On June 30, former shareholder and real estate attorney Gary M. Myers retired from Dentons Davis Brown, closing the book on a distinguished 40-year career.

Gary joined the Firm on June 16, 1986, when its masthead still read Davis, Hockenberg, Wine, Brown, Koehn & Shors, and quickly established himself as one of the most trusted real estate practitioners in the office. Over four decades, he advised clients on virtually every facet of commercial real estate, from acquisitions, dispositions, and financings to leasing, land use, and complex loan structures.

His practice spanned an impressive range of industries. Gary guided clients in multifamily, agribusiness, hospitality, manufacturing, renewable energy, and commercial real estate through the real estate dimensions of their most consequential transactions.

He was the attorney lenders and borrowers alike turned to for the drafting and review of loan documents and the issuance of opinion letters in USDA, RUS, RTFC, FNMA, and conduct loan transactions. He also served frequently as local counsel, issuing opinion letters for commercial loan transactions involving Iowa real estate and out-of-state parties - work that demanded precision, and Gary delivered it every time.

"I've had the pleasure of being both a colleague and client of Gary's on hundreds of commercial real estate transactions over four decades," said Nick Roby, former Firm president and fellow real estate attorney. "He has an uncanny ability to cut through the noise and focus on what matters - then handle it with expertise and creativity. His clients, from family-owned farms to nationwide developers, quickly learned to trust him for his invaluable counsel."

Several of the nation's largest residential real estate companies relied on Gary's expertise in managing their property portfolios, entrusting him with the acquisition, sale, and financing of apartment communities across the country.

Gary's talents extended well beyond the closing table. He developed a respected environmental law practice, counseling clients on issues tied to agribusiness and animal feeding operations. He was among the attorneys who successfully argued before the Iowa Supreme Court that counties are preempted from regulating animal feeding operations under Iowa state law, a landmark result that shaped the regulatory landscape for the industry.

His reputation for excellence was no secret. During a Chambers & Partners research cycle, one client put it simply: "We trust Gary with our most important real estate transactions. He is totally reliable and professional, and unflappable in the tensest of circumstances."

What set Gary apart, though, was how he practiced. He was thorough without being slow, reasonable without being a pushover, and efficient without cutting corners. Clients loved working with him. Opposing counsel respected him. And the colleagues, lucky enough to work alongside him, learned, by his example, what it looks like to do this work at the highest level for four decades running.

"If you ever saw Gary in his office, tucked back quietly in his chair, mostly hidden among documents and abstracts piled high on every square inch of desk space, that gives you an idea of him as a lawyer: in high demand, persistently chipping away at a host of projects while resolving the crises of the day, always the calm against the storm," said real estate shareholder Christopher Talcott. "Somehow, he also found time to lead thoughtful, productive monthly meetings as longtime Chair of the Firm's Real Estate Department, mentor younger attorneys, and pause his work to answer any question a colleague or client threw at him - always with patience, grace, and an easy laugh."

Beyond his legal practice, Gary gave generously of his time, serving for several years on the Board of Directors of Employee & Family Resources, a nonprofit organization supporting communities, workplaces, and schools with comprehensive behavioral health services.

We are proud and grateful to have worked alongside Gary, and we wish him all the best in a well-earned retirement.

About Dentons Davis Brown PC

Dentons Davis Brown is a full-service Iowa law firm providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions to help clients. Founded in 1929, the firm operates three offices in Iowa and is part of Dentons, the world's largest law firm with a presence in over 80 countries. Learn more at https://www.dentons.com/Iowa.