ABOUT ME

I grew up in a town of 5,000 people, and in a home where good government and good policy were taken seriously.  A college internship with my home county showed me that local government is where things really get done to improve our neighbors’ lives.  I found a law practice home in public finance that has allowed me to be part of that action.  Working in this field has given me a wonderful opportunity to see, to learn about, and to serve the communities of my adopted home state.

I’ve been in the business long enough to have some ideas on how to handle whatever your particular issues might be. I take pride in my long-term relationships with clients, but I still think I do some of my best work with local government officials who aren’t as familiar with the borrowing process. That’s one reason I’ve been invited by the School of Government and the NCGFOA to present to new finance officers and on the basics of the borrowing process. I have good working relationships with the bankers, LGC personnel, USDA personnel and other market participants.

I’ve represented cities, counties, towns and other local governments throughout North Carolina to solve their project financing problems. I’ve also worked on a wide variety of innovative economic development projects that involve local government financial transactions, including working on agreements for multi-jurisdictional industrial parks and for a variety of public-private partnerships.

I’m proud to be a lawyer, but I appreciate being told that I’m “not stuffy like those other bond lawyers.” and that I’m good at explaining things the way folks can understand.  I have over 30 years of experience in this field, but I’m always looking for ways to do things better, and always up for trying something new.

I live in Chapel Hill with my wife, our cat Fellaini (or Fifi for short), our dogs (of indeterminate breed) Spot and Pal, and however many of our four children happen to be breezing through at the time. I root for the Tar Heels, Yankees and Manchester United.

EDUCATION

• University of North Carolina School of Law, JD 1985
• Cornell University, BA 1982

BAR ADMISSIONS

• North Carolina

CONTACT

bob@shlawgroup.com
Phone: 919-810-3165