5 QUESTIONS WITH... Meg Scoopmire

Meg Scoopmire is a shareholder and co-leader of the real estate practice group at Haynsworth, Sinkler, Boyd in Greenville. With a practice that focuses on commercial real estate, she advises clients on title matters, permitting and entitlement, financing, leasing, acquisition and disposition. Scoopmire has extensive experience drafting and negotiating real estate transaction documents, including purchase and sale agreements, deeds, mortgages, commercial leases, ground leases, easements, estoppels and subordination agreements.

A 1991 graduate of Furman University, Scoopmire earned her B.A. in political science before going on to receive a J.D. from University of South Carolina School of Law in 1998.

Scoopmire volunteers at a number of organizations including Meals on Wheels of Greenville and Crew Upstate South Carolina, and she’s a member of the board of directors for Jasmine Road and the American College of Mortgage Attorneys.

Q: What is the importance of mentorship and community in the legal profession? Who are some of the most influential mentors you’ve had, and what did they teach you?

A: Transitioning from law school to the practice of law and then building and maintaining a law practice can be difficult and challenging. There is a business to being a lawyer and managing the ins and outs of a caseload, business development, staffing and other office matters, client expectations, and the inevitable tough [issues] that arise can be difficult. Mentorship and community are critical components for the successful navigation of all those matters and more in a career as a legal professional. I have been very fortunate to have mentors at almost every step in my professional life. It began with a local lawyer who encouraged my interest in the law during college and continues to this day. They have taught me more than I have space to answer. Most importantly, though, they validated that practicing law is challenging and can make you feel inadequate, isolated or anxious, and reminded me all along that when those difficulties arise, there is always a solution and people willing to help find it.

Q: What about real estate law initially attracted you? How has this evolved since you began practicing?

A: I enjoyed the client interaction, the organization and process of a real estate closing, the variety of matters, and the more immediate results. Those are still the aspects of my practice that I enjoy the most.

Q: What have you noted as the key differences between residential and commercial real estate law?

A: For the client, key differences can include the use of the property, purchase price, timeline of the transaction, and the level of property investigation. For the lawyer, key differences can include volume of transactions, depth and breadth of due diligence, management of the process, and the laws governing res- idential and commercial real estate. The laws governing the two areas can be quite different, particularly related to land use, leasing, tenants, foreclosure, disclosures and construction.

Q: What is one of the most interesting cases you have worked on to date?

A: This is a tough question. I have had the opportunity to work on so many interesting and challenging projects, so choosing just one is difficult. One that comes to mind as being particularly challenging and, in the end, quite fun to work on was a project for a health care system. Our firm represented a health care system in the sale and leaseback of a portfolio of 16 medical office buildings totaling 855,276 square feet. In addition to the challenge of handling the sale of 16 distinct parcels of real estate in one transaction, there were taxation issues, third-party tenant issues, and complicated real estate issues to be considered. Through collaboration between a team of lawyers and paralegals from our firm and the business and legal team of the client, we were able to structure a transaction [that] accomplished the client’s goals on the client’s timeline.

Q: As a co-leader and shareholder, how do you balance firm management and your own practice?

A: With lots of help from the great people around me, including the other attorneys in my office, the incredible staff that we have, and my wonderful husband who is always supportive. That combination is what allows me to retain balance while meeting the needs of clients, co-workers and family.