Smith Moore Leatherwood's Economic Development and Business Relocation group stands ready with the experience, knowledge and relationships necessary to help you evaluate potential sites, negotiate incentives, evaluate labor and employment issues, overcome potential land use obstacles, and acquire, finance and develop sites for relocation and expansion.
Our lawyers have a long history of leadership in the economic development arena, serving as officers and directors of state and local Chambers of Commerce, governmental and regulatory advisory boards and economic development organizations. Our attorneys have also successfully negotiated numerous tax and other economic incentives for expanding or relocating businesses with state and local governments.
Our Business Relocation group includes real estate development lawyers who will work with you from the beginning to the end of your site selection process, from evaluation and selection of the site and negotiation of the purchase agreement to commencement of operations. Relocating companies often have multiple sites under consideration, and our knowledge and experience in land use planning allow us to help you evaluate and compare the feasibility of alternative sites. Often a site must be rezoned and various governmental permits must be obtained in order to allow the use proposed by a relocating or expanding company. Our Land Use attorneys have appeared before numerous Planning Boards, Zoning Commissions, Boards of Adjustment, City and County Councils and Boards of Commissioners to handle rezoning applications. We also work closely with local planning staffs to resolve site plan and other real estate development and operational issues.
In addition, we will help you perform the necessary real estate due diligence prior to acquisition, negotiate design and construction contracts, close the acquisition and financing, and resolve construction issues.
Our business lawyers in the group will counsel you regarding the licenses and permits required to do business. In addition, if an acquisition or merger is driving a relocation or expansion, we assist clients in connection with mergers, acquisitions, sales, divestitures, spin-offs, corporate restructurings, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures and strategic alliances.
Environmental lawyers also form a part of this group in order to help you with site evaluation and regulatory compliance, such as licensing and permitting, investigation and remediation. We also provide on occupational safety and health compliance issues and help clients develop programs to comply with the standards applicable to their operations.