Jim is a member of Butler Snow’s Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets group.
Overview
Jim is a member of Butler Snow’s Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets group.
Practice Areas
Experience
- Board Attorney, Housing Authorities of the City of Warner Robins and Houston County, Georgia, 2020-Present
- City Attorney, City of Hawkinsville, Georgia, 2019-Present
- City Attorney, City of Cochran, Georgia, 2021-Present
- City Attorney, City of Warner Robins, Georgia, 1985-2019
- City Attorney, City of McDonough, Georgia, 2019-2022
- Adjunct Professor, Walter F. George School of Law, 2005-Present
- Instructor, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia, 2007-Present
- Instructor, Georgia Municipal Association, 2005-Present
- Special Counsel, Board of Ethics, Clayton County, Georgia, 2018-Present
- Special Counsel, Board of Ethics, City of McDonough, Georgia, 2016
- Special Counsel, Ethics Committee, City of Doraville, Georgia, 2009
- Hearing Officer, Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency
- Investigative Officer, Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency
Distinctions
- Mercer University Law School, Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year, 2017
- Recipient, James H. Epps III Award for Longevity of Service to a Community, 2015
- Graduate, Georgia Academy for Economic Development, 2012
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Workers' Compensation Law - Employers, 2011-2025
Bar Admissions
- Georgia, 1982
Education
- Mercer University, J.D., 1982
- Treasurer, Student Bar Association
- Phi Delta Phi
- Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S., Industrial Management, 1979
- Kappa Alpha Order
- President, Ramblin’ Reck Club
- Order of Omega
Associations
- International Municipal Lawyers Association
- Southeastern Regional Vice-President, 2005-Present
- Georgia State Chair, 1999-2005
- Georgia Municipal Association Legislative Policy Council, 2007-2009, 2013-Present
- Federal Policy Council, 2015-Present
- Houston County Bar Association
- President, 2017
- Georgia Municipal Employees’ Benefit System
- Trustee, 1994-2008
- Joint Georgia Municipal Association/Association County Commissioners of Georgia Annexation Tax Force, 1996-1997
- State Bar of Georgia
- Local Government Section
- Chair, 1993
- Local Government Section
- Annual Institute for Georgia City and County Attorneys
- Planning Committee Member, 1990-Present
- Georgia Municipal Association Task Force on Municipal Judges and Law Enforcement Officer Training
- Chair, 1990
- Georgia Municipal Association
- Revenue and Finance Policy Committee Chair, 2019-2021
- Board of Directors, 1990, 2019-2021
- Georgia Municipal Association City Attorneys’ Section
- President, 1990
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Presenter, “Handling Meeting Disruption,” Georgia Municipal Association, City Attorneys’ Section Seminar, 2016.
- Presenter, “Amending the City Charter – For What Purpose, and by Whom,” Georgia Municipal Association, City Attorneys’ Section Seminar, 2014.
- Author, “Annual Survey of Local Government Law,” 64 Mercer Law Review 213, 2012.
- Author, “Annual Survey of Local Government Law,” 61 Mercer Law Review 205, 2009.
- Presenter, “Judicial Update,” Institute for Georgia City and County Attorneys, annually 2005-Present.
- Presenter, “Beware How Many Hats They Give You,” Georgia Municipal Association, City Attorneys’ Section Seminar, 2008.
- Presenter, “Open Meetings: The Gray Aras,” Lorman Education Services, 2006, 2007, 2008.
- Presenter, “Tax Issues for Local Governments,” 48th Annual Institute for Georgia City and County Attorneys, 2001.
- Presenter, “Legislative Update: Annexation, Service Delivery, Taxation and Finance,” Georgia Municipal Association, City Attorneys’ Section Seminar, 2000.
- Presenter, “The Phenomena of Gated Communities and Other Private Use of Rights-of-Way,” 45th Annual Institute for Georgia City and County Attorneys, 1998.
- Presenter, “Taxation and Regulation of Alcoholic Beverages,” Georgia Municipal Association, City Attorneys’ Section Seminar, 1990.
- Presenter, “Preclearance of Annexations under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act,” National Institute of Municipal Law Officers, Mid-Year Meeting, 1988.
- Guest Legal Analyst, Nancy Grace Show, HLN and Court TV.
Civic Involvement
- Professional Interest Exploration, Program for Houston County, Georgia High School Seniors, Mentor, 1988-2019
- State Bar of Georgia, Professionalism Training, 2005-Present
- Chamber of Commerce
- Boy Scouts of America
- American Heart Association
- Alzheimer’s Association
- Georgia Tech Alumni Association
- Family Promise of Houston County
- Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Inc.
- Grants Coordinator
- Greensboro First United Methodist Church
- Board of Trustees