Jeffery S. DeArman

Jeff represents public and privately held entities in the acquisition, disposition, development, operation, management, and leasing of commercial real estate. He has over 20 years of extensive experience representing clients in the banking, healthcare, real estate development, retail, and manufacturing industries in all aspects of commercial real estate transactions and financing. He is also experienced in affordable housing, multi-family projects, and construction-related issues.

Prior to joining Taft, Jeff served as the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for a Southeast-based construction supply company, where he was responsible for managing the legal affairs and other functions of the company. His time working in-house provided valuable insight into all of the legal issues involved in running a successful business. He leverages that broad experience when advising clients on the business impacts of their real estate transactions.

Earlier in his career, Jeff was a partner and head of the real estate practice group at a national law firm. He received his bachelor’s degree from William Jennings Bryan College and his law degree from Samford University, where he was the Associate Editor for the Cumberland Law Review.

• Representation of residential developers in all phases of residential real estate development projects across the southeastern portion of the United States, including land acquisition, contract negotiation, due diligence, joint venture and entity formation, financing, construction, zoning, and obtaining land use and entitlement approvals.
• Representation of equity investor in connection with real estate investments covering real estate located across United States.
• Representation of real estate developer in the assemblage of multi-site property, acquisition of brewery and simultaneous sale of business.
• Representation of a retail affiliate of national grocery wholesaler in the acquisition of 31 retail supermarkets out of bankruptcy.
• Representation of a retail affiliate of national grocery wholesaler in the sale of 57 retail supermarkets in the southeast to a regional retail operator.
• Representation of a top 10 financial institution in the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of leased and owned retail bank sites throughout United States.
• Representation of one of the largest HVAC distributors and manufacturers in the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of distribution, manufacturing and other facilities throughout North America.
• Representation of a trust in the acquisition of one of the largest historic downtown apartment buildings in Birmingham, Alabama.
• Representation of multifamily developers and operators in the acquisition and financing of properties located throughout the United States.
• Representation of developers and operators in the acquisition and financing of shopping centers located throughout the United States.
• Representation of a global provider of medical technologies in the relocation of its global headquarters from San Diego, California to Dallas, Texas, as well as the consolidation of multiple logistics facilities into a single location in Dallas, Texas.
• Representation of a Fortune 200 company in the sale of approximately 3 million acres of forestry land in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
• Representation of a construction supply company in various strategic acquisitions throughout portions of United States.