Parker Poe has been counsel to municipalities and counties since the 1950s. Our local government practice is composed of seasoned attorneys with more than 50 years combined experience in advising municipal and county boards, councils, commissions, managers and staff.

Our attorneys serve as town attorneys for several North Carolina municipalities. In addition, we provide lead or co-counsel assistance to city, town and county attorneys and their staffs throughout the Carolinas. We offer creative advice in addressing the complex problems and opportunities facing today's local governments.

Experience Highlights

We provide across the board representation with experience in the following areas:

• Representing governing bodies, planning boards and boards of adjustment
• Drafting ordinances, land use codes and plans and local legislation
• Negotiating and drafting annexation agreements, interlocal agreements and developer agreements
• Structuring economic and community development projects
• Developing administrative enforcement procedures and code enforcement
• Trying condemnation cases
• Advising on procurement, purchasing and public bidding requirements
• Preparing Requests for Proposals and Requests for Qualifications
• Handling zoning, subdivision and other planning matters
• Defending annexation appeals
• Assisting in incorporation efforts
• Advising on utility and municipal service provisions
• Counseling on environmental and employment matters
• Representing cities and counties on general obligation issues since 1985, including Asheville, Charlotte, Concord, Durham, Wilmington and Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Litigating municipal and county matters at the trial court and appellate levels, including annexation, tort liability, land use and zoning and open meetings
• Trying landmark property tax cases throughout the United States
• Handling motions and trials for local governments on key issues

Experience

• Participated as bond counsel or underwriter's counsel in most of the significant water and sewer revenue bond financings in North Carolina and South Carolina.
• Developed the concept of Certificate of Participation (COP) financing in conjunction with lease/purchases and installment/purchases and served as bond counsel or underwriter's counsel in more than $2 billion of COPs financing.
• Represented cities and counties in lawsuits and administrative appeals, including the Town of Spencer, City of Monroe, Town of Huntersville, Town of Weddington, City of Belmont, Town of Clayton, Town of Maggie Valley, Cabarrus County, Stanly County, Jackson County, Halifax County, Graham County, Wilson County, Brunswick County and Edgecombe County, North Carolina.
• Directed the first financing for a solid waste authority under new North Carolina legislation allowing counties to create solid waste authorities.

News

• Lawyers Weekly Features Interview with Sidney Evering
  'Health of our judicial system' depends on diversity
  April 15, 2013
• Sidney Evering Receives Diversity Award from USC Law School
  March 13, 2013
• Sidney Evering Named to Columbia’s 20 Under 40 for 2013
  February 19, 2013
• Mac McCarley Elected State Bar Councilor of 26th Judicial District
  November 15, 2012
• UNC School of Law Honors Mac McCarley
  September 27, 2012
• Charles Meeker Recognized with John Ross Leadership Award
  August 31, 2012
• Parker Poe Attorneys Named SC Super Lawyers for 2012
  March 28, 2012
• Real Estate Development & Land Use - June 2011
  Real Estate Development News
  June 21, 2011
• Parker Poe Names Three New Partners in Charlotte and Charleston Offices
  January 20, 2011
• Municipal Attorneys Tap Fox
  August 31, 2009
• Parker Poe Expands Its Health Care Practice with the Addition of John Crill in Raleigh
  February 8, 2008
• Parker Poe Expands Public Finance and Governmental Practice in Columbia
  January 31, 2007
• Parker Poe's Meeker Wins 3rd Mayoral Term as Public Life Complements Legal Career
  October 17, 2005
• Announcing Parker Poe's 2004 Fall Associates and Special Counsel
  November 4, 2004
• Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP is Pleased to Announce the Addition of Three Attorneys in Our Columbia Office
  June 2, 2004