Our Team
Bret J Chaness
PartnerMr. Chaness is a Partner and a member of the Litigation Department. His primary practice areas include real estate litigation, mortgage servicing and foreclosure litigation, and bankruptcy litigation. He represents clients in a wide variety of complex civil litigation and bankruptcy matters involving contract disputes, real estate and quiet title actions, and lien priority actions. His experience also includes successfully briefing and arguing numerous appeals in state and federal courts. He is active with the State Bar of Georgia’s Real Property Law Section, where he serves on the section’s Executive Committee and is the chair of the litigation subcommittee. Mr. Chaness has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for 2020 and 2021.
Practice Areas
- Litigation (Federal and State)
- Real Estate Title
- Banking Regulatory Compliance and Litigation involving T.I.L.A., R.E.S.P.A., and F.D.C.P.A. issues regarding mortgage servicing and foreclosure practices
- Creditor’s Rights
- Commercial Leasing
- Bankruptcy Litigation involving lien avoidance, preference, and other contested and adversary proceedings related to lenders’ security interests
Education
- J.D., Emory University School of Law (2012)
- B.A., University of Michigan (2008)
Admissions
- Licensed In: Georgia, Tennessee
- Admitted to Practice Before:
- Georgia Supreme Court
- All Georgia trial and appellate courts
- All Tennessee trial and appellate courts
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Sixth, and Eleventh Circuits
- United States District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Georgia
- United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Tennessee
Involvement
- Member, State Bar of Georgia – Executive Committee/Litigation Chair of Real Property Section, Bankruptcy Section
- Member, Tennessee Bar Association
- Member, Legal Issues Committee, United States Financial Network (USFN)