Hecht Walker Principal Mark Walker is a 28-year practicing attorney and a southern gentleman. Originally from Tallahassee, FL, Mark has been married to fellow attorney Mary House for 28 years. Mark proves that a strong belief in God and family keeps you grounded. He enjoys the outdoors, which helps keep him healthy.
BEST ADVICE YOU RECEIVED AS AN ATTORNEY?
Always keep clients informed. Mark believes in being completely honest and keeping his clients informed even when the news may not be what his client wants to hear. According to Mark, There are times when clients come into the office and they have already made up their mind how they wish to proceed. Sometimes the client wishes to proceed in a matter that is not the most beneficial way, so it is my job to explain why a different position might be more beneficial. I always have the clients best interest in mind and hopefully with proper explanation can save the clients time and expenses.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BECOME AN ATTORNEY?
In college I participated in a Model United Nations Seminar in New York City. Each college would be assigned a country to debate the countrys position with regard to a particular matter. If I recall, the matter we were to debate was regarding oil. During the experience, I realized that I was blessed with the ability to debate and express my point in such a way that it would be convincing to other people and thus the Legal Profession became an obvious choice.
BEST ADVICE YOU VE GIVEN AS AN ATTORNEY?
Try to work something out before getting a lawyer,
However, in representing lenders, it is extremely helpful for a client to contact us as soon as a problem arises. If a borrower is only behind a payment or two, it is a lot easier for that borrower to make some type of an arrangement to get the past due debt brought current. This is preferred over allowing the debt to become so great that there is nothing the borrower can do to bring the debt current thus causing the client to incur the expense of foreclosing or any other remedy they choose.
MOST PROUD OF?
Honesty.
I believe in treating people with respect and being honest with them. That could be opposing counsel, clients as well as individuals or companies opposing you. When you treat people that way, the point you are trying to get across or the position you are taking should hopefully be accepted even though they may not feel the same way.
DESCRIBE YOUR APPROACH TO EACH CASE.
Thorough
The more thorough you are in preparation of the case, the less likely there will be any surprises from the opposing party. This allows you an opportunity to more fully represent your client.
IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR CLIENTS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE?
Keep good records.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN NOT IN THE OFFICE?
Golf, Fish, Hunt, and follow sports teams.
WHO IS YOUR HERO?
My Father.
My father has taught me and still does that you should always be yourself. Always remember where you came from. Respect others even though you may not agree with them. Additionally, I know the this a cliché, but treat others like you want to be treated.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO ATLANTA?
My wife.
I followed my wife to Atlanta. On the last day of law school at Walter F. George School of Law in Macon, my then fianc and I had a deal that whom ever received a job offer first would accept it and the other one would follow. I had my heart set on going back to Florida but as luck would have it Mary received an offer to come to Atlanta, the day before my first offer. I was one day away from raising my family in Florida but after all these years, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Mark lives in Henry County with his wife Mary, his sons Cole and Jamie and their dogs, Trinity – a Chocolate Lab, and Bucky an EnglishSetter.
To learn more about Mark Walker read his BIO here.
*Hecht Walker Motto: Hard Work, Honest Work, Great Responsiveness, Great Results