Claiborne Tanner, Of Counsel in the Firm's Baton Rouge office, is a member of the Real Estate group. Mr. Tanner provides advice and counsel on all aspects of real estate development and investing including land acquisition and due diligence, land use and zoning issues, construction, financing (senior and mezzanine debt financing), sales and marketing, condominium filings, loan workouts and tenant leasing and other landlord-related matters. He is skilled in the negotiation and preparation of various real estate related agreements including letters of intent, purchase agreements, development agreements, loan documentation, construction contracts and commercial and residential leases.
Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Mr. Tanner served as general counsel and associate general counsel for several national and international developers including the largest privately-held condominium converter, and a high-rise condominium developer with projects in the south Florida and Las Vegas markets.
- Oversaw all phases of land acquisitions, financing (various A&D, construction, mezzanine and other types of financing worth more than $700 million total), construction, sales and marketing and other general real estate matters for a national condominium developer specializing in high-rise condominium developments in Miami and Las Vegas
- Represented several national financial institutions in various stages of the loan process, from research of collateral requirements, preparation of related loan documentation, performance of due diligence, and management of the loan closing, as well as debt compliance and foreclosure matters
- Represented various developers in the acquisition, financing and development of commercial properties, including negotiating various loan documents on behalf of borrowers and conveyance documents for buyers and sellers, and handling all related closing matters
- Represented various developers before various local planning commissions throughout the states of Louisiana and Florida on zoning, permitting and variance matters
- Represented condominium associations in all aspects of operations, advising on various condominium matters such as voting issues, issues associated with maintenance of common areas and filing liens for past-due assessments
- Aided in the representation of an international mining company in its construction of a $1.6 billion mining operation in New Caledonia, including participating in extensive negotiations of the construction contract between our client and a joint venture of international contractors, and planning and contracting for the infrastructure, such as a deepwater port, electric facility, housing, sewer facilities, etc., necessary to support such an operation
- Handled various phases of foreclosure actions against defaulting borrowers on behalf of institutional and private lenders, including institution of foreclosure action and suits for deficiency judgment
- Finalist – Daily Business Review's "Top Dealmakers of 2007 for South Florida"
- Florida Real Estate Salesperson License, 2004
- Member – Urban Land Institute
- Member – Greater Miami United Way Young Leaders
- Florida, 2003
- Louisiana, 2000
- Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, J.D., 2000
- Semifinalist – Robert Lee Tullis Moot Court
- Member – Student Bar Association Ethics Committee
- Louisiana State University, B.S., 1997