Public Finance and Structured Transactions Services

Harrell & Chambliss has extensive experience in debt and revenue financings. Since 1991, the Firm has been listed among municipal bond law firms in The Bond Buyer's Municipal Marketplace (the "Red Book"). H&C's municipal and public finance experience extends to numerous areas, including general obligation financings for traditional municipal projects, public utility projects of gas, water and wastewater utilities systems, airports and transportation, housing, health care financings, education and university financings and industrial development. The Firm's lead attorney for public finance and structured transactions services, Nancy Griffin Chambliss, Co-Managing Partner of the Firm, has over twenty-five (25) years of experience in public finance transactions as bond counsel, underwriter's counsel and issuer's counsel in bond financings for issuers in various states.

Public Finance and Bond Counsel Experience. H&C attorneys have served as bond counsel or issuer's counsel in financings for local, regional and state issuers and housing authorities in Virginia, for several inter-jurisdiction issuers in Virginia and other states. The Firm's attorneys have represented numerous financial institutions, companies, partnerships, developers and individuals in connection with tax-exempt and taxable financings. Attorneys in the Firm have participated in bond transactions for over $9 billion in the issuance of tax-exempt and taxable bonds.

Attorneys in the Firm have worked on financings involving complex and innovative financings techniques, including forward purchase obligations, interest rate swap transactions, auction rate and commercial paper financings, mortgage-backed pass through securities, multi-family mortgage programs, variable interest rate financings, bond financings involving collaterized and uncollaterized letters of credit and other credit enhancements, bond financings insured by municipal bond insurers and bond financings involving syndications.

Structured Securities Transactions. Our attorneys provide co-legal advisor services in connection with a major national multiclass mortgage-backed securities program. The Firm has served as co-legal advisor in connection with transactions for the issuance of over $14 billion of multiclass mortgage-backed securities.

Banking Services

Harrell & Chambliss provides its financial institution clients with advice and counsel with respect to matters concerning banking regulations (state and federal), employment issues, commercial transactions, estate issues, creditors' rights and bankruptcy, foreclosure, collection and civil litigation as well as any other legal matter that H&C is requested to address for clients. The Firm has assisted with the development of its financial institution clients' loan documents for various loan programs. Additionally, H&C has represented such entities in their loan transactions with commercial and residential borrowers. Moreover, H&C has been involved in merger and acquisition matters pertaining to a financial institution it represents. The merger and acquisition transaction involved a swap of stock between two financial institutions where, ultimately, the acquired financial institution became a 100% subsidiary of a bank holding company and the former shareholders of the acquired financial institution became shareholders, among many others, in the bank holding company.

Corporate/Business Services

Harrell & Chambliss represents a diverse group of business clients in a full array of corporate/business transactions. Additionally, the Firm has been successful in developing a business practice, which spans from start up businesses to the representation of financial institutions. The Firm's lead attorney for business services, Adam N. Harrell, Jr., Co-Managing Partner of the Firm, has over twenty-five (25) years of experience in representing corporate and business clients. The emphasis of the Firm's business practice is in providing general business and planning assistance to its clients, including closely held and publicly owned entities, non-profit and tax-exempt organizations, churches and individuals. H&C has assisted its municipal and business clients in the formation and operation of subsidiary corporations and partnerships as well as the syndication of limited partnership interests in connection with the purchase, acquisition and ownership of multifamily residential rental housing developments.

Entities – Commercial, Non-profit and Churches. H&C's business services include consulting with clients concerning the organizational structure of businesses, preparing entity documents for businesses, preparing and negotiating contracts for businesses, providing legal advice to businesses as to how they can best serve the needs of their clients. The Firm advises businesses on the duties, responsibilities and liabilities of owners and principals and other matters that arise in the on going operations of the businesses. The Firm attends annual meetings and other periodic meetings of the clients, as requested. The Firm represents clients in the sale of assets of a business or in any merger, acquisition or consolidation that affects their business. The Firm represents its clients in any other business matter that involves legal implications regarding the business, non-profit organization or individual. The Firm has advised churches in connection with all forms of property acquisitions and transactions and any legal exposure that may exist because of the transaction. The Firm provides legal advice regarding the expansion of church ministries and initiatives under the umbrella of the church and within the realm of the tax-exempt purpose of the church.

Telecommunication and Information Technology Services. H&C has advised clients with respect to open access and internet service matters. The Firm's attorneys have experience in drafting and negotiating computer contracts for the purchase or sale of hardware, software and other services incident thereto.

Tax Services

The tax practice of Harrell & Chambliss is made up of a diverse group of clients with interesting and challenging issues and transactions. The Firm's lead attorney for tax services, Gerald W.S. Carter, a partner in the Firm, has over twenty (20) years of experience in representing clients in diverse tax matters. Before joining H&C in 1992, Mr. Carter attended New York University School of Law's Graduate Tax Program and obtained his Masters of Law Degree in Taxation (the “LL.M. Tax Program”).

In many instances, the work performed by the Firm's tax practice is performed concurrently with the services provided in the Business Service area, the Real Estate Service area and the Public Finance Service area of the Firm. This usually stems from the advice given to closely held and publicly owned clients, non-profit and tax-exempt entities, churches and individuals where the essence of their transaction is tax driven or requires a detail tax analysis to determine the economics of the contemplated transaction.

In the formation of entities for business clients, H&C advises clients of the tax implications of the entities formed and the contemplated transaction or transactions of the business and what to expect based on the use of the chosen entity and transaction or transactions implemented. In addition, the Firm is involved in a number of tax-exempt organizations formations as well as providing advice concerning various transactions pursued by tax-exempt organizations. The services provided in the Firm's tax practice include tax matters relating to commercial and real estate transactions, formation and organizational structure of entities, tax implications of bankruptcy transactions, mergers, acquisitions and consolidations of businesses, sale of assets of businesses, administrative tax proceedings and appeals, tax litigation, estate planning, estate administration, non-profit and tax-exempt organizations, churches and public finance issues and transactions.

The Firm's tax practice was established in 1992 and has grown substantially since its formation. The tax practice has enabled the Firm to become more full service in the legal services H&C provides to clients and better tooled and equipped to meet the needs and challenges of clients today and in the future. Our tax practice is an emerging area in the Firm and we expect it to continue to grow well into the twenty-first century.

Litigation Services

Harrell & Chambliss' litigation department has over thirty (30) years of combined experience handling an array of matters that evoke expertise in several substantive areas of the law. The members of our litigation team routinely appear on behalf of clients in administrative and judicial proceedings and have extensive experience trying cases in both state and federal courts.

While the firm's litigators routinely render litigation management services such as the preparation of pleadings and discovery materials, they also pride themselves on providing our clients with sound advice and consultation to assess the likelihood of success on the merits of a claim throughout the judicial process. Additionally, the members of our litigation team are intimately familiar with and when appropriate will encourage our clients to utilize alternative dispute resolution techniques such as mediation and arbitration in an effort to resolve matters short of trial.

The Firm's litigation department is routinely entrusted with the task of resolving civil disputes for our individual, municipal and corporate clients. Accordingly, our attorneys have had the opportunity to successfully litigate a wide spectrum of cases involving, among other things, allegations of tortious misconduct, complex commercial transactions, labor and employment disputes, and property acquisition and disposition.

Tort Litigation. H&C has a heightened level of experience in the area of insurance defense representing a number of insurers in various auto accident and premises liability cases. Additionally, municipal entities have also benefited from H&C's representation in this arena and in the highly specialized area of workers' compensation. H&C has previously defended automotive and other manufacturers in products liability disputes and has also successfully represented plaintiffs with valid personal injury, malpractice and civil rights claims.

Commercial Litigation. While H&C strongly encourages its corporate clients to proactively seek the advice of counsel before providing consumer services or initiating any business transaction, we fully understand and anticipate that there will be times in which legal disputes will arise in connection with such activity. In these instances, H&C has successfully defended its corporate clients in the prosecution and defense of a myriad of contract and business tort claims stemming from statutory and common law violations involving, among other things, tortious interference with contract, fraud and conspiracy.

Labor/Employment Disputes. H&C has represented individual, corporate and municipal clients in a wide spectrum of employment and labor related matters in both state and federal courts and before the EEOC and other administrative tribunals. H&C has successfully initiated and defended employment disputes involving, among other things, breach of contract, defamation and wrongful termination stemming from violations of Title VII, the ADA and other applicable federal and state statutes. H&C has routinely advised its municipal clients in various administrative and grievance hearings challenging the suspension or termination of employment and/or employment-related benefits. H&C's municipal clients have also relied heavily on the firm's advice in their efforts to comply with the relevant statutory provisions governing their procurement of goods and services.

Property Disputes. H&C has served a wide array of clients in disputes involving the sale, acquisition and/or lease of property. In addition to standard contractual disputes arising in this arena, H&C has also represented diverse clients in everything from partition to foreclosure matters. H&C also has expertise in the highly specialized area of eminent domain assisting clients acquire property through condemnation. Additionally, H&C has also assisted both commercial and residential landlords in eviction actions and related efforts to assert their rights to leased property.

Education Services

Harrell & Chambliss attorneys have extensive experience representing public school divisions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We provide advice on the application of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the Virginia Public Procurement Act, and other state and federal laws pertaining to public elementary and secondary education and employment. Additionally, we draft, prepare and revise contracts and other legal documents. The Firm prosecutes or defends legal proceedings in state and Federal court and in administrative proceedings before governmental agencies such as the Virginia Employment Commission.

H&C monitors state and federal legislation relating to education issues and its attorneys attend education conferences to stay abreast of the latest trends. The Firm has extensive experience in providing advice and counsel with respect to relevant state and federal regulations, statutes and court decisions relating to special education and represents the school divisions in due process hearings and related court proceedings.

Attorneys at H&C have extensive experience in providing education legal services in contract and procurement transactions, education related litigation, worker's compensation, and in numerous other education law matters.

Creditors' Rights, Bankruptcy and Foreclosure Services

Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy. Along with representing financial institutions, Harrell & Chambliss has invested a great deal of time in developing expertise in the Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy area. As counsel to our financial institution clients, H&C represents them in all matters pertaining to Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy and Commercial Litigation. Further, H&C represents political subdivisions of the Commonwealth dedicated to residential rehabilitation and the development of affordable housing and commercial real estate, in many areas of Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy.

Foreclosures. H&C attorneys have experience in loan workouts and foreclosures of multifamily residential rental housing developments. Additionally, H&C has been certified as a foreclosure commissioner by the Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") and has conducted numerous foreclosure sales of multifamily residential rental housing developments. H&C handles all of the foreclosures for one of its financial institution clients and its political subdivision clients and assists such entities with workouts under its numerous loan programs. Moreover, H&C represents numerous financial institutions and personal lenders where it is called upon to assist its clients with workouts and non-judicial foreclosures. H&C's real estate attorneys have extensive experience in conducting non-judicial foreclosures.

Real Estate Services

Harrell & Chambliss real estate attorneys have extensive experience in real estate acquisition, development, financing and disposition services on behalf of municipal and business clients. The Firm has experience in eminent domain law, principally through its representation of various political subdivisions. The Firm is co-counsel to several entities which undertake a substantial volume of development and redevelopment projects in the City of Richmond and the City of Petersburg.

The Firm is general counsel to several community development corporations and has assisted such entities with some of the most significant and sophisticated real estate development and multifamily residential real estate transactions in Metropolitan Richmond.

In the Firm's representation of all of its clients, H&C has provided a broad range of real estate law services, including residential and commercial closings and foreclosures, performance of title searches, legal negotiations for the acquisition or sale of properties and preparation of financing instruments and agreements.

Administrative/Legislative Services

Harrell & Chambliss serves as general counsel to a number of clients and as such our lawyers attend the respective meetings of the Boards of such entities. As general counsel we advise our clients as to matters of federal and state law applicable to their various programs and operations. These clients frequently call upon H&C to advise them with regard to the Freedom of Information Act, Conflicts of Interest Act, Administrative Process Act, Privacy Protection Act and Virginia Public Procurement Act as well as federal and state laws relating to real estate entities, securities, and employment. In addition to developing the documents for loan programs, H&C advises such entities regarding federal and state law relating to mortgage lending and housing such as Truth-in-Lending, RESPA and fair housing legislation. H&C also provides such advice to its financial institution clients. Further, H&C has extensive experience in residential and commercial real estate closings.

The Firm's attorneys practice regularly before state agencies, including the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Workers' Compensation Commission of Virginia and the State Corporation Commission. H&C also assists professional organizations, business trade groups and individual business entities in developing strategies for interfacing with the Virginia General Assembly, public service commissions, local government officials and various interest groups. In addition, H&C monitors proposed legislation by the Virginia General Assembly. The Firm digests, analyzes and disseminates to the client such proposals relevant to the client's interests.

The Firm provides legal advice and opinions concerning matters relating to the affairs of public bodies together with attendance at meetings and conferences relating to those matters. Our attorneys attend board meetings, draft, prepare and revise contracts and other legal documents. Additionally, we prosecute or defend legal actions or arbitration proceedings, including judicial, administrative or other proceedings before governmental agencies or units.