Tilman Thomas Gates
"is an expert in commercial real estate, including the acquisition, leasing, financing and disposition of various developments."
-Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2008

PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY

Tom Gates is a deeply seasoned commercial real estate attorney, representing clients in the acquisition, leasing, financing and disposition of retail, office, industrial, and multi-family residential projects, including mixed-use and residential condominium developments.

 

Through his work as a development director at Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse in Baltimore, Maryland, completion of a Master of Science in Real Estate at The Johns Hopkins University, and 17 years representing commercial real estate developers and investors at Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. in Charlotte, North Carolina, he has demonstrated significant results for clients in all aspects of the real estate development process, and across a broad spectrum of market areas.

 

Tom is proficient in Spanish, and his international practice includes advising Dutch, Japanese and Bahamian clients on the real estate aspects of their business operations in the United States. He also advises U.S. clients on real estate acquisitions in several foreign countries. Together with members of Arias & Muñoz, a law firm with offices throughout Central America, he co-authored the Costa Rica chapter of "Real Estate Investment, Development & Law in Emerging Markets," published by PEI Media Ltd. (2010).

 

As the principal RBH delegate to the Interlaw legal network for nearly a decade, including two terms as Chair of the North American Real Estate special business team, Tom built strong professional and personal relationships with lawyers at 79 law firms in 133 cities throughout the world.

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Tilman Thomas Gates
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Honors & Awards

  • Woodward/White, Inc., The Best Lawyers in America, real estate, 2012-17

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  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, real estate, 2008-16

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  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

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  • Counselors of Real Estate, National Chair's Award, 2012

Education

 

  • Duke University, J.D., cum laude, 1998

    • Special Editor, Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, 1997-98

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  • Johns Hopkins University, M.S. in Real Estate, 1996

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  • Duke University, A.B., cum laude, 1992

Community Affiliations

  • Queens University, Board of Visitors, 2015-present

 

  • Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, 2003-14

    • Chairman, 2006 and 2012-14

 

  • Catawba Lands Conservancy, Board of Directors, 2004-10

    • Secretary, 2008-10

    • Executive Committee 2008-10

    • Lands Acquisition Committee, 2000-12 (Chairman, 2004-10)

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  • Charlotte Preschool Partnership, Board of Directors, 2006-08

    • President, 2008

Professional Affiliations

  • Counselors of Real Estate, 2010-present

    • Carolinas Chapter Board of Directors, 2011-present (Chairman, 2015-present)

 

  • Interlaw Delegate, 2008-2015

    • North American Real Estate Special Business Team, Co-chair, 2011-2016

2016

  • Mecklenburg County Bar, Grievance Committee, 2011-14

 

  • Leadership Charlotte, Class 27

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  • North Carolina Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section,2000-present

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  • Urban Land Institute, Associate Member, 1999-present

 

PRACTICE

AREAS

"Tom Gates gives 'outstanding legal advice and shows flawless judgment as a counselor.' His commercial real estate practice includes the financing, acquisition and disposal of industrial and mixed use developments."

-Chambers USA 2012

Real Estate Development

Construction

Real Estate Finance

Nonprofit Organizations and Foundations

Joint Ventures
International

Contact the
Law Offices of
Tilman Thomas Gates

"Tom Gates offers clients an impressive level of experience on international real estate transactions. Peers commend him as a 'skilled attorney,' and he provides strength in the acquisition, financing and disposition of commercial properties."

-Chambers USA 2016

Our office is located in the G.G. Galloway House in the Dilworth Historic District

602 E. Morehead St​

Charlotte, NC 28202

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Email: info@TilmanGates.com

Tel: (704) 800-5585

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Industrial

Industrial

Represents developer of long-term credit "build-to-suit" facilities for investment-grade corporate clientele, including headquarters office facilities and regional distribution facilities in 17 states.

Furniture Showroom

Furniture Showroom

Represented manager in leasing and management of approximately 1 million square feet of furniture showroom space in High Point, North Carolina.

International

International

Represents a Netherlands-based multinational corporation with respect to office and industrial real estate matters arising from its mergers, acquisitions and operations in the United States.

Office

Office

Represented owner in the leasing, renovation, management, refinancing and sale of an historic high-rise office building in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina.

Conservation Easements

Conservation Easements

Represented Catawba Lands Conservancy in the creation of an 85-acre conservation easement adjacent to a facility in Lincoln County, a unique project due to the simultaneous donation of fee simple title to Catawba Lands Conservancy, and a conservation easement to The Land Trust for Central North Carolina.

Corporate/Tenant Representation

Corporate/Tenant Representation

Represents owner in the purchase, sale, lease and operation of restaurants in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina.

Retail

Retail

Represents regional developers in the development of retail shopping centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Virginia.