Veteran Atlanta Real Estate Attorney Frances McKinney Joins Cook & James
by Kara Cook
We announced today that our longtime friend and respected colleague Frances McKinney has joined our firm. She’s been an integral part of Atlanta’s real estate legal landscape for more than 25 years and she’s no stranger to Cook & James, having filled in for our own Chuck Biskobing a few years ago when he took five months to hike the Appalachian Trail.
We’re thrilled to officially have Frances aboard our team. You can read the entire executive announcement on Atlanta Daybook or scroll down here to see a copy/paste of the news release. Please take a moment to contact Frances at the office, 404-704-0440, and share your words of welcome.
Real Estate Attorney Frances McKinney Joins Cook & James
Addition accelerates growth for Atlanta-area real estate firm known for “at home” closings
ATLANTA (April 22, 2019) – Frances Suarez McKinney, an attorney with more than 25 years of experience in the Atlanta market, has joined Cook & James, the Atlanta-based real estate law firm which pioneered at-home closings. McKinney’s responsibilities in her new position will include purchase closings, title reviews and leading marketing initiatives.
“Frances brings a unique vitality and depth of experience to Cook & James,” said Kara Cook, co-founding partner at Cook & James. “We’ve worked with Frances in the past and it’s safe to say our entire team is thrilled to have the ability now to work with her on a daily basis.
The staff addition is the latest marker in the firm’s ongoing growth, having launched a rebranding initiative early in 2018 and steadily strengthened its business development and marketing team.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring Frances on board,” said Heather James, co-founding partner at Cook & James. “She commands a high degree of respect in legal circles and fits in perfectly with our culture. Everybody loves working with Frances, clients and colleagues alike.”
McKinney holds both her undergraduate and her Doctor of Law (J.D.) degrees from Georgia State University. Practicing in the Atlanta area since 1992, she was most recently an attorney with Weissman, PC but over the years has worked at both large and small firms, owned her own firm, and been a consultant. In fact, she first became acquainted with the Cook & James team when she filled in for Chuck Biskobing, associate attorney, when he took five months to hike the Appalachian Trail.
Throughout law school and internships, McKinney realized there was an unmet need for bi-lingual experts to explain the nuances of real estate and closing documents in Spanish. A native of Puerto Rico, she specialized in bi-lingual closings early in her career and became known as “the attorney who did closings in Spanish.” She holds an active real estate license and is admitted to the State Bar of Georgia and the State Bar of Tennessee.
In her spare time, McKinney volunteers for Adopt a Golden Atlanta, a non-profit dedicated to Golden Retriever rescue, and is active in her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi, where she volunteers as a network specialist of alumnae, acting as liaison between AOII headquarters and alumnae chapters in Georgia and South Carolina. She enjoys all types of music, concerts, Broadway shows and traveling; she can often be found adventuring with her adult daughter on cruises or New York City, Greece, Italy and Spain, but especially loves trips to Orlando’s Disney and Universal Studios.
About Cook & James
Founded in 2006 to fill a void in real estate transaction services, the attorney team at Cook & James is a pioneer of at-home closings. Specializing in refinancing, purchases, corporate relocations and more, team members can be 100% mobile to offer buyers, sellers and real estate agent partners the flexibility of closing anywhere that is convenient, including at-home. Cook & James attorneys and paralegal professionals bring everything needed to the closing to facilitate a smooth experience. Using a proprietary at-home closing platform, the firm’s residential real estate legal solutions and expertise include purchases, mortgage refinances, title clearance, deed preparation, corporate relocation assistance and more.
Kara Cook and Heather James are co-founding partners. The firm is based in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Ga., and is also licensed to do business in Connecticut, New York and South Carolina. Learn more at www.CookAndJames.com.