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WHO WE ARE

Charles E. Carpenter, A Professional Corporation founded in April 1978, officially changed the name and legal structure of the law firm to Carpenter Law, PLLC (the "Firm") in 2018.  Our Firm's principal office located in the historic Tri-State Bank Building on the iconic Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, and the secondary office is located in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee.  Celebrating more than forty years of delivering successful legal services to the southeastern region, our Firm is well established in the municipal finance industry and has been nationally recognized as sole Bond Counsel since 1992.  The primary practice focus of Carpenter Law are in the areas of corporate, transactional and municipal finance law where the firm, as Bond Counsel, Disclosure Counsel, Issuer’s Counsel and/or Counsel to the Underwriters’, facilitates the issuance of various tax-exempt and taxable bonds that finance a variety of public infrastructure projects with airports, utilities, multifamily housing, healthcare facilities, sports arenas/stadiums, transportation and various other economic development financings for governmental municipalities and quasi-governmental entities.  Our Firm has developed a wealth of unique practice expertise in its various roles as Bond Counsel, Disclosure Counsel and Issuer Counsel, a wealth of experience in representing national municipal broker-dealers as Counsel to the Underwriters, and has created a national network of business and governmental relationships that enables our Firm to deliver stellar professional legal services efficiently and economically to its various public, quasi-public and private sector clients.

We have experience in working with various types of corporate and municipal transactional matters, specifically in the areas of public finance with the issuance of tax-exempt and taxable bonds along with the federal and state tax diligence and continuing disclosure compliance regarding such securities, corporate law with the security and collateralization of loans and related financial platforms, Minority Women Business Enterprise issues and compliance with various governmental and quasi-governmental entities, healthcare law issues with behavioral health organizations and managed care organizations and entertainment law issues. Additionally, we have substantial experience in working with governmental stimulus packages and financing programs for small business and non-profit entities.

Since 1992, our Firm has been listed among "Municipal Bond Attorneys" contained in The Bond Buyer's Municipal Marketplace (the "RedBook"), being the first African-American law firm in the State of Tennessee to ever receive such distinction.  Additionally, our Firm has been nationally recognized in the "Top 100 Law Firms as Counsel to the Underwriters" based on the dollar volume of transactions closed as Underwriters' Counsel, ranking our Firm 45th (Spring 2004 Edition), 57th (Spring 2007 Edition), 53rd (Fall 2010 Edition), 75th (Fall 2011 Edition) and 71st (Spring 2014 Edition) in the Redbook. Since 1992, our Firm has been involved in more than two hundred forty-five (245) public finance transactions aggregating to over Sixteen Billion Dollars in total volume.

 

We recognize that the legal field is a service industry. Our philosophy is that clients hire attorneys because they need assistance in navigating through complex legal and business issues, which we accommodate by providing seasoned judgement, sound legal advice and the basis for successful problem solving by strategically outlining a proven course of action.  Our unique expertise and broad experience enables us to give all client matters the special attention and skill which they deserve and expect. This is the philosophy that has helped us thrive for more than forty years and we continue to enjoy the reputation and respect of our clients, the business community and members of the Bar.  Since inception, our Firm and has been continuously engaged in the private practice of law in the State of Tennessee and other jurisdictions.

*Not certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization. Certification as a specialist in all other listed areas of law is not currently available in Tennessee*

 

Phone: 901.523.7788
Fax: 901.523.2849
Email: charlesc@386beale.com


Education
Howard University, B.A.
University of Notre Dame, J.D.


Licenses
Tennessee
District of Columbia

Mississippi

Professional Memberships and Associations
Memphis Bar Association
District of Columbia Bar Association
National Association of Bond Lawyers

American Bar Association
National Bar Association

National Housing & Rehabilitation Association

CHARLES E. CARPENTER, SR.

Attorney Charles E. Carpenter, Sr. is the Owner and a Managing Member of Carpenter Law, PLLC (successor of Charles E. Carpenter, A Professional Corporation) (the “Firm”). 

 

Mr. Carpenter has extensive experience in corporate and transactional matters and the Firm serves as general counsel for several public and private corporations and limited liability entities. Mr. Carpenter has a primary practice focus in the area of public finance, wherein he has served as sole Bond Counsel, Disclosure Counsel, Underwriters' Counsel and Issuer’s Counsel on various tax-exempt and taxable financing structures, including airports, utilities, multifamily housing, healthcare facilities, sports arenas/stadiums, transportation and various other economic development financings for governmental municipalities and quasi-governmental entities. In this capacity, Mr. Carpenter has handled many complex public finance matters, and as such, has provided sound advice which led to successful transactions for the Firm’s clients. 

 

Mr. Carpenter also has extensive experience in advising various behavioral healthcare organizations on various legal corporate matters, advising on sports and entertainment law matters and advising minority and women business enterprise (M/WBE) clients and in numerous aspects of redevelopment issues and economic development projects, from inception to closing. 

 

The Firm has been listed in The Bond Buyer’s Municipal Marketplace (the “Red Book”) since 1992. The Firm was the first ever African-American law firm in the State of Tennessee to achieve this status. In April 2018, Mr. Carpenter celebrated forty (40) years in private practice and was honored by receiving recognition in Marquis Who’s Who
 

Mr. Carpenter  is currently or formerly affiliated with the following organizations:

  • Lane College, Jackson, Tennessee, Board of Trustees, Member

  • The Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, Member

  • American Bar Association, Fellow

  • Mt. Vernon Baptist Church—Westwood, Member

  • NAACP, Life Member

  • The April 4th Foundation, Inc., Board of Directors, Chairman

the team

 

 

Phone: 901.523.7788
Fax: 901.523.2849
Email: corbinc@386beale.com


Education
University of Tennessee - Knoxville, B.A.
University of Memphis School of Law, J.D.


Licenses
Tennessee
District of Columbia


Professional Memberships and Associations

Memphis Bar Association

District of Columbia Bar Association

National Association of Bond Lawyers

American Bar Association

National Bar Association

National Housing & Rehabilitation Association

CORBIN I. CARPENTER

Attorney Corbin I. Carpenter is the Owner and a Managing Member of Carpenter Law, PLLC (the "Firm"). Attorney Carpenter has experience in various corporate, housing and transactional matters, and has a primary practice focus in the area of municipal finance.  In this capacity, Attorney Carpenter, as Bond Counsel, Disclosure Counsel, Issuer's Counsel, and Counsel to the Underwriters’, facilitates the issuance of various tax-exempt and taxable bonds that finance a variety of public infrastructure projects with airports, utilities, multifamily housing, healthcare facilities, sports arenas/stadiums, transportation and various other economic development financings for governmental municipalities and quasi-governmental entities.   

 

Attorney Carpenter also has extensive experience in blight and code enforcement litigation in Environmental Court, drafting, negotiating and reviewing contracts for corporations, professional entities and small businesses, and advising on both sports/entertainment law matters and corporate/non-profit governance and compliance matters.

Attorney Carpenter is a legacy corporate entrepreneur who actively perpetuates equitable avenues for community infrastructure growth through experiential education, transparent mentorship and creating access within the realms of law, finance, and politics.  He has a unique and long-standing civic pedigree of serving on boards and being actively involved with the community and non-profit sectors. 

Attorney Carpenter is currently or formerly affiliated with the following organizations:

 

Attorney Carpenter has garnered a laudable reputation and earned several honors and accolades throughout his career, most notably when he was awarded Attorney of the Year from the Top 100 Registry in 2021; an honoree of the Memphis Business Journal's Best of the Bar Awards in 2021 and 2019; an honoree of the National Black Lawyer's Top 40 Under 40 in 2021; inducted into the Marquis Who's Who in 2020; an honoree of the Memphis Business Journal's 40 Under 40 in 2018; an honoree Memphis Flyer’s Top 20 Under 30 in 2018; and an honoree of the Top 40 Under 40 Urban Elite Professionals in 2016.

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