Bio

Jim began his career as a municipal securities lawyer at Rose Law Firm in 1978. After employment in various sectors of the municipal securities industry, Jim returned to the firm to lead its public finance and economic development practice. In addition to serving as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, trustee counsel, disclosure counsel and issuer’s counsel, Jim has been engaged by Arkansas state and local governmental entities in matters relating to public finance, economic development, governmental incentives, disaster relief, tax controversies and governmental relations.

Jim’s clients have included the Arkansas Development Finance Authority, the Arkansas Treasurer of State and municipalities, counties, public facilities boards, improvement districts, public development corporations, airports, educational institutions, health care institutions and other public instrumentalities and agencies.

Jim has served as lead bond counsel on tax, assessment and revenue backed bond issues for state and local issuers throughout Arkansas. He has also served as lead bond counsel for housing, healthcare, higher education, qualified 501(c)(3) and industrial development bonds.  Jim has assisted firm clients and governmental entities with Federal, state and local economic development incentives including industrial development bonds, property tax and other tax incentives, including the Arkansas Act 9/PILOT arrangements.

Jim has practiced extensively in the area of affordable housing. He has delivered nationally recognized opinions for multifamily housing bonds in Arkansas and other states. Additionally, he has represented affordable housing industry participants in various project phases including development, financing, transfer, bond modifications and bankruptcy. Jim’s practice has exposed him to the current bond/4% tax credit structures being used in the affordable housing industry today.

Jim’s governmental law practice has included drafting legislation, drafting state agency rules and regulations and lobbying and testifying before the Arkansas General Assembly. Jim has participated in litigation involving state and local governments. Recently, Jim was lead counsel in a successful brief and oral argument before the Arkansas Court of Appeals involving a local tax remittance controversy between local Arkansas governments and the Treasurer of State.