner
Office
Mobile

Clay Lanham is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on real estate development and finance.


Clay regularly represents private equity funds and banks in the negotiation and documentation of loans secured by real estate and other assets as well as the purchase and sale of loans, real estate, and other assets.

Clay also represents developers and investors in the purchase and sale of properties and throughout the entire development process, from the formation of development entities, initial acquisition of properties, representation before political bodies for rezoning and approvals of projects, acquiring permits, applying for economic incentives, financing, easements, leasing, and other general real estate matters common to commercial, residential, and industrial developments.

Clay represents businesses in the areas of construction, business and commercial law, and civil litigation. He counsels clients in all aspects of the construction process, including owners and developers, general contractors, sub-contractors, home builders, and material providers.

Clay is a licensed title insurance agent in Alabama and Georgia and serves as vice president of one of the firm's title companies, Baronne Title of Alabama, LLC. Clay is an authorized agent for First American Title Insurance Company, Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, and Old Republic National Title Insurance Company.

Noteworthy

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law (listed annually since 2019)
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, "Rising Star," Real Estate: Business, Business/Corporate, and Construction Litigation: Business (2014–2016)
  • Mobile Bay Magazine, Top 40 Under 40, Class of 2011
  • 2005 Graduate of the International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell

Experience

  • Represented Meritage Homes, the fifth largest public homebuilder in the US (2023), in the acquisition of more than 5,500 lots located in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida
  • Represented the seller of approximately 65,000 acres of timberland located in two different counties for $99 million
  • Represented the sellers of approximately 17,000 acres of timberland in five different counties and three different states for approximately $35 million
  • Represented the seller of approximately 200 acres of waterfront property for $31 million
  • Represented a private equity fund in the $57 million purchase from an institutional bank of assets, including non-performing loans, SPEs, and 51 properties located in 4 different states
  • Represented a private equity fund in the $31 million sale of two non-performing loans secured by properties in two different states
  • Represented a private equity fund in the purchase of two non-performing loans totaling $40 million and the subsequent foreclosure of the mortgage securing the same
  • Represented an institutional lender in refinancing the debt of a real estate holding company secured by 50 properties located in 7 different states
  • Represented private investors in the acquisition of a 97,723 square foot professional office building in Mobile, Alabama
  • Represented private investors in the acquisition of a 44,071 multi-tenant shopping center in Orange Beach, Alabama
  • Represented private investor in the acquisition of an 18 story 66,800 square foot professional office building in Mobile, Alabama
  • Served as local counsel to the purchaser of a 423 acre shipyard on Mobile River in Mobile, Alabama

Publications

  • "Short-Term Vacation Rentals: What Happens in New Orleans Won't Stay in New Orleans," Alabama Real Estate Journal, October 18, 2022

Presentations

  • "Ask the Experts: Answers to Common Questions in Real Property, Probate & Trust," 144th Annual Meeting of the Alabama State Bar, July 14–17, 2021
  • "Strategic Sites Advancement to Market," Alabama Strategic Sites Inventory (SSI) Program, October 2020
  • "Handling Real Estate Transactions with Confidence," National Business Institute, June 21, 2016
  • "Commercial & Residential Evictions," Sterling Education Services, April 24, 2010

Memberships

  • American College of Real Estate Lawyers, Fellow
  • Alabama Center for Real Estate, Leadership Council (2017/2018)
  • Alabama State Bar
    • Real Property, Probate and Trust Section of the Alabama State Bar, Secretary/Treasurer (2018); Chair (2020–2021)
    • Bar Commissioner, 13th Judicial Circuit of Alabama (2013–2016)
    • President, Young Lawyers Section (2010–2011)
    • Leadership Forum (2011, Class 7)
  • American Bar Association
  • Mobile Bar Association
  • State Bar of Georgia
    • Real Property Law Section
  • The Mississippi Bar  
Mobile
Suite 1200
11 N Water St
Mobile, AL 36602
D: 251.439.7519
F: 251.439.7365
Emailclanham@joneswalker.com
Birmingham
Suite 1100
420 20th St N
Birmingham, AL 35203
D: 205.244.5200
F: 205.244.5400
Atlanta
Suite 1400
3455 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
D: 404.870.7500
F: 404.870.7501

Education

  • The University of Alabama School of Law
    JD, 2001
  • Auburn University
    BS, Agricultural Business and Economics, 1998

Bar Admissions

  • Alabama
  • Georgia
  • Mississippi

Court Admissions

  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • US District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
  • US District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
  • US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

Related Practices

  • CMBS and Creditors’ Rights
  • Commercial Transactions
  • Finance
  • Litigation
  • Private Equity
  • Project Development & Finance
  • Real Estate

Related Industries

  • Banking & Financial Services Industry
  • Construction Industry
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