CBA Preferred Service Provider Spotlight – Dan Brannan, James Bates Brannan Groover Dan Brannan Partner James Bates Brannan Groover
In this issue, CBA is pleased to feature Dan Brannan, Partner, James Bates Brannan Groover LLP, in Atlanta. CBA invited Dan to participate in a Q & A so you can learn a little more about Dan and his firm. Tell us about James Bates Brannan Groover and your role with the company: Our firm is a full-service business law firm with robust statewide practices in the areas of (i) community financial institutions, (ii) commercial real estate, (iii) general corporate, (iv) tax & wealth planning, and (v) commercial litigation. We have approximately 60 lawyers with offices currently in Atlanta and Macon;
we plan to open our Athens office later this year. Although my practice involves most of our practice areas to some degree, I’m very active in our community bank practice and our commercial real estate practice. In addition, I serve on our firm’s management committee. Most importantly, I strive daily to live by and model our firm’s core values of integrity, servant leadership, respect for others and pursuit of excellence.
SPOTLIGHT
group sums it up: “Serving community banks and community bank executives and directors throughout Georgia.” We provide advice and services statewide to community banks on all types of legal issues and practical business/ operational issues encountered on a daily basis. Our services include, without limitation, de novo bank representation, board representation, advice for C-Suite personnel, capital formation, M&A, commercial loan closings, litigation, executive compensation and employee relations.
What types of inquiries does your firm receive from banks on the free CBA Legal Hotline? As you may imagine, the types of inquiries we receive on the CBA Legal Hotline are all across the board. We receive a high frequency of inquiries concerning issues with trusts, wills, powers of attorney, deposit accounts of deceased customers, subpoena responses and BSA/AML. Our involvement with the CBA Legal Hotline really helps us keep our finger on the pulse of daily issues confronted by Georgia community banks. It is a privilege for us to provide that service to CBA member banks. Tell us a few interesting facts about you. I’m afraid there is not much here. Generally, I have a “glass half-full” outlook. I am as uncomplicated, low-
maintenance and Georgia “homegrown” as anyone you will ever know. Born in Atlanta, raised in McDonough, never left Georgia for college or law school and married an Atlanta hometown girl. In the “interesting facts” department, just the usual stuff. When I was in college, I wrestled (and pinned briefly) Victor the Wrestling Bear in an exhibition match at the Georgia World Congress Center. I, like most others, typically wear a kilt a couple of times a year (usually to our firm Christmas party). What do you do for fun outside of work? Our three daughters, their husbands and our four grandchildren all live within 10 minutes of us, so we enjoy spending a great deal of time with all of them at our home in Atlanta or our family retreat at Lake Oconee. I am keenly interested in UGA football, and I enjoy keeping up with the Braves. I also enjoy time outdoors wing shooting, fly fishing and playing golf. Last, but not least, no week would be complete for me without a few trips to Bones to stay connected with good friends, including Isabel and her great team there.
How do you help Georgia’s Community Banks? The tag line we use in communications from our community bank practice S e p t e m b e r / Oc t ob e r 2 0 2 0 | G e or g i a C o m m un i ti es F i rs t | 19
