Christian Schütz

Christian advises international manufacturers and economic development authorities on the structuring and negotiation of state and local incentive packages, tax abatements, and infrastructure incentives for large-scale U.S. investment projects. At the local level, he has experience with the representation of both companies and industrial development boards negotiating payment-in-lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreements and supporting real estate and equipment lease structures. At the state level, he has negotiated and coordinated comprehensive incentive packages supporting projects involving hundreds of millions of dollars in capital investments and significant job creation, including capital grants, infrastructure grants, and workforce development incentives. His work includes the negotiation and coordination of additional transportation and utility incentives provided by other public stakeholders to secure further infrastructure support for such projects.

As a native German, Christian regularly advises German, Swiss, and Austrian companies expanding into the United States and counsels U.S. clients on investments and business ventures in Germany and across the European Union. Christian serves as Honorary Consul of Germany in Tennessee.

• Represented an international manufacturing company in securing a comprehensive state and local incentive package supporting a $250 million U.S. investment and the creation of 600+ jobs, including a 20-year PILOT tax abatement valued at more than $22 million.

• Negotiated incentive agreements with the State of Tennessee totaling more than $26 million, including capital investment grants, infrastructure grants, and workforce development incentives, and drafted and successfully negotiated the Memorandum of Understanding, Capital Grant Agreement, and Accountability Agreement governing the project.

• Structured and negotiated local economic development incentives, including PILOT agreements, industrial development board lease structures, and land acquisition agreements, as well as infrastructure commitments exceeding $6 million.

• Coordinated negotiations with multiple public agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Valley Authority, resulting in additional transportation and infrastructure incentives exceeding $4 million.

• Represented an Industrial Development Board in negotiating PILOT agreements and related real and equipment lease agreements providing 10-year real and personal property tax abatements in connection with foreign companies' investment projects.

• Honorary Consul of Germany in Tennessee (2021 – present)

• Baker Donelson Adds Real Estate Shareholder Christian Schütz in Nashville (January 7, 2026)

• Nashville Post Highlights Addition of Christian Schütz to Baker Donelson's Real Estate Practice (January 9, 2026)