Parker Hudson Attorneys Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition
Aug 17, 2023
johnna l. goodmark
she | her
Partner
Atlanta
overview
For over twenty years, Johnna Goodmark has represented clients in the acquisition, sale, and leasing of commercial real estate. As a former Deputy City Attorney for the City of Atlanta, Johnna brings a unique combination of government and private practice experience to her real estate practice that helps clients achieve their goals. With an eye for detail and a creative problem solving approach, Johnna has closed some of the most complex, sophisticated, and high profile real estate deals in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Johnna’s thoughtful work and collaborative style have made her a trusted and sought after advisor and deal closer.
Johnna understands the technical aspects of working with local and state governments on real estate matters. Johnna was lead in-house counsel for many of the City of Atlanta's major real estate transactions during her tenure with the City. Johnna also has extensive experience in private practice representing owners, developers, landlords, tenants, and financial institutions in a wide array of commercial real estate transactions.
Johnna’s deal-focused approach drives her practice philosophy. Johnna is committed to providing high quality legal services and value to her clients. Johnna’s ability to achieve results is highly regarded by both clients and opposing parties.
experience
- Represented a developer in the sale of multiple retail parcels located in Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood and a bond split transaction with The Atlanta Development Authority d/b/a Invest Atlanta.
- Represented a developer in the land acquisition, formation of a joint venture with prominent private equity firm, and the closing of construction financing for the development of a 300-unit apartment complex located in the City of South Fulton, Georgia.
- Served as borrower’s counsel in the refinancing of a redevelopment project located in South Atlanta containing over a 1.1 million sf of mixed use space and more than 140 tenants and subject to a bonds for title lease with the Fulton County Development Authority.
- Represented a private equity firm in the sale and assignment of a Freddie Mac loan for a mixed use development located in Atlanta’s West Midtown area.
- Represented a developer in the land sale, negotiation of a joint venture agreement, and negotiations with multiple public and private entities for development approvals and infrastructure improvements for the development of a grocery store anchored shopping center located in Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood.
- Represented a developer in the sale of a 500-unit apartment complex in Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood.
- Represent medical and dentistry practices in the negotiation of leases and lease amendments for medical office space across Georgia.
- Represent national beauty and clothing retailers in leasing transactions across the United States.
- Represent national and regional restaurants in leasing transactions across the United States.
- Piedmont Park Expansion, finalist, “2018 Best Land Deal of the Year,” Atlanta Business Chronicle
Counsel for the City of Atlanta in the purchase of a retail development for the expansion of Piedmont Park and trail connection to the Atlanta BeltLine.* - Counsel for the City of Atlanta in real estate matters related to the redevelopment of the Gulch by CIM.*
- Counsel for the City of Atlanta in the transfer of the Atlanta Streetcar operations and assets to MARTA.*
- Counsel for the City of Atlanta in the resolution of long-standing dispute with Atlanta Public Schools (APS) resulting in the conveyance of multiple properties to APS.*
- Counsel for the City of Atlanta in the sale of the Atlanta Civic Center to the Atlanta Housing Authority.*
- Counsel for the City of Atlanta in the transfer to the State of Georgia of the Bobby Jones Golf Course and Bitsy Grant Tennis Center in exchange for certain properties located in Downtown Atlanta. The transfer included the negotiation of multiple easements and ground leases for the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center and the Bobby Jones Clubhouse.*
- Counsel for the City of Atlanta in the sale of Underground Atlanta to WRS, Inc. The sale of Underground Atlanta is widely considered one of the most complicated real estate transactions in the City’s history.*
- Counsel for the City of Atlanta in the sale of Turner Field.*
- Counsel for the City of Atlanta in the acquisition of property for the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation and Aquatic Center.*
- Counsel for the City of Atlanta in the sublease of office space in the historic Flatiron Building for the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative. The office space is used as an incubator for Atlanta women entrepreneurs and community engagement activities.*
- Counsel for the City of Atlanta in the purchase of City Plaza, located adjacent to Atlanta City Hall, for the City's state of the art Wellness Center that includes an employee fitness center and onsite medical clinic.*
- Represented physician’s group in multiple transactions involving the purchase, development, and financing of multi-million dollar medical office buildings and sophisticated ground lease transactions with a major Atlanta hospital.*
- Represented tenants in the lease of office space at Phipps Tower and Brookwood Exchange in Atlanta, Milton Park in Alpharetta and Northchase Business Park in Marietta.*
- Represented the FDIC and national servicers in numerous commercial real estate foreclosures, UCC sales, settlement agreements, and loan modifications.*
- Represented nonprofit corporations in the sale of multi-family HUD properties to a developer.*
* Denotes experience prior to joining Parker Hudson.
thought leadership
- Panelist, Georgia State University College of Law (2020)
- Author, "Bright Outlook for Westside Future Fund," Commercial Real Estate Women of Atlanta (CREW) blog, (2018)
- Panelist, Georgia State University School of Law, Professional Development Seminar (2017)
- Guest Lecturer, Georgia State University School of Law, Urban Redevelopment Law Seminar (2017)
- Discussion Leader, University of Georgia School of Law, First Year Professionalism Orientation (2016)
areas of focus
- Real Estate
- Real Estate Transactions
education
- Tulane University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1995); National Moot Court Team (1994-95)
- University of Georgia (B.A., cum laude, 1991)
accolades
- Selected as one of the “Leaders of the Year” for Bisnow's Women Leading Real Estate Award (2023)
- Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law (2021-2024)
- Leadership CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women of Atlanta), Class of 2018
- Piedmont Park Expansion, finalist, “2018 Best Land Deal of the Year,” Atlanta Business Chronicle
professional affiliations
- Serves on the Firm's Diversity Committee (Chair) and Mentor Project Team
- Board Member, Central Atlanta Progress
- Member, Commercial Real Estate Women of Atlanta (CREW); Advanced CREW Experience (ACE) Committee, (2019-2021); Programs Committee, (2017-18)
- Co-Chair, CREW ACE Committee (2020-2021)
- Member, State Bar of Georgia, Real Property Law Section
- Steering Committee Member, State Bar of Georgia Diversity Program
- Member, Urban Land Institute
- Member, International Council of Shopping Centers
- Adjunct Professor, Emory Law School (Spring 2015)
admitted to practice
- Georgia