Weiner, Shearouse, Weitz, Greenberg & Shawe, LLP is included in 2022 U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings in the areas of Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law, Municipal Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.
Firms included in the 2022 Edition of “Best Law Firms” are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.
The firm’s Litigation – Real Estate and Real Estate Law practices received a Tier 1 ranking and the firm’s Municipal Law and Personal Injury Law – Defendant practices received a Tier 2 ranking. The “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a combination of client feedback, information provided on the Law Firm Survey, the Law Firm Leaders Survey and peer review. ‘Best Lawyers” is the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession, and a listing in “Best Lawyers” or “Best Law Firms” is widely regarded as a significant honor.
Weiner, Shearouse, Weitz, Greenberg & Shawe, LLP has been practicing law in Savannah and the surrounding area since being founded in 1961. The firm provides a wide range of legal services that touch many different areas of law, including real estate, civil trial work, business transactions, SBA financing, municipal law, estate planning and guardianships, creditor bankruptcy representation, domestic relations, criminal, insurance defense and mediation.
William W. Shearouse, Jr., Stephen F. Greenberg, Mark T. Shawe,Malcolm Mackenzie, III, Edwin Byck, William G. Glass,Helen Hester, Keri Martin, George Milmine and Stuart Halpern selected.
SAVANNAH, GA – Weiner, Shearouse, Weitz, Greenberg & Shawe attorneys William W. Shearouse, Jr., Stephen F. Greenberg, Mark T. Shawe, Malcolm Mackenzie, III, Edwin Byck, William G. Glass, Helen Hester, Keri Martin and George P. Milmine, II,and Stuart Halpern have been peer-selected to be included in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers.
Best Lawyers is the only purely peer-review guide to the legal profession, and attorneys named to Best Lawyers lists were recognized by their peers in the legal industry for their professional excellence in 145 practice areas. Best Lawyers is the most visible peer-ranking in the legal industry, partnering with local, regional, and national publications across the globe.
Mr. Shearouse is listed in the practice areas of Municipal Law and Real Estate Law. He practices primarily in the areas of commercial and residential real estate transactions, land development and general business. He assists clients with acquisitions, planning, development, operation, leasing, and sales of real property. He also serves as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Savannah, and has served as Judge Pro-Term of the Savannah-Chatham County Recorder’s Court.
Mr. Greenberg is listed in the area of Real Estate Law. His practice consists of a combination of real estate, business estate, and creditor bankruptcy work, and he effectively and successfully represents business concerns, lenders and individuals. Mr. Greenberg’s practice in the areas of commercial and residential real estate transactions, general business estate, and creditor bankruptcy representation is based on fundamental principles such as providing personal attention to each of his clients, being attentive to details and responding promptly to his clients.
Mr. Shawe is listed in the areas of Litigation – Real Estate and Real Estate Law. He practices law in the areas of general business, corporate law and entity formations, residential and commercial real estate, transactional law, condominium formation and conversions, estate planning and probate, real property foreclosures, mechanics and materialmen’s liens. Mr. Shawe has earned an “AV” Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell Law Directory and has been peer selected as one of “Georgia’s Top Lawyers.”
Mr. Mackenzie is listed in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. Mr. Mackenzie is a trial lawyer with nearly 30 years of experience handling a wide array of civil matters, including personal injury, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, employment and business litigation and white collar criminal defense. He has represented corporations, insurers and municipal governments as well as individuals. He is also a neutral (mediator) registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution.
Mr. Byck is listed in the area of Real Estate Law. He specializes in commercial real estate law with an emphasis on small business lending for business clients. Mr. Byck is one of only a handful of attorneys in the Southeast Georgia area who is designated as a 504 Closing Attorney by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is a member of the regional liaison committee for the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) and an affiliate member of the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO).
Mr. Glass is listed in the areas of Litigation – Real Estate and Real Estate Law. He practices in commercial and residential real estate finance, acquisitions, development and leasing, business transactions and administration, and civil litigation.
Ms. Hester is listed in the areas Commercial Real Estate, Construction Law, Litigation – Real Estate and Real Estate Law. She focuses her practice in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, real estate litigation, complex business litigation, commercial litigation, and construction litigation. She was selected as a Rising Star in the area of Real Estate Law by Georgia Super Lawyers in 2017 and 2018.
Ms. Martin is listed in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Real Estate. She is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Georgia and South Carolina, and she focuses her practice in the areas of business and commercial litigation, real estate litigation, foreclosure and collection work, probate and estate work, business formations, and assistance with properties sold at tax sales.
Mr. Milmine is listed in the area of Litigation – Construction. His focused on corporate litigation, contract law and real estate law. Mr. Milmine has represented a diverse array of construction-related businesses during his career, including residential and commercial construction contractors and subcontractors, suppliers, land developers, landowners, and sureties. He has considerable experience in employment law, including the preparation and enforcement of restrictive covenants, as well as in commercial and residential real estate transactions.
Mr. Halpern is listed in the area of Real Estate Law. He practices primarily in the areas of residential and commercial real estate, development and leasing, business transactions and administration, estate planning and probate, municipal law and civil litigation. Stuart has broad experience in real estate matters and is actively involved in residential and commercial closings, and he has often served as counsel to the City of Savannah for municipal eminent domain work and other real estate matters.
WSWGS is excited to welcome Ellis Allen as an attorney with our firm.
Ellis Allen
Raised in Savannah, Georgia, Mr. Allen received his J.D from the University of Kentucky College of Law in Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. Allen graduated from St. Andrew’s School in Savannah and then attended the University of South Carolina. While at U.K. Law, Mr. Allen was a member of the Trial Advocacy Board and served as president of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society.
Mr. Allen has represented a diverse group of national, regional and local corporate clients, with an emphasis on regional healthcare organizations, in various matters involving litigation, property development, contract negotiations, corporate compliance, among others. Mr. Allen focuses his practice in the areas of commercial and residential real estate finance, acquisitions, development and leasing, business transactions and administration, and civil litigation.
We are very excited to have Mr. Allen on the WSWGS team!
Christopher R. Lane has been named a partner with the law firm of Weiner, Shearouse, Weitz, Greenberg & Shawe.
Lane, who has been with the firm for six years, is a native Georgian with ties to Coastal Georgia, and he has rapidly become one of south Georgia’s preeminent real estate attorneys. His practice mostly encompasses matters from the acquisition, financing and disposition of both residential and commercial real estate. He is distinguished by the breadth of his experience in commercial and residential real estate law, and his comprehensive familiarity with real estate transactional law has made him one of the foremost real estate lawyers in coastal Georgia.
Lane routinely represents buyers, sellers, lenders, landlords, tenants, builders and homeowner associations, and his expertise includes managing transactional matters ranging from the clearance of title and contract review to complex commercial projects. He serves as outside general counsel for the Savannah Area Realtors and is involved with the leadership of The Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia (MBAG), where he was named the 2013-2014 Richard Raymer Associate Member of the Year for MBAG.
November 5, 2020 – Weiner, Shearouse, Weitz, Greenberg & Shawe, LLP, is proud to announce that the firm has been included in the 2021 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings chosen by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers.
WSWGS was peer-selected in multiple categories: Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law Municipal Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. Firms included in the “Best Law Firms” are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers.
The U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in the field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a ranking, a firm must first have a lawyer recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, and WSWGS is proud to have nine attorneys listed in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
The 2021 rankings are based on the highest lawyer and firm participation on record, incorporating 8.3 million evaluations of more than 110,000 individual leading lawyers from more than 22,000 firms. More than 15,000 law firms throughout the United States were evaluated, and a total of 2,179 firms received a national law firm ranking.
Weiner, Shearouse, Weitz, Greenberg & Shawe, LLP has been practicing law in Savannah and the surrounding area since being founded in 1961. The firm provides a wide range of legal services that touch many different areas of law, including real estate, civil trial work, business transactions, SBA financing, municipal law, estate planning and guardianships, creditor bankruptcy representation, domestic relations, criminal, insurance defense and mediation.
William W. Shearouse, Jr., Stephen F. Greenberg, Mark T. Shawe, Malcolm Mackenzie, III, Edwin Byck, William G. Glass, Helen Hester, Keri Martin and George Milmine selected.
Weiner, Shearouse, Weitz, Greenberg & Shawe attorneys William W. Shearouse, Jr., Stephen F. Greenberg, Mark T. Shawe, Malcolm Mackenzie, III, Edwin Byck, William G. Glass, Helen Hester, Keri Martin and George P. Milmine, II,have been peer-selected to be included in the 2021 edition of Best Lawyers.
Best Lawyers is the only purely peer-review guide to the legal profession, and attorneys named to Best Lawyers lists were recognized by their peers in the legal industry for their professional excellence in 145 practice areas. Best Lawyers is the most visible peer-ranking in the legal industry, partnering with local, regional, and national publications across the globe.
Mr. Shearouse is listed in the practice areas of Municipal Law and Real Estate Law. He practices primarily in the areas of commercial and residential real estate transactions, land development and general business. He assists clients with acquisitions, planning, development, operation, leasing, and sales of real property. He also serves as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Savannah, and has served as Judge Pro-Term of the Savannah-Chatham County Recorder’s Court.
Mr. Greenberg is listed in the area of Real Estate Law. His practice consists of a combination of real estate, business estate, and creditor bankruptcy work, and he effectively and successfully represents business concerns, lenders and individuals. Mr. Greenberg’s practice in the areas of commercial and residential real estate transactions, general business estate, and creditor bankruptcy representation is based on fundamental principles such as providing personal attention to each of his clients, being attentive to details and responding promptly to his clients.
Mr. Shawe is listed in the areas of Litigation – Real Estate and Real Estate Law. He practices law in the areas of general business, corporate law and entity formations, residential and commercial real estate, transactional law, condominium formation and conversions, estate planning and probate, real property foreclosures, mechanics and materialmen’s liens. Mr. Shawe has earned an “AV” Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell Law Directory and has been peer selected as one of “Georgia’s Top Lawyers.”
Mr. Mackenzie is listed in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. Mr. Mackenzie is a trial lawyer with nearly 30 years of experience handling a wide array of civil matters, including personal injury, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, employment and business litigation and white collar criminal defense. He has represented corporations, insurers and municipal governments as well as individuals. He is also a neutral (mediator) registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution.
Mr. Byck is listed in the area of Real Estate Law. He specializes in commercial real estate law with an emphasis on small business lending for business clients. Mr. Byck is one of only a handful of attorneys in the Southeast Georgia area who is designated as a 504 Closing Attorney by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is a member of the regional liaison committee for the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) and an affiliate member of the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO).
Mr. Glass is listed in the areas of Litigation – Real Estate and Real Estate Law. He practices in commercial and residential real estate finance, acquisitions, development and leasing, business transactions and administration, and civil litigation.
Ms. Hester is listed in the areas Commercial Real Estate, Construction Law, Litigation – Real Estate and Real Estate Law. She focuses her practice in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, real estate litigation, complex business litigation, commercial litigation, and construction litigation. She was selected as a Rising Star in the area of Real Estate Law by Georgia Super Lawyers in 2017 and 2018.
Ms. Martin is listed in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Real Estate. She is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Georgia and South Carolina, and she focuses her practice in the areas of business and commercial litigation, real estate litigation, foreclosure and collection work, probate and estate work, business formations, and assistance with properties sold at tax sales.
Mr. Milmine is listed in the area of Litigation – Construction. His focused on corporate litigation, contract law and real estate law. Mr. Milmine has represented a diverse array of construction-related businesses during his career, including residential and commercial construction contractors and subcontractors, suppliers, land developers, landowners, and sureties. He has considerable experience in employment law, including the preparation and enforcement of restrictive covenants, as well as in commercial and residential real estate transactions.
Weiner, Shearouse, Weitz, Greenberg & Shawe, LLP has been practicing law in Savannah and the surrounding area since being founded in 1961. The firm provides a wide range of legal services that touch many different areas of law, including real estate, civil trial work, business transactions, SBA financing, municipal law, estate planning and guardianships, creditor bankruptcy representation, domestic relations, criminal, insurance defense and mediation. Please visit www.wswgs.com to learn more about Weiner, Shearouse, Weitz, Greenberg & Shawe, LLP.
Here is a short summary as regards real estate services and professionals:
The term “Critical Infrastructure” referenced in Governor Kemp’s order is defined as those businesses, establishments, corporations, non-profit corporations, and organizations defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as “essential critical infrastructure workforce,” in guidance dated March 19, 2020, and revised on March 28, 2020.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security guidance lists “Residential and Commercial real estate services, including settlement services” as Essential Critical Infrastructure (see “Other Community-Or Government-based operations and Essential Functions” section, second from bottom). The Governor’s order supersedes any local (city or county) order or mandate.
We will continue to administer closings (here and remotely) and other legal work in accordance with these Orders and the best advice from state and federal health departments. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance during this period, including by staying away from closings as much as possible. We have persons available to act as attorneys in fact (under powers of attorney) if your clients need such assistance, or we can make other accommodations to help them stay safe. We can’t wait to see you again once this is behind us.
In this time of uncertainty where the Coronavirus has begun to impact our community, the law firms listed below felt it important that we provide our clients, realtors, mortgage lenders and community with guidance, solutions and reassurance of measures we are taking to assist with closing transactions, our foremost concern being the health and safety of our families, clients and real estate professionals.
Our firms share much in common – longevity in the Savannah area and the local real estate community, similarly sized offices, a high degree of respect for each other and for the rules and laws that govern our profession. We care about each other and all of you individually, and we understand what makes a successful, proper real estate closing. We have collectively closed more properties in the Savannah area for more years than we can count and have always been deeply devoted to the needs of the local Savannah community. We will be here for you long after the Coronavirus passes.
We recognize that our business decisions are not just about us. Our ability to make safe decisions about closings during this crisis will impact individual home buyers and sellers, realtors, mortgage lenders, builders and many others who depend on us for their livelihoods. Our work enables the military service members relocating or the buyer family with a lease running out to move into their new homes. Our ability to close refinances enables those facing hard times to lower their monthly payments or to pull equity out of their homes to pay bills.
In the spirit of Teamwork, our firms have agreed to help each other in any way that we can and have implemented the following temporary closing options to allow business to move forward with minimal personal exposure for everyone’s safety:
1) Our offices can provide an unaffiliated individual to act as Power of Attorney to execute all documents on your behalf, subject to lender approval if you are borrowing. All documents will be sent for your review and approval prior to Closing.
2) Our offices can email or Federal Express all documents (subject to timely receipt from Lender) for you to execute all documents prior to Closing except those requiring witness and notary public. All documents requiring Closing Attorney, witness, and notary public can be signed in our offices respective parking lot with the Closing Attorney avoiding any need to enter any enclosed space.
3) If necessary or strongly desired, we are happy to accommodate a closing in our offices subject to all CDC recommended precautions and procedures. We will ask that only the required parties to the closing attend. Obviously for the health and safety of all parties and our team members, this option is preferably reserved for those parties truly requiring an in-person closing in our offices.
We are all in this together. We will continue to monitor any developments and confer with each other on best temporary practices. In fact, the State Bar is currently working with the Governor trying to implement other temporary measures to allow closings to continue despite the circumstances. Please remain safe and healthy and follow the recommendations of our local, state and federal health professionals.
Best wishes from your friends: DYCHES LAW GROUP GARDNER LAW FIRM, LLC HENDERSON LAW FIRM KLEIN LAW GROUP, LLC LEE BLACK & HOLLIS, PC MCMANAMY JACKSON, PC MCNAMARA ADAMS, PC RUBNITZ THOMPSON ZIBLUT, LLC WEINER SHEAROUSE, LLP ZEIGLER & WALKER, PC
William W. Shearouse, Jr., Stephen F. Greenberg, Mark T. Shawe, Malcolm Mackenzie, III, Edwin Byck, William G. Glass and Helen Hester honored.
SAVANNAH, GA – Weiner, Shearouse, Weitz, Greenberg & Shawe attorneys William W. Shearouse, Jr., Stephen F. Greenberg, Mark T. Shawe, Malcolm Mackenzie, III, Edwin Byck, William G. Glass and Helen Hesterhave been peer-selected to be included in the 2020 edition “Georgia’s Best Lawyers.”
Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected guide to the legal profession, released the stand-alone publication in March highlighting more a select group of lawyers in Georgia for their legal talent and results. “Georgia’s Best Lawyers” will be delivered to lawyers and law firms as well as distributed to subscribers of TheAtlanta Journal-Constitution and The Wall Street Journal in Georgia.
William W. Shearouse, Jr.
Mr. Shearouse is listed in the practice areas of Municipal Law and Real Estate Law. He practices primarily in the areas of commercial and residential real estate transactions, land development and general business. He assists clients with acquisitions, planning, development, operation, leasing, and sales of real property. He also serves as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Savannah, and has served as Judge Pro-Term of the Savannah-Chatham County Recorder’s Court.
Stephen F. Greenberg
Mr. Greenberg is listed in the area of Real Estate Law. His practice consists of a combination of real estate, business estate, and creditor bankruptcy work, and he effectively and successfully represents business concerns, lenders and individuals. Mr. Greenberg’s practice in the areas of commercial and residential real estate transactions, general business estate, and creditor bankruptcy representation is based on fundamental principles such as providing personal attention to each of his clients, being attentive to details and responding promptly to his clients.
Mark T. Shawe
Mr. Shawe is listed in the areas of Litigation – Real Estate and Real Estate Law. He practices law in the areas of general business, corporate law and entity formations, residential and commercial real estate, transactional law, condominium formation and conversions, estate planning and probate, real property foreclosures, mechanics and materialmen’s liens. Mr. Shawe has earned an “AV” Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell Law Directory and has been peer selected as one of “Georgia’s Top Lawyers.”
Malcolm McKenzie, III
Mr. Mackenzie is listed in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants. Mr. Mackenzie is a trial lawyer with nearly 30 years of experience handling a wide array of civil matters, including personal injury, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, employment and business litigation and white collar criminal defense. He has represented corporations, insurers and municipal governments as well as individuals. He is also a neutral (mediator) registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution.
Edwin Byck
Mr. Byck is listed in the area of Real Estate Law. He specializes in commercial real estate law with an emphasis on small business lending for business clients. Mr. Byck is one of only a handful of attorneys in the Southeast Georgia area who is designated as a 504 Closing Attorney by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is a member of the regional liaison committee for the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) and an affiliate member of the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO).
William G. Glass
Mr. Glass is listed in the area of Real Estate Law. He practices in the areas of commercial and residential real estate finance, acquisitions, development and leasing, business transactions and administration, and civil litigation. He was formerly Senior Counsel for International Paper Company’s Forest Products Division in Savannah, and Vice President and General Counsel of Cypress Communications, Inc., an Atlanta-based public telecommunications company. Before Cypress, Mr. Glass practiced at Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP in Atlanta, where he represented developers, investors, landlords and tenants in all facets of real estate practice.
Helen Hester
Ms. Hester is listed in the area of Real Estate Law. She focuses her practice in the areas of commercial and residential real estate, real estate litigation, complex business litigation, commercial litigation, and construction litigation. She was selected as a Rising Star in the area of Real Estate Law by Georgia Super Lawyers in 2017 and 2018.
Weiner, Shearouse, Weitz, Greenberg & Shawe attorneys Christine T. McDonnell and Christopher R. Lane were honored as Affiliates of the Year at the Savannah Area Realtors Annual Awards Gala on February 29, 2020.
WSWGS is honored that two members of our team, Christine T. McDonnell and Christopher R. Lane, were honored for their contributions. We are proud of their work and commitment to serving our clients as well as the real estate industry.
Congratulations to all of the members of the 2019 Distinguished Sales Society and the recipients of the 2019 Special Awards.
WEINER, SHEAROUSE, WEITZ, GREENBERG, & SHAWE LLP. 