Cynthia Montgomery has been a commercial real estate attorney with Gray Robinson law firm since November 2007. Her areas of practice include commercial real estate and commercial lending work both real estate and non-real estate based.
She has represented publicly traded companies and private clients in areas including acquisitions and dispositions; land development including commercial, mixed use and residential; leasing including office, ground and commercial; financing as far as lender and borrower representation, joint ventures and Florida local counsel work; and other various commercial real estate matters.
CHANGING PLACES
“They were litigation only and just last year, they expanded into transactional work, so one of my partners at Akerman and Senterfitt came over start the transactional department and wooed me over.”
HER HISTORY?
When Montgomery graduated from college, she went to work for Akerman Senterfitt in Orlando doing real estate law for three and a half years. Then she moved to an Atlanta firm where she worked for five years. At this point, she started to realize she needed more to life, so she left law and went to seminary for two years.
Then she went back to Rogers and Hardin part-time while in seminary and then returned to Akerman Senterfitt in Jacksonville for five more years before taking the position with Gray Robinson.
FUTURE OF WOMEN IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY?
“I do see a good number of women in the commercial real estate industry these days. I’ve been doing commercial real estate law for 16 years and I see more and more women. I find there are more women with whom I work including in-house counsel, loan officers, brokers and leasing agents. It’s easier to practice in this field when there are more women because then it’s not all about playing golf and drinking beer at the bar. Not that all men are like that, of course. About four years ago, I started finding more of the male lawyers I worked with throughout the country were much more receptive to treating me as an equal because they had daughters who were starting to get involved in this field.”
COLLEGE
Bachelor’s in media and theater studies from Rhodes College, law degree from the University of Florida and a master’s in divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary.
HOW DID SHE GET FROM MEDIA AND THEATER STUDIES TO THE LAW?
Montgomery’s father is an attorney. While in college, she worked in a summer studies program in England. “I became good friends with a barrister over there and he took me under his wing and actually let me go with him to court. He also taught a course in comparative constitutional law, so I really became enamored with the law. I went to law school. I loved law school and I love the practice of law and the stuff that we do.”
WHY BECOME A MINISTER?
After practicing law for a while, she felt called to go to seminary school and do something more important with her life.
WHERE DO YOU PREACH?
Middleburg Presbyterian Church every other Sunday.
HOW DOES BEING A MINISTER HELP YOU IN THE LEGAL WORLD?
“It helps me to put things into perspective. You get very caught up in your client’s cause or your position in a deal, but it helps me see that at the end of the day what we do is simply what we do. It’s not that important in big scheme of life. In the big scheme of life, family and friends are much more important. It also helps me to recognize that each person I deal with is a human being that is totally separate and apart from their job. It helps give you perspective and helps you to realize that the people you deal with every day are valued human beings without regard to why or how you are encountering them.”
WHO ARE HER CLIENTS?
Developers, loan officers, landlords and tenants.
ISSUES FACING THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY?
“As the builders know, money is much tighter. I’m also finding that the banks are requiring additional equity contributions or pay downs for transactions, so not only is borrowing money becoming harder if you have money or loans with existing lenders, they are tightening up the requirements on you.”
MENTOR?
Montgomery cites Terry Moore, her partner at Gray Robinson. “He’s very good about introducing me to people when we are out and about, which I think is very important from a mentor. He let’s me run with matters and issues and is generally supportive. I think a good mentor is someone who lets you fly on your own and assists you at the appropriate points.”
FAVORITE THING ABOUT HER JOB?
“Helping people.”
BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE EVER RECEIVED?
“Return your phone calls.”
KEYS TO SUCCESS?
“To do lists and multi-tasking.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
Commercial Real Estate Women of Jacksonville, Florida Bar and Jacksonville Bar.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis