Chris focuses his practice on corporate law, primarily federal income tax aspects of state and local obligations including structuring, due diligence, disclosure, documentation, compliance, and opinions. His experience includes new-product development in municipal and structured finance. He also counsels issuers, investment banking clients, and other participants to financial transactions on federal income tax aspects of financing public infrastructure, educational and 501(c)(3) facilities, public-private partnership projects, sports facilities, sustainable and clean energy facilities, community development projects including tax increment financings (TIFs) and special districts, project finance, and economic development projects. Chris provides legal advice to clients regarding all aspects of tax advantaged obligations, from vetting the tax issues on proposed financing structures to assisting issuers with post-issuance compliance matters such as remedial actions, private business use, and unrelated business income analyses.
Chris researches and interprets federal tax regulations, including drafting disclosure and compliance documents. He serves as tax counsel in connection with public and private offerings of tax exempt and taxable obligations for counties, cities, school districts, institutions of higher education, and utility districts. He also counsels various governmental agencies, political subdivisions, and nonprofit entities regarding general corporate matters and legislative and statutory issues including matters related to tax-exempt status and tax-exempt financings. Chris also represents state and local governmental entities in connection with transaction structuring and documentation including drafting bond resolutions, purchase contracts, tax aspects of disclosure documents, tax compliance certificates, and other related documents.
Chris earned his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. Chris earned his law degree from University of Alabama School of Law and his LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.