Drawing on our experience in local, state and federal government, we equip clients with the knowledge they need to traverse the political system. Parker Poe provides counseling, transactional and litigation services for governmental entities as well as companies and individuals that have business before public bodies. Our representation of clients in this arena includes any combination of litigation, administrative proceedings, criminal investigations or lobbying. We help adapt creative strategies to address the needs of our clients with each level of government.

Experience Highlights

Administrative Law – Our practice includes regulatory representation and litigation before state agencies, commissions and boards. We handle negotiations with regulatory agencies and assist clients in compliance with licensing regulations and judicial review of administrative decisions in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Campaign Finance – Campaign finance laws and regulations can be very specific in a number of areas, but often leave little guidance in many other situations. We routinely advise clients on issues involving the interpretation of state and federal campaign finance laws. We also assist clients in the creation and management of state and federal political action committees.

Economic Development – Within the realm of government relations, our attorneys have vast experience in assisting clients with economic development issues. We utilize our familiarity with the government process in North Carolina and South Carolina to assist clients in negotiating and obtaining approval of economic incentives packages. We are proud of this work, as it has resulted in direct benefits to our clients while strengthening the economic well-being of the Carolinas.

Eminent Domain & Condemnation – We have represented several local governments as well as corporate and individual landowners in North Carolina and South Carolina in important eminent domain cases. These cases involved the acquisition of land for economic development projects, expansion of water and sewer facilities, relocation of utility facilities and other purposes.

Government Contracts & Procurement – Members of our group assist clients in obtaining contracts with North Carolina and South Carolina agencies beginning with the procurement process and continuing through the representation of successful and unsuccessful bidders in protest procedures, administrative hearings and judicial appeals.

Government Relations & Lobbying – Our approach to lobbying combines integrity, personal relationships and experience to produce results for our clients. We assist clients by formulating strategy, drafting legislation, appearing before legislative committees and study commissions and intervening directly with legislative officials.

Land Use & Zoning – We serve as counsel to local governments on land use and zoning matters. We also regularly appear before boards of adjustment on behalf of developers on permitting matters. We have successfully litigated appeals of adverse special use permit decisions for telecommunications towers, construction projects and residential developments.

Municipalities and Counties – Parker Poe has been counsel to municipalities since the 1950s. The Firm's municipal practice is comprised of seasoned attorneys with more than 85 years combined experience in advising and counseling municipal boards, councils, commissions, managers and staff.

Property Tax – Our representation of local governments in the property tax arena has led to several national engagements with municipalities as well as the representation of many private companies in property tax appeals. We have experience representing taxpayers before federal, state and local tax authorities.

Public Transit – We offer advice on state and local laws affecting transit systems in North Carolina and South Carolina, from planning and start-up through construction and operations. Together with our knowledge of federal transit regulations and transit practices nationwide, Parker Poe provides comprehensive and innovative approaches to address the myriad of issues faced by public transit systems on a daily basis.

Telecommunications – We conduct a broadly-based telecommunications practice including representation of wireline and wireless carriers. We negotiate interconnection agreements, fiber optic capacity agreements, franchise and right-of-way agreements. We also represent carriers in arbitrations, unbundled network element price cases and other proceedings before public service commissions throughout the Southeast.

Trucking & Transportation – Our attorneys represent many types of freight transportation clients, including large and small shippers, common, contract and private carriers, brokers and freight forwarders.

Experience

• Represented one of the nation's most successful manufacturing companies in securing legislative approval of the largest economic incentives package in North Carolina history
• Negotiated and obtained judicial approval of a settlement in the State of Indiana which resolved years of property tax appeals; settlement included $44 million to be paid to our local government client and an agreement by the taxpayer to invest $150 million at its facility for the next four years
• Represented a leading pharmaceutical company in negotiating an economic incentives package for a major plant expansion
• Successfully handled landmark annexation cases for the City of Fayetteville at both the trial and appellate levels
• Created and managed state and federal political action committees for several corporations and trade associations
• Performed title work on more than 200 miles of railroad corridors in North Carolina for state, regional and local public transportation agencies
• Negotiated a reduction of more than $40 million in the tax assessment of a major sports complex in the State of North Carolina
• Represented the successful bidder to provide technical services to the North Carolina Education Lottery
• Represented the winning bidder in North Carolina's largest information technology procurement in an administrative appeal initiated by the unsuccessful bidder

News

• Jamie Schwedler Named to Urban Land Institute’s Steering Committee
  April 17, 2013
• Charles Raynal Named to the Triangle’s 40 Under 40 for 2013
  March 28, 2013
• Steve Benjamin Featured in Bond Buyer Article
  Bipartisan Bond Resolution Introduced in House to Gain Support for Munis
  March 14, 2013
• Steve Benjamin Named to Columbia’s 50 Most Influential People of 2012
  February 11, 2013
• The Bond Buyer Speaks to Steve Benjamin at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting
  February 1, 2013
• Charla Hall Joins Parker Poe’s Public Finance Group in Raleigh Office
  January 16, 2013
• Bruce Thompson Named Top Political Influencer in NC
  January 7, 2013
• Bruce Thompson Interviewed by CBJ on New Political Alignment in Raleigh
  CBJ Sound Off: How will the new political alignment in Raleigh affect business law and regulation?
  January 4, 2013
• Mac McCarley Elected State Bar Councilor of 26th Judicial District
  November 15, 2012
• UNC School of Law Honors Mac McCarley
  September 27, 2012
• NCBA Publishes Health Care Article by Raleigh Attorneys
  Medicaid & Medicare Audits: An Emerging Threat to Providers
  August 3, 2012
• GFOA Publication Features Article Written by Bill Hirata
  Financial Projections: Securities Law Concerns with Bond Disclosure Documents
  July 30, 2012
• Steve Benjamin Elected USCM Trustee
  June 20, 2012
• Mayor Stephen Benjamin Joins Parker Poe's Columbia Office
  May 2, 2012
• Al Guarnieri Interviewed on International Investment by Charlotte Regional Partnership
  April 16, 2012
• Parker Poe Attorneys Named SC Super Lawyers for 2012
  March 28, 2012
• Parker Poe Names Six New Partners
  January 3, 2012
• Charlotte City Attorney Will Join Parker Poe’s Government Group
  November 17, 2011
• Renee Montgomery Receives Dr. Ellen B. Winston Award
  Parker Poe Attorney Recognized for Contributions to Home Care and Hospice Industry
  November 8, 2011
• U.S. News & World Report Names Parker Poe Top-Tier Law Firm for 2012
  Firm Ranked #1 in 33 Legal Areas
  November 1, 2011
• Jason Puhlasky Joins Parker Poe Consulting
  October 6, 2011
• Mark Simmons Joins Parker Poe Consulting
  August 3, 2011
• State House Veterans Join Forces Under Parker Poe Consulting
  August 1, 2011
• SC Economic Developer's Association Names Ray Jones to Board
  May 20, 2011
• Meeker, Mover
  April 27, 2011
• 'Time to move on,' Raleigh mayor says
  April 27, 2011
• South Carolina Bill Calls on Congress to Approve Streamlining Legislation
  February 18, 2011
• Parker Poe Names Three New Partners in Charlotte and Charleston Offices
  January 20, 2011
• 2010 Federal Election Analysis
  Government & Public Policy Alert
  November 3, 2010
• 2010 North Carolina Election Analysis
  Government & Public Policy Alert
  November 3, 2010
• 2010 South Carolina Election Analysis
  Government & Public Policy Alert
  November 3, 2010
• NC Public Policy Center Names Bruce Thompson in Top Lobbyists List
  September 29, 2010
• U.S.News & World Report Names Parker Poe as a Top-Tier Law Firm
  Firm Ranked #1 in 22 Legal Areas for 2010
  September 15, 2010
• 61 Parker Poe Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® for 2011
  August 18, 2010
• NC Receiving $545 Million for High-Speed Rail
  January 28, 2010
• New Law Extends The Life of Development Approvals until December 31, 2010
  Government & Public Policy Alert
  August 17, 2009
• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
  February 20, 2009
• Bruce Thompson: Delegate Reported from the Democratic National Convention
  August 29, 2008
• Trucking companies sue to overturn state fines
  January 15, 2008
• Two From Parker Poe Elected as Mayors
  November 7, 2007
• J. Allen Adams Receives Professionalism Award
  November 6, 2007
• Anthony Fox Profiled in the Charlotte Observer
  February 7, 2007
• 2006 Election Report
  November 20, 2006
• North Carolina State Government Ethics Act
  August 4, 2006
• We've Staked a Claim in the Heart of Raleigh
  July 28, 2006
• State, ACS Ready for a Fight
  July 21, 2006
• Gov. Easley Reappoints Carpenter and Thompson to the Center for Public Television Board
  June 23, 2006
• Discovery in the Electronic Information Age Part II
  March 13, 2006
• Discovery in the Electronic Information Age
  March 2, 2006
• Parker Poe Names New Partners
  January 20, 2006
• Seventeen Parker Poe Attorneys Among "Legal Elite"
  January 20, 2006
• Governmental Consultants To Expand Parker Poe Presence in South Carolina
  November 7, 2005
• Parker Poe's Meeker Wins 3rd Mayoral Term as Public Life Complements Legal Career
  October 17, 2005
• Parker Poe Attorneys Among The Best Lawyers in America
  September 13, 2005
• Henry Campen Named General Counsel for Carolinas Wireless Association
  August 22, 2005
• Announcing Parker Poe's 2004 Fall Associates and Special Counsel
  November 4, 2004
• John Anderson, Chip Holmes, Ray Jones and Scott Leo Have Become Partners in the Firm
  January 12, 2004
• Challenging the State's Largest Payor: OAH Looks over DMS's Shoulder
  October 25, 2002

Case Studies

• Historic Judgment Won for PCS Phosphate