James “Fitz” Powers is an attorney with the Firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. Fitz represents real estate owners, developers, investors and businesses in a broad range of commercial real estate matters, including acquisitions and dispositions, commercial leasing, real estate finance and other transactional matters.

Prior to joining the Firm, Fitz served as Director, Real Estate Counsel for a leading equipment rental company, where he oversaw legal matters involving a portfolio of more than 1,200 locations throughout the United States and Canada. In that role, Fitz led the review, negotiation and drafting of leases, subleases, purchase and sale agreements, license agreements, estoppels, SNDAs and other real estate documentation. He also advised on property-level due diligence, including title, survey, zoning and environmental matters, and coordinated the real estate aspects of corporate acquisitions.

Fitz’s experience working as in-house real estate counsel gives him a practical understanding of the business considerations underlying commercial real estate transactions. He works with clients to identify and address legal and transactional risks while keeping their broader business objectives and the practical demands of getting a deal completed in focus.

Earlier in his career, Fitz practiced at a large international law firm in Charlotte, where he represented financial institutions and real estate finance companies in commercial real estate financing transactions. He also represented national clients in the negotiation and preparation of commercial leases and related documentation.

Fitz received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he served as an Articles and Notes Editor of the North Carolina Banking Institute Journal. He earned his B.A. in Economics from the University of Notre Dame and later received a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Northwestern University.