Seyfarth Shaw Adds Team of Real Estate Lawyers in Washington, D. C.: Ronald S. Gart, Christa L. Dommers and Adam W. Walsh Join as

WASHINGTON (Business Wire EON) January 22, 2008 -- Gart, who was Co-Leader of the Real Estate Practice Group at his former firm, has extensive knowledge in real estate development, real estate finance, real estate lending, asset management, asset purchase and sales, commercial leasing, mixed-use development and planned communities, including condominium ownership. He counsels investors in joint ventures and secured lenders regarding loan originations, including construction, mezzanine and conduit financings and regarding loan workouts, restructurings and foreclosures.

Dommers' practice focuses on all areas of commercial real estate, including financing, acquisition, disposition and leasing. She has represented borrowers and lenders in connection with construction loans and conduit financing, including complex syndication loans. She has also worked with developers, investors and corporate real estate departments in connection with the acquisition and disposition of real estate, including 1031 exchanges. Dommers also has extensive experience in connection with commercial leasing, representing both owners and tenants in the office, retail and industrial markets.

Walsh works with both institutional and entrepreneurial clients in the acquisition, development, structuring, leasing and financing of commercial real estate projects. These projects include office buildings, new and converted residential condominiums, assisted living and other senior housing or medical facilities, regional and strip shopping centers and retail and mixed-use developments. He has spearheaded legal teams in closing large, multi-state and multi-property acquisitions and dispositions, and has managed commercial finance transactions in nearly all 50 states.

Segal represents developers and owners of commercial and residential real estate nationally, developers and operators of hotels and nursing homes, real estate brokers, mortgage bankers, contractors, subcontractors and real estate lenders. His experience includes an active commercial leasing transactions practice on behalf of both landlords and national tenants. He represents lenders in connection with real estate secured loan transactions, be they construction, permanent or mezzanine financing, non-real-estate asset-based loan transactions or workouts. Segal also advises clients involved in HUD, Fannie Mae, GNMA and Freddie Mac Programs and is experienced in advising clients before HUD's Mortgage Review Board and Office of Interstate Land Sales.

"Ron, Christa, Adam and Peter are talented real estate attorneys, and their addition to the firm adds depth to our D. C. office and the firm-wide practice," said Mark A. Block, Chair of Seyfarth Shaw's Real Estate Practice Group. "Their skill sets are highly complementary to our existing real estate practice. The firm's Real Estate Practice Group has grown significantly, illustrating our commitment to the industry and providing service to our clients."

Seyfarth Shaw's real estate attorneys counsel individuals, corporations and other business entities to maximize the value and return on their real estate investments and assets. The firm's national footprint, extensive business and legal networks, and broad array of legal services, allows the firm to provide comprehensive legal advice and assistance to its clients. Real Estate Practice Group attorneys help clients identify emerging opportunities and challenges, and develop forward-looking strategies to meet their short- and long-term goals.

"We are thrilled to welcome Ron and his team to our office," said Joseph R. Damato, Managing Partner of the firm's Washington, D. C. office. "Their joining the firm further solidifies our identity as a diversified service provider in Washington's legal marketplace."

Gart received his B. A. (with distinction) from The George Washington University where he later earned his J. D. (cum laude). He is a member of the state bars of Virginia and Maryland, as well as the District of Columbia. Gart is Chairman, Board of Governors of the Capital Society and a member of the Real Estate, Housing and Land Use Section of the District of Columbia Bar. Formerly, Gart served as a member of the Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Building Association, and he was a member of the Board of Governors of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington. He is also past chairman of Urban Land Institute-Washington District Council Annual Trends Conference.

Dommers is an alumna of Albertus Magnus College where she received her B. A. (magna cum laude), and she earned her J. D. (summa cum laude) from Quinnipiac University School of Law. She is admitted to the state bars of New York and Connecticut, in addition to the District of Columbia. Dommers is a member of the American Bar Association and Commercial Real Estate Women.

Walsh earned his B. A. at the University of Notre Dame and his J. D. from the College of William and Mary. He is admitted to the state bars of New York and New Jersey, as well as the District of Columbia. Walsh is a member of the American Bar Association; Clarendon Alliance; the New York State Bar Association and the Real Estate, Housing and Land Use Section of the District of Columbia Bar Association. He is Treasurer of the D. C. real estate group and a member of the Young Leaders Group of the Urban Land Institute.

Segal is an alumnus of Tufts University where he received is B. A., and he earned his J. D. at Boston University School of Law. He is admitted to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the U. S. Supreme Court, the District of Columbia and the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Segal serves on the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts' National Committee for the Performing Arts and the Board of Visitors of the New England Conservatory of Music. He is a member of the national Association of Home Builders Hall of Fame, the Mortgage Bankers Association of America and the District of Columbia Bar Association.

"I know I speak for all of us when I say that we are delighted to join Seyfarth Shaw's thriving Washington office," Gart said. "The firm's national platform allows us to offer our clients seamless service as we execute their complex, multi-state transactions, and we look forward to engaging with our new colleagues in Washington and throughout the firm."

Seyfarth Shaw has over 750 attorneys located in nine offices throughout the United States including Chicago, New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, as well as Brussels, Belgium. The firm provides a broad range of legal services in the areas of labor and employment, employee benefits, litigation and business services. Seyfarth Shaw's practice reflects virtually every industry and segment of the country's business and social fabric. Clients include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, newspapers and other media, hotels, health care organizations, airlines and railroads. The firm also represents a number of federal, state, and local governmental and educational entities. For more information, please visit www.seyfarth.com.