For almost 25 years, Mark has been practicing construction law throughout the State of Georgia. He remains active in many professional organizations, he speaks and lectures extensively on Georgia’s Mechanics and Materialmen’s Law, payment bonds and construction contracting. In addition, he publishes on similar topics regularly. In fact, Mark is currently working on a 50 State Lien Law publication for the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry.
Born in Pensacola, Mark credits his personal success with the Christian values instilled by his parents. He was fortunate to learn from great teachers and mentors the value of a hard-day’s work and honesty, and he always enjoyed school. In college, Mark majored in English literature, but he had a double-minor in political science and economics where he was a member of serval honor societies including the prestigious Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) as well as the English and the Political Science honor socities. While in college, Mark managed a 25-person staff of writers and editors for the weekly student newspaper. Under Mark’s leadersihp, the newspaper earned the highest honor from the Georgia College Press Association, and Mark the importance of deadlines, business revenues, and integrity.
After college, Mark matriculated at the top-tier Washington and Lee University School of Law. Here, he excelled in his coursework, served as a faculty research assistant working on a Freedom on Information Act project. His classmates elected him to serve all three years on the 13-member Exceutive Committee which oversaw the honor code for the entire university. Here, Mark’s concepts on honesty and integrity were tested and strengthened in the most remarkable ways.
In addition to his impressive education, Mark’s jobs experience has continued to mold his talents. His earliest jobs–working as a runner for Boling, Rice & Bettis and his tenure at the Florida District Attorney’s Office–taught him to be punctual and to always return telephone calls (now, emails and texts!) During the summers between law school, Mark held several jobs but remembers his time at Mosely, Taylor and Joyner in Jacksonville, Florida most fondly. Here, he worked on complex litigation matters involving maritime and contract law.
After law school, Mark moved to Atlanta to work for a small boutique law firm. Although he performed varying research and ligation task for the various partners, Mark quickly excelled in the area of Georgia construction law. In fact, his first client helped solidify his unique concentration in materialmen liens and payment bond law. This same client ask Mark to develop a procedure for sending Notices to Owners, preparing liens, and other tools useful for the construction industry.
After making partner at his firm, Mark opened his own firm. Until recently, clients learned about Mark exclusively through word-of-mouth. In 2007, Mark and his wife took a sabbatical to France. Upon his return, Mark enthusiastically approached the state-wide practice of construction law with new zeal and determination. He moved the filed into the clouds, improved, the communications network, opened a second office, hired additional attorneys, and began marketing his firm to all types of construction professionals.
Mark is married and has two beautiful children, and an English setter. He is active at All Saints Episcopal Church where he recently completed his term as a Verstyman. Mark is currently the chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Vashti Center which operates a $4M annual budget for the children with psychological and psychiatric issues; he is the treasure and immediate past-president of the local Washington and Lee Alumni Chapter, treasurer of the Southwest Georgia Technical College Foundation, and treasurer of the Thomasville Antique Show Foundation. In addition to his personal and professional interests, Mark enjoys tennis, wingshooting, and fly-fishing.
- 50-State Lien Law Guild, Contributing Editor, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, anticipated publication fall 2015
- Anamay of a “Claim of Lien”, The Seminar Group, October 1, 2015
- Georgia Material Supplier Collection Handbook, Author, 2014
- Construction Subcontracting: A Comprehensive Practical and Legal Guide, Co-Author on Chapter 4, Subcontractor Payment, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry
- 2015 Shaken Not Stirred: Bond, Payment Bond. The Fundamentals of Federal, State & Municipal Payment Bonds, AGC of Georgia, 2nd Annual 2015 Construction Professionals Conference & Marketplace, presenter, April 2015
- Georgia Construction Law, Thomas University, adjunct faculty, Spring term 2015
- Free Things You Can Do to Create Better Construction Contracts, Cabinet Makers Association webinar, presenter, January 2015
- Georgia Construction Law Basics, Atlanta Business Radio, co-presenter,January 2015
- Compare and Contrast, Georgia & Alabama’s Lien Laws, Construction Suppliers Association sponsored Roundtable, November 2014
- Contract Liabilities and Issues for Design Professionals, HalfMoon Education, Inc., August 2014
- Methods to Improve Collection: Using Georgia’s Lien and Bond Law to a Supplier’s Advantage, In-house presentation to clients and contacts, February 2015, co-presenter
- Best Practices for Construction Contracting, AGC of Georgia, 1st Annual 2014 Construction Professionals Conference & Marketplace, presenter, April 2014
- How to Effectively Use Georgia Mechanics and Materialman Lien Laws, AGC Georgia, Top Construction Issues, presenter, December 2013