Atlanta, March 13, 2012 – Morris, Manning & Martin LLP, an Atlanta-based national and international law firm, and Stephen Green, a noted civic leader and successful businessman with extensive history in the logistics industry, are launching a strategic economic consulting firm with a primary focus on logistics and infrastructure, including import, export, transportation projects and government affairs.
The new entity will be called the Morris Manning Martin Green Consulting Group, LLC and will be an affiliate of the law firm. Drawing on access to equity and financing sources, the venture will facilitate investment and, where warranted, participate in private or public-private logistics projects. It will also provide relevant environmental, permitting, regulatory, real estate and government affairs expertise. This combination of financial and strategic guidance will fill an underserved niche for large economic development endeavors where logistics play a critical role, such as ports, airports, reservoirs and other transportation-related projects.
“In today's tight credit markets, private investors and often public-private partnerships need additional capital and expertise to initiate long-term infrastructure projects," Mr. Green said. "As Georgia seeks to become the logistics capital of the Western Hemisphere, we believe that Morris, Manning & Martin’s strengths in equity markets will complement my contacts in the logistics industry.”
Mr. Green continued, “Our goal is to facilitate investment in projects that will advance Georgia’s competitive positioning and economic growth. We believe that investment in long-neglected infrastructure will help lead the pending economic recovery. The financial strains on national, state and local budgets will create opportunities for private equity in these projects.
"I am excited and honored to be part of this initiative with Morris, Manning & Martin, an outstanding and greatly respected firm," he added.
A Savannah native and resident, Mr. Green is president and CEO of Stephen Green Properties, a commercial real estate investment and development company. He is chair of Savannah-based FCB Financial Holdings, vice chair of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport Commission, 2013 chair-elect of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, past chair and current member of the Georgia Ports Authority, two-time past chair of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, and a board member of Georgia Power Company. In 2011 he was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to the 23-member Georgia Competitiveness Initiative.
Leading the new enterprise for Morris, Manning & Martin is Gerald L. Pouncey, Jr., a senior partner and head of the firm’s Environmental, Infrastructure and Land Use Practice. He has extensive national, regional and local experience in the financing, acquisition, redevelopment and permitting of port-related facilities and other industrial properties throughout the country. One such project, Midtown Atlanta’s Atlantic Station, was recognized by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency as the nation’s largest and among the best brownfield redevelopments.
“Steve Green is one of Georgia’s most admired leaders in business, in the civic arena and in the logistics industry, and we are excited about the opportunity to work with him,” Mr. Pouncey said. “Our new venture will allow us to combine access to capital markets with port-related and other infrastructure expertise in order to bring projects to reality.”
Mr. Pouncey is immediate past chair of the Council for Quality Growth, a board member of the North Georgia Water Management District and of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and has served on the boards of and chaired numerous other organizations. He is listed by Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and Legal 500 USA as being one of the nation’s leading attorneys for Environmental Law.
Also participating in the consulting group will be John G. “Sonny” Morris, co-founder and senior partner of the law firm in the Real Estate and Real Estate Capital Markets Practices. Mr. Morris brings significant experience and relationships with respect to alternative equity, investment and financing. Among civic leadership positions, he is chair of the Buckhead Coalition.
Morris, Manning & Martin Managing Partner Louise Wells said Morris Manning Martin Green Consulting Group illustrates a new direction for the firm. "We expect additional strategic initiatives as part of our ongoing investment in national and international business," she said.
About Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP
Morris, Manning & Martin (www.mmmlaw.com) is a full-service 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 now an alliance with FGCN in São Paulo, Brazil.
About Stephen Green Properties
Founded in 1986, Stephen Green Properties operates as a private real estate investment firm, primarily purchasing commercial real estate for its own portfolio. The company customarily operates in conjunction with its own acquisitions, but on occasion serves other clients with real estate brokerage and consulting services. Its past investments have included shopping centers, office buildings, raw land, and, most recently, a concentration in industrial warehousing
Contacts: Rachel Tobin
404.724.2501
Brian Santa Barbara
404.504.5446
