C. George  Kleeman, IV
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C. George Kleeman, IV

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C. George  Kleeman, IV
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George Kleeman is a member of GDCR’s Business and Transactional Law practice group. He represents entrepreneurs, business owners, investors, private equity funds, venture capital groups, banks and private lenders in mergers and acquisitions, business sales, debt and equity financings, commercial lending transactions, real estate transactions, joint ventures and general corporate matters. Mr. Kleeman also works with family-owned and closely-held businesses on  corporate governance matters and succession planning.


Mr. Kleeman represents regional and community banks, as well as private lenders, in negotiating and documenting commercial loan and finance transactions, including secured and unsecured lines of credit, senior and junior real estate loans, construction and development loans, asset-based loans, leveraged and buyout loans, and acquisition financing. He also serves as borrower’s counsel for the Firm’s clients including real estate developers, manufacturers and other businesses in negotiating and closing complex loan and debt financing transactions.

Mr. Kleeman also has significant experience serving as outside counsel assisting businesses o with their everyday needs, including reviewing, drafting and negotiating all types of business contracts, providing practical legal advice on day-to-day business and legal issues, and coordinating and overseeing legal work performed by other Practice Groups at the Firm for those businesses. Early in his career, he was able to gain significant experience and insight by litigating a variety of business disputes including shareholder and partnership divorces, breach of fiduciary duty suits, workouts, construction disputes, and general breach of contract claims.

Education
J.D., University of Georgia, School of Law, Cum Laude
B.B.A., University of Georgia, Terry College of Business
Admissions
Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
Georgia Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Professional Organizations and Memberships

  • State Bar of Georgia (Member)
    Business Law Section
  • American Bar Association (Member)
    Business Law Section
    Served on State Bar of Georgia’s Committee on the Judiciary
  • Cobb Bar Association Business Law Section 2010-2011 President (Co-Founder)
    Former Trustee of the Cobb Bar Association
Education
J.D., University of Georgia, School of Law, Cum Laude
B.B.A., University of Georgia, Terry College of Business
Admissions
Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
Georgia Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Mergers & Acquisitions:

  • Represented medical equipment supplier in $100MM+ sale of company to publicly traded competitor
  • Represented family-owned home services company in connection with reorganization and sale to publicly traded competitor in excess of $100MM
  • Represented a closely held specialty pharmacy in $40MM+ sale to one of the largest health care companies in the U.S.
  • Represented investment management firm in $50MM+ sale to leading global asset manager
  • Represented software developer in connection with negotiation of $10MM strategic investment by venture capital fund
  • Represented management team in connection with $15MM leverages buyout of regional engineering firm
  • Represented developer of MRI centers in connection with $20MM+ sale to local hospital group
  • Represented European manufacturer in connection with multi-million dollar acquisition of Georgia-based manufacturing firm and subsequent resolution of post-closing claims and disputes with former owners
  • Represented family-owned logistics and transportation company in connection with acquisition of multiple businesses, expansion into new business lines and markets, corporate reorganization and financing transactions
  • Represented owners and businesses in mergers, acquisitions and sales in manufacturing, logistics, medical, technology, construction, professional services and other industries from $1MM to $50MM

Financing Transactions:

  • Represented regional bank in connection with negotiating and closing a $30MM leverage buyout loan to fund acquisition and roll-up by private equity fund of industrial businesses
  • Represented regional bank in connection with negotiation and closing of $25MM working capital line of credit and $5MM equipment line of credit to general contractor
  • Represented local bank in connection with negotiating and closing $4MM line of credit to leading local homebuilder to refinance mezzanine loans
  • Represented leading local homebuilder in negotiating and closing $6MM development and construction loan with private lender for multi-phase townhome development
  • Represented food processing company in connection with leveraged buyout of second-generation by a third-generation family member, including negotiating and closing on $50MM+ in financing from national bank
  • Represented developers of senior living facilities and multi-family communities in connection with acquisition, development and financing of projects across the U.S., from negotiating and documenting investment terms with leading sponsors and private investors through project exit, including closing sale and leaseback transactions with leading publicly traded REITs
  • Represented manufacturer in connection with multiple refinancings of $20MM+ ABL facility with multiple lenders, including private lender and regional and national banks
  • Represented regional bank in connection with $5MM loan to employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to fund purchase of local contracting firm from two founders
  • Represented manufacturer in negotiating and closing $12MM acquisition loan to consolidation multiple plants into new, state of the art manufacturing facility, including provision for structured repayment upon sale of closed locations in reverse-1031 transactions and multiple add-on loans for buildout of facility and continued expansion
  • Represented banks and borrowers in negotiating and documenting tax exempt sale and leaseback transactions with local development authorities across Georgia
  • Represented regional bank in refinancing acquisition and development loan to local non-profit entity in connection with a New Markets Tax Credit financing
  • Represented mezzanine lender in connection with workout of multi-million dollar loans secured by equity interests in grocery-anchored shopping centers throughout the Southeast
  • Represented nine guarantors in the workout of $21MM loan for construction of three lakefront condominiums after developer quit on project and fled the country, including asserting numerous counterclaims against the lender and obtaining very favorable releases on behalf of the guarantors
  • Represented banks, private lenders and borrowers in numerous commercial financing transactions ranging from $1MM to $30MM
Education
J.D., University of Georgia, School of Law, Cum Laude
B.B.A., University of Georgia, Terry College of Business
Admissions
Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
Georgia Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Mergers & Acquisitions:

  • Representing family-owned home services company in connection with reorganization and sale to publicly traded competitor in excess of $100MM
  • Representing a closely held specialty pharmacy in sale of company to one of the largest health care companies in the U.S.
  • Representing software developer in connection with negotiation of $10MM strategic investment by venture capital fund
  • Representing developer of MRI centers in connection with $20MM+ sale to local hospital group
  • Represented private-equity backed, European-based company in connection with multi-million dollar acquisition of Georgia-based manufacturing firm and subsequent resolution of post-closing claims and disputes with former owners
  • Representing owners of durable medical equipment supplier in connection with $10MM+ sale of company to publicly traded competitor
  • Representing family-owned transportation company in connection with acquisition of multiple businesses, entry into new business lines and markets, corporate reorganization and financing transactions

Financing Transactions:

  • Representing a regional bank in connection with negotiation and closing of $10MM working capital line of credit and $5MM equipment line of credit to general contractor
  • Representing local bank in connection with negotiating and closing $4MM line of credit to leading local homebuilder to refinance intercompany loans and secured by junior interests in properties not yet ready for development
  • Representing food processing company in connection with leveraged buyout of second-generation by a third-generation family member, including negotiating and closing on $50MM+ in financing from national lender
  • Representing family-owned developer of senior living facilities in connection with acquisition, development and financing of multiple senior living facilities across the State of Georgia and sale and leaseback transactions with publicly traded REITs
  • Representing local manufacturing firm in connection with multiple refinancings of $8MM+ ABL facility with multiple lenders, including private equity firms and regional and national banks
  • Representing mezzanine lender in connection with workout of multi-million dollar loans secured by equity interests in grocery-anchored shopping centers throughout the Southeast
  • Representing nine guarantors in the workout of $21MM loan for construction of three lakefront condominiums after developer quit on project and fled the country, including asserting numerous counterclaims against the lender and obtaining very favorable releases on behalf of the guarantors
  • Representing developers in connection with acquisition, financing and development of senior living facilities and commercial and industrial projects, including negotiation and closing of joint ventures with leading private equity funds and sponsors and assisting in raising equity from local investor groups
  • Representing Georgia-based brewery in connection with start-up, real estate acquisition, debt and equity financing transactions, and ongoing operational issues

Construction-Related Matters:

  • Serving as outside general counsel to a national general contracting firm and providing general day-to-day business and legal advice, as well as contract review and negotiation, for commercial and retail projects throughout the United States
  • Representing large, family-owned heavy civil contractor in corporate governance matters
  • Representing Atlanta-based design-builder in connection with negotiating and work-out of project disputes on $21MM food processing facility in upstate New York; resolved approximately $3MM+ of disputes, including multiple subcontractor claims, errors and omissions claims, defective construction and delay claims, following a 4-day, 12-party mediation
  • Serving as primary counsel to a local school district in connection with $700MM+ construction program, including providing advice with respect to procurement, finance, bond, lien and payment disputes, contractor defaults and performance bond claims, acceleration, disruption and delay claims, A/E and design errors and claims, and day-to-day contract interpretation matters
  • Representing local school districts in connection with defaults by general contractors and performance bond claims, including negotiating resolutions with surety companies for completion of projects
Education
J.D., University of Georgia, School of Law, Cum Laude
B.B.A., University of Georgia, Terry College of Business
Admissions
Georgia
Supreme Court of Georgia
Georgia Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia