The Good, Bad and Ugly of of Real Estate Law Practice

Samuel Houston Givhan Related Seminars and Products

Lanier Ford Shaver and Payne, P.C.

Mr. Givhan received his B.S. from Auburn University and his J.D., cum laude, from The University of Alabama School of Law. He is a Shareholder and Director at Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne, P.C., where his practice is concentrated in the areas of eminent domain, economic development, commercial real estate, real estate development, and real estate litigation. Mr. Givhan is a member of the Huntsville-Madison County Bar Association (Treasurer, 1997-1998), the Alabama State Bar and a Commissioner on the Uniform Law Commission. He also represents portions of Huntsville, Gurley, Owens Crossroads, and Madison County in the Alabama Legislature as State Senator (District 7), where he serves as Chairman of the Legislative Council, Chairman of the Madison County Legislation Committee, Vice Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and as a member of the following committees: Confirmations; Finance and Taxation Education; Finance and Taxation General Fund; Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development; Healthcare; Rules; Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety; and Joint Transportation.

Matthew R. Harrison Related Seminars and Products

A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Matthew R. Harrison began the practice of law in 2009, after receiving his Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law in 2009. He earned his undergraduate degree from Samford University where he served as President of the Student Government Association.  Matt represents lenders, developers, builders, investors, entities, and individuals in the acquisition, development, construction, leasing, and conveyance of commercial and residential property in local and multi-state transactions. He is a licensed title agent in the State of Alabama for Chicago Title Insurance Company, Commonwealth Land Title, Stewart Title and Guaranty, Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, and Old Republic/Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company. A large part of Matt’s practice focuses on commercial and residential transactions.

In addition to transactional work, Matt represents businesses in their organization and operation. He regularly provides counsel to entities during formation, acquisition, and planning. Matt also has an active estate practice, counseling clients in all aspects of estate planning as well as the administration of estates and related matters in Probate Court.

David C. Skinner Related Seminars and Products

David C. Skinner LLC

Mr. Skinner received his undergraduate degree from Tulane University and his J.D., summa cum laude, from The University of Alabama, top 1% of his class. His firm is one of only six law firms in Birmingham listed as a Tier One – Real Estate, Best Law Firms in America. Mr. Skinner is listed in Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers in Alabama and Top Lawyers in Birmingham. In addition to his law practice, Mr. Skinner serves as a mediator, special master and expert witness in real property matters. He has authored numerous articles, pamphlets and books, and is the Instructor of Real Property Law at the Alabama Center for Real Estate of The University of Alabama Business School. He routinely lectures for the Alabama Association of Realtors. He is the primary instructor for, and the author of, the Alabama Real Estate Commission’s required course on “Risk Management for Property Managers.” Mr. Skinner has years of service on the Alabama Law Institute’s Real Estate Study Committee and is one of the members responsible for the committee’s ad valorem tax legislation and is also a frequent contributor on leasing, financing and title legislation. His extensive legislative experience includes a long history of appearing before the Commerce Committee of the Alabama House of Representatives as a legal analyst/commentator. Mr. Skinner has held United States Department of Defense Ethics Counselor credentials since 2002.