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It’s always exciting to see a client’s goals realized in a deal – but especially so when projects are transformative. The ongoing renovation and expansion of the Graceland campus or the development of AutoZone Park – those projects not only achieved the client’s objectives. They have transformed communities.

Primary Practice:

James McLaren advises on middle-market M&A and finance transactions as well as providing counsel in connection with project finance including economic development incentives throughout the Southeast. He also serves as outside general counsel for a number of entities, many of which he has represented for more than 20 years.

He represents commercial lenders and borrowers in connection with lending facilities, and issuers and borrowers in taxable and tax-exempt bond issues including serving as issuer’s counsel, bond counsel and borrower’s counsel in connection with low-income housing projects, health care facilities, infrastructure, industrial facilities and sports facilities. James also negotiates agreements to develop commercial real estate, including property acquisition, financing and construction agreements. He represents 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.

James has served as outside general counsel for the Downtown Memphis Commission, the downtown development authority for Memphis, for more than 25 years. In this role, he has supported the 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.

“ Getting deals and transactions done requires creativity. At the point in a deal when two parties are at loggerheads, you have to understand the situation from both sides. You have to find a way for both sides to win. ”

Education

  • Washington and Lee University, J.D., 1982
  • University of Tennessee, B.A., 1977

Bar Admissions

  • Tennessee
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Areas of Practice

Acknowledgements

  • AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year - Memphis Project Finance Law, 2023
  • Best Lawyers® - Banking and Finance Law, Economic Development Law, Project Finance Law, Public Finance Law
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers® (by Thomson Reuters) Real Estate 2006-2019
  • Best of the Bar, Memphis Business Journal, 2016

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

  • Tennessee Bar Foundation
  • Memphis Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers
  • Tennessee Bar Association
  • Association of Corporate Growth, Tennessee Board Member

News

  • Represented developer in connection with negotiating and restructuring of the incentives for a $140 million redevelopment of the Graceland Campus including the development of a 450-room hotel (Tourism and Entertainment Industry)
  • Represented 100% ESOP-owned company in a business unit divestiture (Industrial Cleaning and Maintenance Industry)
  • Represented borrower in $125 million tax-incentive-supported lending facilities (Tourism and Entertainment Industry)
  • Represented borrower in $84 million senior lending facility from private equity lender collateralized in part with economic incentives and intellectual property (Tourism and Entertainment Industry)
  • Represented purchaser in a $120 million strategic acquisition through reverse triangular merger financed in part by a $50 million private equity funded mezzanine credit facility and two syndicated credit facilities (Biotech and Household Cleaning Industry)
  • Represented lender in creation of a $45 million term and revolving lending facility to a private equity-sponsored borrower (Specialty Manufacturing Industry)
  • Represented issuer in a $24 million public debt offering to refinance sports stadium (Sports Industry)
  • Represented borrower in $40 million lending facility collateralized in part by economic incentives (Tourism and Entertainment Industry)
  • Represented developer in negotiation of incentives for $120 million development of an outlet mall (Retail Industry)
  • Represented borrower in a $90 million syndicated credit facility (Biotech and Household Cleaning Industry)
  • Represented borrower in a $35 million syndicated lending credit facility (Biotech Industry)
  • Represented purchaser in $19 million strategic product line acquisition (Household Cleaning Industry)
  • Represented issuer in a series of financings to provide governmental incentives for adaptive reuse of 1.4 million square-foot warehouse facility (Commercial Real Estate)
  • Represented purchaser in $6.4 million strategic acquisition of product line (Chemical Industry)
  • Represented purchaser in $6 million strategic equity acquisition (Household Cleaning Industry)
  • Represented borrower in procuring $110 million syndicated lending facility (Chemical and Household Product Industry)
  • Represented borrower in $40 million public debt offering (Elder Care Industry)
  • Represented borrower in $35 million syndicated lending credit facility (Biotech Industry)
  • Represented borrower in $50 million mezzanine credit facility (Biotech Industry)
  • Represented lender in $33 million term and revolving lending facility (Mid-Stream Energy)
  • Represented issuer in $196 million public debt offering for financing of adaptive reuse of a sports facility (Retail and Entertainment)
  • Represented borrower in $12 million private tax exempt debt offering (Elder Care)