Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
5.0 /5.0
14 Client Reviews
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John Clifford Lantz
also known as Cliff Lantz, J. Clifford Lantz
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About John
Biography
J. Clifford Lantz, J.D., M.B.A., B.A. Cliff Lantz is a commercial real estate attorney and a principal, manager, and operator of investment properties. As an attorney, he currently represents a variety of commercial real estate clients, via his law firm The Lantz Law Firm, LLC, including a solar energy company backed by one of the largest private equity firms in the world, which has active projects across the United States. Mr. Lantz previously worked for Axiom Global, Inc. (“Axiom”), a 1,200+ person firm (with over 1,000 attorneys with AmLaw 100 experience) serving over half of the Fortune 100 companies (website: www.axiomlaw.com). At Axiom, he was on consulting assignments with large national and international clients, including Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., based in Pasadena, CA (website: http://www.are.com/ ; NYSE: ARE) and Delta Air Lines, Inc., based in Atlanta, GA (website: https://www.delta.com/ ; NYSE: DAL), assisting with real estate legal matters. He previously completed an in-house consulting assignment with Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. (“JLL”), based in Chicago, Illinois, acting as real estate counsel and advisor. JLL (website: www.us.jll.com ; NYSE: JLL) is one of the largest commercial real estate services and investment management firms in the world. Mr. Lantz formerly practiced law in the Atlanta office of Alston & Bird, LLP, one of the largest law firms based in Atlanta and a national AmLaw 100 Firm. He has worked in the real estate industry for over 25 years as a professional and as an owner-operator. His experience includes real estate acquisitions and dispositions, development, leasing, entity structuring, capital raising, joint ventures, REITs, TICs, I.R.C. Sections 1031 and 1033 tax-deferred exchange transactions, and real estate finance. Mr. Lantz has experience in retail, office, multifamily, flex-space, and industrial property transactions.
Mr. Lantz has represented a number of national corporations, universities, real estate funds, and commercial real estate companies in real estate transactions, including: Alliance Residential Company, Atlanta Gas Light Company, Auburn University, Avanti Strategic Land Investors, BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc., The Carlos Company, Carter & Associates, Carter’s Retail, Inc., Clarion Partners/ING, Colliers International, Delta Air Lines, Inc., Duke Realty Corporation, Emory University, Home Depot, U.S.A., Honeywell International, Inc., Host Marriott Corporation, Imerys Clays, Inc., Industrial Developments International (IDI), Intercontinental Hotels Group (including Holiday Inn brand), Kinder Morgan Power Company, McKesson Corporation, Miller Industries, Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund, Pope & Land Enterprises, Regent Partners, RREEF Property Trust (pension fund advisor), Southeastern Property Development, Triad Properties Corp., and Triple Net Properties / Grubb & Ellis.
Mr. Lantz is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Atlanta Apartment Association, and the National Apartment Association. He is a Certified Apartment Manager and a licensed Georgia real estate salesperson. He has been a speaker at conferences around the country and in the Atlanta area regarding real estate transactional and finance topics.
Mr. Lantz has been active as a principal in purchasing, renovating, managing, and repositioning commercial properties in the Greater Atlanta Metropolitan Area. While in that role, he gained broad experience in negotiating with purchasers, sellers, lenders, brokers, contractors, vendors, and other key business players. In the multifamily sector, he has ownership experience in as-built properties, new construction, property renovations, and condominium conversions.
Mr. Lantz received a Certificate in Real Estate Management from Harvard Business School. He earned a Juris Doctor degree, with honors, from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was a Managing Editor of the Emory Law Journal and a Dean's Teaching Fellow. He also earned a Master in Business Administration degree from Emory University's Goizueta Business School, where he co-founded the Goizueta Real Estate Group, a student group focused on the commercial real estate industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he focused on politics and economics. While in school, Mr. Lantz had work experience with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc., the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Enforcement Division), and Bass Hotels and Resorts.
Mr. Lantz is a Board of Advisors member and former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nicholas House, Inc., a non-profit organization that is focused on helping families transition from homelessness to self- sufficiency. He was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, and attended Decatur High School.
REPRESENTATIVE TRANSACTIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Represented client in real estate aspects of $12.5B international merger transaction, which included properties in 22 countries, and complex management transition issues.
- Represented university client in large ground lease mixed-use development transaction, which involved a master condominium structure, option agreements, and development/construction issues, and was one of the year’s largest private development starts in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Negotiated large lease transactions and drafted airport agreements for international airline company.
- Revised international retail client’s form lease and negotiated retail lease agreements.
- Acted as real estate counsel for client in $4.7B international corporate acquisition, which included properties located in 9 countries.
- Represented client in two large mixed-use developments, one valued at over $1B, which involved complex development documents, master condominium structures and restrictions, ground lease issues, and included hotel, retail, office, and residential components.
- Negotiated office acquisition/disposition transactions for Chicago office of international pension fund advisor.
- Acted as outside counsel for large international retailer, with focused representation on new development deals, including ground lease structures, and related development/construction documents.
- Negotiated joint venture and partnership agreements for real estate acquisition and development transactions.
- Represented retail client in master ground lease redevelopment transaction in New Jersey, which involved multiple parcels, lot consolidation, development and construction agreements, condemnation and re-zoning issues, new financing, and environmental remediation.
- Handled acquisition, loan negotiation, and joint venture work for large California-based REIT which acquired and operated retail, office and multifamily properties.
- Acted as real estate counsel for national retailer, in revising its commercial lease forms and pre-drafted compromise provisions.
- Represented large national industrial property developer in acquisition, financing, joint venture, development, leasing, and disposition transactions.
- Acted as counsel for private lender for real estate acquisition and development deals.
- Closed sale of @$100M office tower for client in Atlanta, GA, including negotiation of the PSA, facilitating due diligence for the purchaser, obtaining tenant estoppels, and handling all aspects of closing.
- Negotiated life company and agency debt for commercial property acquisitions.
- Handled multiple acquisitions and developments in GA and FL for national multifamily developer, each of which included demolition and construction of developments averaging roughly $30M each.
- Represented client in the transfer of $150M+ international hotel portfolio and negotiated its management agreement and associated documents for post-closing operation.
- Negotiated joint venture, acquisition, and development documents relating to client’s acquisition and development of $100M+ apartment community in Florida.
- Drafted loan documents for lenders in various loan transactions, which included commitment letters, loan agreements, notes, guaranties, opinion letters, other loan package documents, intercreditor agreements, etc.
- Acted as lead real estate attorney for medical office acquisitions for California-based medical office REIT.
- Negotiated New York office lease for financial services client.
- Closed multiple tenancy in common (“TIC”) acquisitions for client, which included drafting of TIC documents, management agreements, acquisition documents and loan documents.
- Represented client in tri-party transaction involving the acquisition of a top hotel in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Negotiated for purchase of $50M+ office building in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Directed client’s transition to a new real estate and finance software system designed to manage all of client’s retail and corporate portfolios.
- Represented several universities in mixed use developments and related joint ventures.
- Drafted master services agreement for real estate management services of a global corporate portfolio and worked with local counsel to negotiate related local country agreements.
I believe in firmly representing a client's interests, while also striving to find creative solutions to negotiation roadblocks, in order to facilitate successful transactions and business operations.
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Business
34%
Energy and Utilities
33%
Real Estate
33%
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Check
- Credit Card
Licenses
Licensed in Georgia for 24 years
State: Georgia
Acquired: 2001
No misconduct found
Location
The Lantz Law Firm LLC
1201 Peachtree St NE Ste 300, 400 Colony Square, Atlanta, GA, 30361-6340
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John Clifford Lantz's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 6 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Donald | December 31, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Adding layers of sophistication, so sellers take your offers seriously.
I have been working with John Lantz since 2020 on many successful commercial real estate acquisitions, subsequent property management engagements, and sales. During the acquisition phase, John coached me up on how to acquire commercial properties as a sophisticated buyer. During the property mana...
Posted by Kael | December 23, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Excellent Real Estate Lawyer
Cliff provides excellent legal service. He always meets deadlines and is a strong negotiator. Cliff often handles multiple tasks and provides the needed amount of attention and detail to each task. I would highly recommend Cliff for real estate legal needs.
Posted by Seth | December 23, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Highly Recommended Lawyer
I have worked with Cliff for the last 3 years on a variety of legal matters. Cliff is attentive, knowledgeable and communicates clearly. I highly recommend Cliff for any business or property legal work.
Posted by Chris | December 23, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Cliff Lantz- Real Estate Legal Review
Cliff Lantz is a great real estate attorney—knowledgeable, responsive, and a true professional. He is thoroughly knowledgeable about the entire real estate legal process, anticipated issues before they arose, and made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Consistently provides unique problem-sol...
Posted by John | December 10, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Great real estate attorney.
Cliff has been responsive to business needs and is very knowledgeable about real estate issues, transactions, and needs that have helped support multiple transactions I have worked on with him over the last few years. Cliff seems to have dealt with all manners of issues, which has helped me avoid va...
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Experience
Honors
2025
Excellence in Real Estate Law, Lawyers of Distinction
2025
Real Estate Law, Elite Lawyer
Work Experience
2020 - Present
Attorney & Owner, The Lantz Law Firm, LLC
2012 - 2019
Consulting Attorney, Axiom Global, Inc.
Associations
International Council of Shopping Centers
Member
National Apartment Association
Member
Atlanta Apartment Association
Member
Education
2025
Harvard Business School
Certificate in Real Estate Management
2000
Emory University School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2000
Emory Goizueta Business School
MBA - Master of Business Administration
1996
Colorado College
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2011
Georgia Real Property Institute
Raising Capital for Real Estate Transactions
2010
Atlanta CCIM Meeting
Capital Markets and Equity Panel
2008
Vail National CLE Conference
LEED Certification
2008
Grubb & Ellis National Meeting
Real Estate Management and Brokerage Agreements
2007
Real Estate Development from Beginning to End Seminar
Joint Ventures in Real Estate
2007
Easements Seminar
Restrictive Covenants and Easements in Mixed Use Developments
2007
Condominiums: Opportunities and Pitfalls Seminar
Condominium Development Risks and Insurance
2007
Alston & Bird LLP Presentation
Tenancies in Common (TICs)
2006
Real Estate from Beginning to End Seminar
Acquisition Entities and Structures
2006
National Apartment Association Law Conference
LEED Certification
2006
ICSC Law Conference
Real Estate Brokerage Agreements
Languages
English