James McLaren joined Adams and Reese in 2006 to help form the Memphis office. He is currently a Practice Group Leader in the Transaction Practice.
James has also served as Team Leader of the Economic Development team, a practice area he helped establish. He provides transactional counsel primarily for economic development, public finance, real estate development, commercial lending and mergers and acquisitions.
He has been Lead Counsel for the Memphis Center City Commission, the downtown development authority for Memphis, for more than 20 years where he has supported revitalization of downtown Memphis through planning and implementation of redevelopment initiatives such as tax incentives, tax increment financing, public-private partnerships, project development, land assembly and transactions involving historic tax credits.
His other significant contributions include:
· Representing business and industry in establishing and expanding industrial and commercial operations including land assembly, project finance, state and local government incentives and public-private partnerships.
· Representing issuers and borrowers in hospital financings and 501(c)(3) financings; serving as bond counsel and borrower's counsel in connection with low-income housing projects, industrial facilities and sports facilities.
· Negotiating commercial real estate development including property acquisition, financing, construction and closing.
· Working with commercial lenders and borrowers in the mergers and acquisitions of chemical companies, hospitals, distributors and real estate developers.
James believes in a careful focus on the details of every transaction, but most importantly prioritizing the major issues of a transaction that can cost clients money in the short or long run.
Professional Memberships / Affiliations
Tennessee Bar Foundation
Memphis Bar Association
American Bar Association
National Association of Bond Lawyers
Tennessee Bar Association
Other Distinctions
AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Best Lawyers® - Banking, Project Finance, Public Finance
Mid-South Super Lawyers® - Real Estat
Announcements
Adams and Reese Names McLaren and Shelton Practice Team Leaders, 01/03/2007
Bernstein, McLaren Named Practice Group Leaders in Firm's Transactions and Corporate Advisory Services Practice, 1/1/2010