Ms. Drayton primarily represents government entities and corporations that interact with government entities. As a member of the Firm's Real Estate and Environmental practices, she focuses on commercial real estate transactions involving government entities, economic development matters related to "PILOT" (payment-in-lieu-of taxes) transactions, and local and state government incentives. Her environmental law practice has an emphasis on Brownfield Agreements, violations of the Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits involving the operation and maintenance of sanitary sewer systems. She successfully negotiated a $2.5 million consent decree with the Department of Justice, Region IV of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) which resulted in one of the lowest settlements in the state of Tennessee and EPA's Region IV. Ms. Drayton regularly handles regulatory environmental compliance matters involving EPA Region IV and TDEC for public entities and private corporations.
Ms. Drayton also has extensive experience with government contracting, including handling procurement matters, bid protests, and drafting and negotiating of government related contracts such as public-private partnership agreements, encroachment agreements, lease agreements, and purchase and sale agreements. She has represented telecommunications industry clients and has appeared before municipal boards and commissions on land use and zoning matters.
Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Ms. Drayton served as the senior assistant city attorney for the City of Memphis. During her 14-year tenure in the City's Law Division, she was responsible for managing the transactional department for all municipal matters, with a focus on government contracting, environmental transactions, public finance (serving as in-house disclosure counsel), grants compliance and administration, and regulatory compliance matters. Ms. Drayton served as in-house counsel assigned to the Board of Adjustment, Landmarks Commission, Land Use Control Board and Office of Planning and Development. She also served as local legal counsel for the Emergency Management Agency following a severe weather event, as well as participated on the team responsible for submitting applications to TEMA and FEMA, and the appeal of deobligation of FEMA funds.
Ms. Drayton has prior experience in private practice, having litigated a variety of civil matters in federal and state courts, including commercial, employment, torts and products liability, electronic commerce, and technological litigation lawsuits for national and mid-size companies.
Ms. Drayton is a member of Baker Donelson's Board of Directors.