On behalf of the State Bar of Georgia, I am writing to extend condolences to the family, colleagues and many friends of Richard M. Shafritz of Shafritz & Dean LLC in Atlanta on his very untimely passing on July 31. As a Georgia State University College of Law classmate of Richard’s, I count myself among those personal friends.

A Sandy Springs resident who was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2001, Richard practiced real estate law throughout metro Atlanta and earned a well-deserved reputation as an attorney with exceptional intellect, unshakable ethics, larger-than-life personality and a legacy of excellent professional service to his clients.