Professional Background: Jim's professional career began as an associate at the Birmingham, Alabama law firm of Bradley, Arant, Rose & White where he worked in the late 1960s in the areas of municipal securities and public law, tax, mergers and acquisitions and corporate securities. His interest in public law led to a position as legal counsel to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and subsequently to J.H. Shannon & Co., an investment banking firm that was one of the founders of revenue bond financing for health care institutions.

As legal advisor and subsequently consultant to UAB, Jim led the effort to fund a significant expansion of the campus of this post-World War II urban research university and medical center, including the original concept, tax, reimbursement strategy and financial structure of a medical faculty practice plan, the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, to support the teacher, research, and service function of UAB. Later he coordinated the innovative planning and financing of a world class outpatient facility for the Foundatiojn. Jim has served as the investment banker for start-up biotechnology companies capitalizing on scientific discoveries at UAB, and in connection with numerous leveraged buy-outs, tax-exempt and middle market financings. Jim also works on valuation and fairness opinions related to corporate acquisitions and reorganizations and gift and estate tax planning.

Project Finance and Coordination: An important aspect of Jim's work has been project coordination and financial planning for major private and public-private projects, including a green-field steel mill, an automobile plant site location, an airport restructuring and modernization, a convention and civic center expansion and a water and sewer system restructuring.

For 22 years, beginning in 1977, Jim served as financial advisor to the City of Birmingham and its principal agencies and assisted the City in addressing the problems of a core industrial city with a declining population, low per capita income and changing economy by implementing development and financing strategies that have resulted in job growth, improved infrastructure and civic amenities, a growing tax base, and improved credit standing.

Investment and Debt Management: In recent years, Jim has developed a specialty in performing asset-liability analysis for governmental and non-profit organizations and middle market companies, and in preparing financial, investment and debt plans and policies for these organizations in the context of long-range financial plans.

Jim is a co-founder and member of the board of directors of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama whose mission is applied research and public education on public policy issues in Alabama. He received his AB in History from Princeton University and his LLB from Yale University Law School.