James B. McLaren Jr.

James B. McLaren Jr. 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.