When the Due West Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir needed a soprano for their scheduled pre-game National Anthem performance at the August 13th Atlanta Braves game, they knew where to turn for help.  Two of their members have a relative, Stephanie Woodall, who is the music director at a nearby church.  Stephanie was available, and after working her "day job" as Legal Assistant to attorney Todd Westfall, she joined the group to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" at Turner Field. 

Stephanie has a B.S. in Music from Valley Forge Christian College.  As a professional singer, she travelled for two years performing throughout the United States, Asia, South America, Central America and Europe.

Stephanie is a busy wife and mother of two in addition to her Legal Administrative career.  She continues to sing at church and also serves as a soloist for private affairs.  Stephanie describes her National Anthem performance as a "once in a lifetime opportunity and tons of fun!"

The Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia Commercial Property Group held its quarterly meeting on June 24, 2010. Coordinated by M. Todd Westfall of Howick, Westfall, McBryan & Kaplan, LLP, the group meets quarterly for a networking luncheon.

David Haddow, CRE, President of Haddow & Company, served as this month’s speaker.  Haddow & Company is an Atlanta based real estate consulting firm founded in 1989 by David Haddow. The company represents individual and institutional clients in commercial and real estate investments.  In addition to his consulting business, Mr. Haddow is a part-time instructor at the College of Business Administration at Georgia State University and the College of Architecture at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Mr. Haddow discussed Atlanta area trends in economic development for the past decade, explaining the relationship among three key economic indicators: population, unemployment rates and housing permits. Of special note was Mr. Haddow’s “10 Reasons For Optimism About Atlanta’s Economic Future” as follows:   

1. Strong Population Growth
2. Favorable Employment/Population Ratio
3. Continued Corporate Relocations and Expansions
4. Intrinsic Business Advantages
5. Job Growth Capacity
6. Economic Shocks Absorbed
7. Emerging Industries
8. Vital Distribution Center
9. Major Research Universities
10. Improving National Economy

 Mr. Haddow’s entire article may be found at: 

http://haddowandcompany.com/marketdata/Haddow's%20Real%20News%20-%202nd%20Quarter%202010.pdf, Haddow’s Real News, Second Quarter 2010.

In May 2007, Atlanta lawyers Susan Howick, Todd Westfall, Lou McBryan, and Mike Kaplan formed Howick, Westfall, McBryan, & Kaplan, LLP. Their law firm was established in Cobb County, very close to major highways, providing service to the entire metro Atlanta area. Having practiced together for many years at a downtown firm, the new partnership was immediately successful. The firm offers expertise in the areas of real estate, commercial litigation, lending, creditors' rights, bankruptcy, and domestic relations. Combining experience, innovation, and commitment, Howick, Westfall, McBryan, & Kaplan, LLP delivers efficient and cost-effective legal services at the highest level.

May 2010 marks the firm's third anniversary. Working with website designer, The Modern Firm, an updated and comprehensive website was developed and launched in June 2010. As a service to their banking clients, properties for sale are listed on the new website and may be accessed via the home page. Attorney profiles include contact numbers and links to email addresses. Firm news and relevant updates are easily navigated throughout the site. You can visit the new website at www.hwmklaw.com.

When the Cherokee County Airport Authority proposed the construction of a new 10,000 square foot two-story terminal building along with the expansion of the runway and taxiways back in 2006, S&S Aviation realized they would need a concomitant expansion of their business and a relocation of their maintenance and storage facilities.  S&S knew they could rely on their longtime attorney to help them navigate the lengthy and complex Federal Aviation Authority requirements and the lease negotiations for the airport facilities.  M. Todd Westfall, managing partner at Howick, Westfall, McBryan & Kaplan, LLP, has represented S&S Aviation since 1995. Utilizing his broadly based expertise in real estate, transaction and aviation law, Mr. Westfall helped guide the fixed base operator at Cherokee County Airport through a variety of legal challenges involving the lease negotiations and outside financing arrangements.

“Todd has provided us with great service.  Without him, we wouldn’t have this business, our lease or our financing.”  Coleman Sutton, President, S&S Aviation

The expanded Cherokee County Airport is a tremendous economic asset for Cherokee County.  Howick, Westfall, McBryan & Kaplan, LLP is honored to have participated in the process on behalf of its long-standing client, S&S Aviation.

Virginia Bogue, an associate in the Bankruptcy Group at Howick, Westfall, McBryan, & Kaplan, LLP, served as a featured speaker at the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s 2010 Real Property Foreclosure Seminar, which is sponsored by the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia.  The seminar took place on April 1, 2010, at the State Bar of Georgia Headquarters. Ms. Bogue gave an update on bankruptcy in the State of Georgia and motions to strip junior liens in bankruptcy cases.

The 2010 Foreclosure Seminar was attended by more than 130 attorneys who practice law in the State of Georgia.  Ms. Bogue was joined by several other attorneys and business experts assembled for the day-long continuing legal education program.

Ms. Bogue has been with Howick, Westfall, McBryan, & Kaplan, LLP since 2007.  Her practice is confined to bankruptcy and creditors' rights.

Every year since 2000, M. Todd Westfall, managing partner at Howick, Westfall, McBryan, & Kaplan, LLP, has served as chairperson for the Institute of Continuing Education of Georgia and the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia’s spring foreclosure seminar.  The seminar, Real Property Foreclosure, was held April 1, 2010 at the State Bar of Georgia Building in Atlanta.  This seminar has long been recognized as the preeminent seminar for foreclosure attorneys in Georgia.  Over 130 Georgia lawyers attended the day-long event and an additional 30 attendees participated via telecast in Tifton and Savannah, Georgia.   Attendees earned 6 Continuing Legal Education Units for their participation.

As chairperson, Mr. Westfall has several distinct responsibilities.  Two of the most important are choosing relevant seminar topics and selecting appropriate speakers. Mr. Westfall’s unique insight to the foreclosure practice, having conducted literally thousands of foreclosures over the past 25 years, gives him a keen understanding into the subtle nuances of the foreclosure process and real world practical solutions to the issues that face foreclosure attorneys.  His longevity in the practice also provides an opportunity to identify those presenters who can make substantial contributions to the seminar.

The 2010 seminar presenters featured over a dozen attorneys with foreclosure related expertise. Three other non-legal professionals gave presentations geared to the foreclosure process from the architectural, engineering and business perspectives.

Lawrence F. Jones, Executive Director of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, wrote in the Seminar’s Written Material Foreword, “The Institute is especially grateful to our outstanding seminar chairperson, M. Todd Westfall, for providing the necessary leadership, organization, and supervision that has brought this program into a reality.”

Recognizing that the practice of law is paper-intensive, the Atlanta law firm Howick, Westfall, McBryan & Kaplan has taken steps to conserve energy usage and minimize the consumption of natural resources.  Partnering with the ABA-EPA, the firm has adopted “best management” office paper management practices, including recycling at least 90% of mixed office paper, and purchasing paper with at least 30% post consumer recycled content. Where practical, copiers and printers are set to provide double-sided copying and printing for all drafts and internal documents. In addition, the firm recycles 100% of their aluminum cans. The office uses a water cooler, washable coffee mugs, glassware, plates and flatware. The law firm’s emails contain a tag line recognizing the Law Office Climate Challenge Partner certification.

Howick, Westfall, McBryan, & Kaplan, LLP is pleased to announce that Lou McBryan was selected for Georgia Trend magazine’s 2009 Georgia Legal Elite in the areas of bankruptcy and creditors’ rights.  Mr. McBryan has been a partner with the firm since its formation in May 2007.

Georgia Trend magazine is a state-wide business publication that offers an analysis of business and political trends around the state.  Each year, the magazine sends questionnaires to several thousand Georgia lawyers asking for attorney nominations on whom they consider the most effective in ten different practice categories.  After the ballots are cast, the top ranking attorneys are selected for Legal Elite.  2009 was the seventh annual edition of the list.