Steve Edds, shareholder in the Firm's Jackson office, concentrates his practice in government finance and government debt restructuring, structured corporate and government finance and government relations. He has participated in reviewing, analyzing and structuring a variety of tax exempt and taxable government financings. He has worked closely with governments in developing and implementing their business incentive programs. In recent years, Mr. Edds has been lead counsel on over $20 billion of government debt issuance and restructuring. He also regularly serves as counsel to a number of nationwide banks and investment banks.
Mr. Edds has been involved in financings for government general obligations, health care, water and sewer systems, solid waste facilities, port and airport facilities, manufacturing and processing facilities, multi-family and single-family housing, economic and community development, higher education and capital improvements in more than 20 states across the country. Mr. Edds is a contributor to The Issuer's Guide to Tax Exempt Financing and has extensive experience serving as bond, special tax, underwriter's, issuer's, trustee's and credit enhancer's counsel. He is a past editor of Barrister Magazine.
- Represented Chevron USA in a $650 million financing for the expansion of their largest U.S. refinery.
- In 2008, as a result of the collapse of the auction rate securities market, refinanced and restructured more than $200 million in government debt.
- Represented the world's second largest truck manufacturer in all matters related to site selection and construction of their first U.S. engine plant.
- Following Hurricane Katrina, participated in the drafting of congressional legislation to provide assistance to governments and businesses in the affected areas.
- Served as lead counsel in a $200 million tax credit financing, the second largest tax credit financing ever done.
- Represented numerous U.S. and international companies in the location, financing and construction of facilities in the U.S.
- Worked with an investment banking firm to develop a government commercial paper program that did not require a third party liquidity.
- Served as lead counsel in a $200 million bond tender done to allow for debt refinancing.
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America® in Public Finance Law since 2004
- Listed since 2007 in Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers as a leading corporate/commercial lawyer (municipal finance) in Mississippi
- Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2006 – 2007, 2011
- Member – American and Mississippi (Past President of Young Lawyers Section, Vice President and Chair of the Committee on Professional Responsibility) Bar Associations
- Director – American Judicature Society
- Member – National Association of Bond Lawyers
- Chair – Mississippi Arts Commission (1984 – 1989)
- Board Member – Southern Arts Federation
- Member – Leadership Jackson
- Trustee – Mississippi Museum of Art
- Mississippi
- U.S. Supreme Court
- University of Mississippi Law School, J.D., 1973
- University of Mississippi, B.A., 1971
- Editor of Ole Miss Annual
- University of Mississippi Hall of Fame
- Omicron Delta Kappa
- Phi Delta Phi