Practice Areas
Education
University of Georgia School of Law, J. D., cum laude, 1999
Stetson University, B.A., cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1996
Andrew College, A.A., 1994
Honors
Best Lawyers in America in 2020-present
Recognized in “Women in the Law” Business Edition of Best Lawyers in America in 2021
1 of 50 Bisnow Commercial Real Estate Power Women in Atlanta
Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Atlanta Deal of the Year Award in 2017
1 of 50 women in the United States as a Woman of Influence by The Real Estate Forum in 2017
Honored by the Daily Report as a "Best Mentor" in 2018
CREW Atlanta's 2013 Member-to-Member Business Impact Award
Georgia Super Lawyer in 2015-present)
Georgia Rising Stars from Super Lawyers (2006, 2007, 2009-2014)
Georgia Trend Legal Elite in 2020
Bar Admissions
Georgia
Court Admissions
Georgia Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
United States Supreme Court
Profile
Stephanie Friese Aron is involved in many different aspects of commercial real estate transactions, from acquisition of land, to leasing, construction, financing, and disposition. Her clients value high quality service and timeliness of delivery.
Stephanie has also handled many types of real estate litigation and dispute resolution, including foreclosures, dispossessories (evictions), and federal enforcement actions. Stephanie's clients typically own, develop, and manage commercial office, retail, multifamily, and industrial properties across the U.S.
Representative Transactions
- In the last 12 months, Stephanie has negotiated leases for more than 1,000,000 square feet of office space totalling more than $50,000,000 in value. She has negotiated leases in more than 38 states and internationally. She represents primarily landlords, but also represents a Fortune 100 tenant in locations across the nation, as well as several Fortune 500 clients in leasing matters, acquisitions and dispositions.
- In 2018, Stephanie acted as local counsel to Safavieh, an importer of home goods, in the acquisition and development of 130 acres in Savannah, Georgia. The $65,000,000 project culminated in a 1,100,000 square foot industrial lease to Wayfair and another lease to Electrolux.
- In addition to numerous matters involving lease dispute resolution and evictions, Stephanie's litigation experience is showcased by a $3.4MM judgment in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, against 3 defendants on 4 separate promissory notes to a failed lending institution as well as collection of a $2.3MM judgment for the same client.
Professional Affiliations
- Georgia Real Estate Salesperson License #336174, 2009
- Commercial Real Estate Women Atlanta, President 2009, Member 2000-2019
- Georgia Association for Women Lawyers, President 2005, Member 1999-2019
- Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, Board of Directors 2009
- Atlanta Women's Foundation Board of Directors 2010-2011
News
News
- Best Lawyers in America® recognizes 87 Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys in a peer selection process for the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in AmericaAugust 17, 2023
- David Aughtry, Stephanie Friese Aron, Sandy Bradford, Seth Price, Hale Sheppard, Erica Opitz, Patrick McCann, Jr., John Kirbo, John Guin, and Chadd Reynolds named as Georgia Super Lawyers, Rising StarsFebruary 9, 2023
- Georgia Titan 100 Honors Stephanie FrieseJanuary 12, 2023
- Best Lawyers in America® recognizes 72 Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys in a peer selection process for the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in AmericaAugust 18, 2022
- Stephanie Friese quoted in “Amid Rise In Shootings, Retail Landlords Increasingly Look To Evict Problem Tenants”Bisnow Atlanta, March 9, 2022
- David Aughtry, Stephanie Friese Aron, Seth Price, Hale Sheppard, Erica Opitz, John Kirbo, John Guin, and Barclay Taylor named as Georgia Super Lawyers, Rising StarsFebruary 15, 2022
- Stephanie Friese quoted in article on "Associate Burnout Concerns Increasing and Law Firms Seek Solutions"Daily Report, February 10, 2022
- Quote by Stephanie Friese on “Associate Pay In Atlanta Hits NYC Levels As Demand Heats Up”Law360, December 3, 2021
- Stephanie Friese Aron named as new Real Estate Practice ChairLaw360, December 1, 2021
- Stephanie Friese named National Chair of Chamberlain Hrdlicka Real Estate PracticeOctober 25, 2021
- Interview with Stephanie Friese on “How I Made Office Co-Managing Partner: 'I Traveled a Very Unconventional Path, Never Having Been an Associate at Any Firm”September 21, 2021
- Best Lawyers in America® selects 54 Chamberlain Hrdlicka Attorneys for Recognition for 2022August 19, 2021
- Article in Reuters on "Chamberlain Hrdlicka grows again, nearing $100 mln milestone"Reuters, August 6, 2021
- Article about Stephanie Friese and Scott Augustine on “Chamberlain Hrdlicka Elevates 2 Attys To Lead Atlanta Office”Law360, July 1, 2021
- Stephanie Friese Aron and Scott Augustine named Co-Managing Shareholders in Atlanta OfficeJune 28, 2021
- Best Lawyers in America names Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys in "Women in the Law" for 2021June 7, 2021
- Super Lawyers names Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys as 2021 Georgia Super Lawyers and Rising StarsFebruary 12, 2021
- Quote by Stephanie Friese in “What Mom-And-Pop Landlords Can Do To Relieve Eviction Ban Pressure”Forbes Advisor, February 12, 2021
- Georgia Trend names Chamberlain Shareholders as 2020 "Legal Elite"Georgia Trend, December 1, 2020
- Chamberlain Hrdlicka Attorneys Named to US News – 2021 Best Lawyers in America®, Three Attorneys Recognized as Lawyer of the YearAugust 20, 2020
- Real Estate Update - Georgia Legislature Passes Bill to Protect Businesses and Healthcare Providers From COVID-19 LawsuitsAugust 7, 2020
- April 30, 2020
- Stephanie Friese quoted in "Metro Atlanta retail space demand could plummet, impact 'catastrophic'"Atlanta Business Chronicle, April 22, 2020
- Stephanie Friese quoted in "With rents past due, commercial tenants look to avoid eviction"Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 10, 2020
- 2020 Georgia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Named at Chamberlain HrdlickaMarch 4, 2020
Presentations
Seminars & Presentations
- Opportunities v. Exchanges - Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe ...Cobb Galleria, 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339, July 10, 2019
Publications
Publications
- Stephanie Friese’s article, “Avoid the White Flag by Negotiating Surrender Provisions in Commercial Leases,” in the Daily ReportMarch 2, 2023
- Stephanie Friese’s article, “Business Development: Strategies to Inspire Trust and Confidence in Key Relationships,” in the Daily ReportDaily Report, February 22, 2023
- Stephanie Friese's article "Business Development: Three Strategies More Important Than the Elevator Speech" in Daily ReportDaily Report, December 22, 2022
- Stephanie Friese’s article, “Effective Client Communication: Be the Best Lawyer and Make Sure Clients Know It”Daily Report, August 10, 2022
- Stephanie Friese article on "5 Tips for Negotiating Insurance Provisions in Commercial Leases"Commercial Property Executive, May 18, 2022
- Stephanie Friese article on “Professional Development: The Missing Link in Attaining Career Satisfaction”Daily Report, May 3, 2022
- Stephanie Friese and Will Janousek article on “Industrial Lease Trends to Consider in 2022"Commercial Property Executive, March 18, 2022
- Stephanie Friese article on "Is the Grass Really Greener? Interview Tips/Techniques to Learn More During the Interview Process"Daily Report, February 2, 2022
- Article by Stephanie Friese and Jennifer Garner on “CDC Moratorium Creates a Legal Labyrinth”The Daily Report, March 25, 2021
- Article by Stephanie Friese and Jennifer Garner on “Eviction Moratorium Extension: What it Means for Your Business”Multi-Housing News, February 4, 2021
- Article by Stephanie Friese and Gina Vitiello on “After Surprise Appeals Court Ruling, Governor Signs Bill Restoring Builders' View of Contractors' Liens”The Daily Report, September 24, 2020
- Article by Stephanie Friese, Christine Norstadt and Jennifer Garner on “Some Guidelines on Rent Relief and Lease Obligations”National Real Estate Investor, May 14, 2020
- Article by Stephanie Friese and Jennifer Garner on "A WeWork Agreement is Not a Lease, and Why This Matters Now"GlobeSt.com/Real Estate Forum, May 11, 2020
- Article by Stephanie Friese on "A Quick-Response Guide for Commercial Landlords During the COVID-19 Crisis"CREW Atlanta Blog, April 29, 2020
- Article by Stephanie Friese and Jennifer Garner on “Landlord/Tenant Disputes During COVID-19: Who Has the Upper Hand?”Connect CRE, April 28, 2020