ATLANTA (August 10, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Partner David J. Burge has been elected chairman of the board of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the state agency responsible for operating 65 programs and managing nearly $300 million in state and federal funding annually to support the state of Georgia’s efforts to build strong, vibrant communities. Mr. Burge was appointed to the DCA Board by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in 2020 and most recently served as its vice-chair.
David Burge is a partner with SGR’s Atlanta Real Estate Practice where he focuses on real estate transactions in commercial lending, corporate, and capital markets; as well as in general leasing, sale, and purchase. He was previously appointed as the Consumer Member of the Georgia Real Estate Commission and also served on the Board of the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority and the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections. Mr. Burge was Chairman of both the Real Estate Section of the Atlanta Bar Association and the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. He is active with the Urban Land Institute and American College of Mortgage Attorneys. Mr. Burge is a board member of the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and previously served on the Visitors of Emory University and the Trustees of Buckhead Christian Ministries. He is a graduate of the Midtown Alliance Leadership Program, the Coverdell Leadership Institute and Leadership Atlanta. Additionally, he was a delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention.
DCA has been an advocate for Georgia’s communities since its creation in 1977. In 1996, the Georgia Governor and General Assembly merged the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority (GHFA) into DCA, and the job of providing safe and affordable housing became part of the agency’s mission. For four decades, DCA has helped communities spur private job creation, implement comprehensive plans, develop downtowns, generate affordable housing solutions and promote volunteerism.
About Smith Gambrell Russell
SGR is a full-service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The Firm’s nearly 400 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 50 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, insurance/reinsurance, construction, employment law, international, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has 14 domestic and international offices, including Atlanta; Austin; Charlotte; Chicago; Jacksonville, FL; London; Los Angeles; Miami; Munich; New York; Southampton; Springfield, IL; Tampa, FL; and Washington, D.C.