George H. Carr

Overview

George H. Carr is a Principal in McCarthy Lebit’s Litigation group, with experience handling complex real estate, construction, commercial, and professional liability matters. With nearly 30 years of experience, he is a seasoned litigator and dispute resolution attorney with considerable trial and appellate experience and a track record of effectively navigating complex matters through resolution before trial. George represents a diverse range of clients, with a particular focus on title insurance companies, real estate developers, businesses, and other clients involved in complex real estate and commercial matters.

George has extensive experience in real estate and land use litigation, including title and boundary disputes, foreclosure and lien priority, easements, rights of first refusal, zoning and use restrictions, riparian rights and waterway access, and real estate development. He has also handled a broad range of commercial disputes involving business breakups, corporate and LLC governance, fiduciary duties, fraud, lender liability, banking claims, and contractual disputes. His professional liability practice encompasses claims involving lawyers, brokers, accountants, appraisers, surveyors, architects, tax advisors, and other professionals.

Throughout his career, George has handled complex matters in state and federal courts nationwide, including class actions, intellectual property disputes, non-competition matters, constitutional and jurisdictional issues, and appellate proceedings. He successfully argued the first appellate case interpreting Ohio’s updated broker lien statute and the first appellate case addressing the relationship between lis pendens and appellate jurisdiction. His litigation experience has resulted in favorable precedent for clients before multiple federal and state Courts of Appeals. He has also helped clients recover and avoid millions of dollars in potential litigation exposure and has substantial experience managing complex litigation and supervising legal teams.

In addition to his litigation practice, George’s experience extends to transactional and advisory matters. He has negotiated and drafted purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases, loan documents, easements, rights of first refusal, and organizational and governance documents for business and real estate entities. This combination of transactional and litigation experience allows him to identify potential legal and financial risks early and develop practical strategies that align with his clients’ business objectives.

Complementing his legal practice, George is an experienced educator and speaker on real estate and legal issues. He has presented continuing education programs for real estate professionals addressing fair housing and civil rights in the context of commercial real estate, as well as developments in real estate law. His programs have addressed the practical application of these laws, risk management, potential liability, enforcement trends, and emerging issues affecting real estate professionals. He has also presented on litigation, professional liability, risk management, and other legal topics to professional and industry organizations.

George has maintained a longstanding commitment to Cleveland’s arts community as an advocate, leader, educator, and musician. He chaired the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts section, which connects artists with pro bono legal counsel. He has been elected to multiple terms as Board President of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and the Cleveland Public Theatre, where he oversaw real estate acquisition and programming expansion initiatives for both organizations. His work in arts education includes lecturing undergraduate and law students on legal, contract, and insurance issues affecting the arts sector. George is also an accomplished trombonist, having performed long tenures with the jazz bands of Ernie Krivda, Dave Banks, and Don Kubec, as well as in orchestral masterworks conducted by the likes of Frederick Fennell and Robert Shaw.

George earned his Bachelor of Music, cum laude, from Ohio State University before earning his Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University College of Law. During law school, he served as the Senior Articles Editor of the Cleveland State Law Review and participated as a member of Delta Theta Phi, a professional law fraternal organization.