Jim Murphy represents both governmental entities and private sector clients in economic incentives transactions. He also handles complex matters involving zoning, condemnation, elections, telecommunications, municipal law, environmental law, and commercial real estate.
Jim has assisted clients in the preparation of redevelopment plans, the creation of economic incentives grant programs, structuring tax increment financings, and negotiating in lieu of tax agreements. Through this incentives work, he has dealt with automotive manufacturers, automotive suppliers, call center operators, hotel developers, retail developers and office developers.
Jim has handled land use matters on a wide variety of subjects, from rezoning, special exceptions/conditional uses and variance requests to challenges to the validity of zoning regulations and defending zoning enforcement cases. He also assists wireless telecommunications tower owners and carriers in the acquisition and development of wireless tower sites.
Jim has made presentations on economic incentives to the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development, the Tennessee Economic Development Council, and the staff of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. He has been a presenter at seminars on land use and zoning, eminent domain and ethics.
Jim practiced for 18 years in the legal department of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, serving as the Director of Law from 1993 to 1999. In his highly visible role with the city, Jim provided legal advice to the mayor and Metro Council, along with other municipal departments, boards, and commissions. He counseled the mayor and the Metro Council regarding economic development incentives for Opryland, Columbia/HCA, Thomas Nelson, and Dell Computer Corporation. Jim’s legal acumen was also instrumental in the establishment of the Sports Authority and the Hospital Authority in Nashville, the development of the downtown arena and the football stadium, and leases with the Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Predators.