John F. Lushis, Jr., a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., presented “Setting the Stage: The Basics of TIF” and “TIF Financing Variation” on August 15 and “Understanding TIF Bond Financing” on August 16 at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) Summer School at the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit in Detroit, Michigan.

“Setting the Stage: The Basics of TIF” focused on a general understanding of what TIF is and why communities use it to achieve economic development objectives. “TIF Financing Variation” covered alternatives to the issuance of bonds in a TIF project, including the use of low-interest loans and a public-private partnership component to reduce project construction costs. “Understanding TIF Bond Financing” covered the components of a bond issuance including the creation of Neighborhood Improvement Districts to levy special tax assessments to secure bonds. The presentations were part of a week-long series of courses sponsored by the CDFA Training Institute August 12-16. For more information, please click here.

Lushis focuses his practice on real estate, commercial transaction law, and environmental law. He provides counsel on an extensive diversity of transactions including leases, acquisitions and divestitures, tax-exempt and conventional financings, brownfields redevelopment, and an array of commercial agreements. Lushis has worked on multi-million-dollar loans and major tax-exempt financings for businesses and non-profits including Cetronia Ambulance Corps, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Moravian College, and St. Luke’s Hospital.  He also has been involved in tax increment financing projects including Hamilton Crossings Retail Complex and West Hills Business Center. Lushis is solicitor for Lehigh County Industrial Development Authority and has been solicitor to Northampton County New Jobs Corp, Northampton County General Purpose Authority, and Lehigh Valley Economic Investment Corp.

In late 2015, Lushis became involved in “P3” projects (public-private partnerships) and is a lead architect of a first-of-its-kind P3 project in Pennsylvania. This project, which includes a novel financing structure, will allow Northampton County to replace or rehabilitate numerous bridges at substantial cost and time savings compared to traditional methods. The project has become a model for other P3 projects and has received statewide and national attention. As an outgrowth of the project, Lushis assisted in drafting legislation signed by Governor Wolfe in October 2017 to allow counties having a certain population, such as Northampton County, to construct a new jail using a P3 transaction structure.

Lushis is also registered to practice in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and his knowledge of intellectual property is a valuable resource for clients who have projects and transactions in the area. He received his B.S.M.E., cum laude, from University of Notre Dame in 1977, and his J.D. from Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law in 1980.

Posted in: Business Law, Economic Development Law, Environmental, John F. Lushis, Jr., Mergers & Acquisitions, News | Tags: CDFA, Council of Development Finance Agencies, John Lushis, TIF

S. Graham Simmons III, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Administrative Partner of the firm’s Pennsylvania office, was named honorary chair of the 31^st Annual Children’s Home of Easton’s Golf Tournament, which took place on Monday, May 20 at the Northampton Country Club. Simmons has been a supporter and contributor to The Children’s Home of Easton since 2007.

The Children’s Home of Easton is a nonprofit organization that provides long term care for children in need, as well as, assistance to their families. They provide a continuum of services, including group care and other family-like programs in a safe, compassionate atmosphere.  The professional staff guides, supports, and encourages the children to believe in their own self-worth and reach their full potential. For more information on The Children’s Home of Easton, please visit thechildrenshome.org.

A business and real estate lawyer, Simmons serves both public and private sector clients on all types of M&A transactions, commercial and syndicated credit facilities, economic development projects, real estate transactions, leases, and corporate work.  He has represented clients across a diverse spectrum of industries, and is deeply experienced in the banking and financial services, health care, real estate development, economic development, and automobile dealership industries.  Simmons has been proud to represent buyers and sellers of businesses throughout Pennsylvania and beyond, as well as developers and lenders who have invested in the Lehigh Valley’s cities through incentives such as the Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ) and the City Revitalization & Improvement Zone (CRIZ). He also serves as Solicitor to the City of Easton Parking Authority.

Simmons has been recognized in Philadelphia Magazine as a Rising Star, a distinction for lawyers age 40 and under or who have been practicing fewer than 10 years, and reserved for no more than 2.5% of all attorneys in Pennsylvania.  He has been honored by Lehigh Valley Business as one of their annual Forty Under 40, which recognizes young professionals who exhibit talent and promise and have a well-documented track record of achievements in business. He is an active member of College Hill Presbyterian Church, and is a member of the Board of the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Easton, the Greater Valley YMCA, and of the Greater Easton Development Partnership, where he is the immediate past Chairman.

Simmons earned his J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from Villanova University School of Law in 2004, and his B.A. from Roanoke College in 2001.

Posted in: Banking & Financial Services, Business Law, Economic Development Law, Health Care & Life Sciences, Municipal Law, News, Real Estate & Finance, S. Graham Simmons, III | Tags: Business Law, Children's Home of Easton, Graham Simmons

S. Graham Simmons III, a Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., has been elected Administrative Partner of the firm’s Allentown, Pennsylvania office. He also serves Co-Chair the Business Law Group.

As the administrative partner, Simmons will oversee the daily functions of the Pennsylvania office and work directly with the firm’s management committee.

A business and real estate lawyer, Simmons serves both public and private sector clients on all types of M&A transactions, commercial and syndicated credit facilities, economic development projects, real estate transactions, leases, and corporate work.  He has represented clients across a diverse spectrum of industries, and is deeply experienced in the banking and financial services, health care, real estate development, economic development, and automobile dealership industries.  Simmons has been proud to represent buyers and sellers of businesses throughout Pennsylvania and beyond, as well as developers and lenders who have invested in the Lehigh Valley’s cities through incentives such as the Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ) and the City Revitalization & Improvement Zone (CRIZ). He also serves as Solicitor to the City of Easton Parking Authority.

Simmons has been recognized in Philadelphia Magazine as a Rising Star, a distinction for lawyers age 40 and under or who have been practicing fewer than 10 years, and reserved for no more than 2.5% of all attorneys in Pennsylvania.  He has been honored by Lehigh Valley Business as one of their annual Forty Under 40, which recognizes young professionals who exhibit talent and promise and have a well-documented track record of achievements in business. He is an active member of College Hill Presbyterian Church, and is a member of the Board of the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Easton, the Greater Valley YMCA, and of the Greater Easton Development Partnership, where he is the immediate past Chairman.

Simmons earned his J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from Villanova University School of Law in 2004, and his B.A. from Roanoke College in 2001.

Posted in: Banking & Financial Services, Business Law, Economic Development Law, Health Care & Life Sciences, News, Real Estate & Finance, S. Graham Simmons, III | Tags: Administrative Partner, Allentown, Business Law, Graham Simmons, lehigh valley, pennsylvania, Real Estate Law

Theodore J. Zeller III, attorney at law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., will present at The Brewers of Pennsylvania 4^th Annual Mid Atlantic Brewers’ Symposium. The event will be held at the Days Inn Penn State on October 11-12. For more information and to register, click here.

This event features twelve, 45-minute seminars featuring leaders of the craft brewing industry. With the science of brewing and business of brewing as the focus, attendees will be given valuable resources and insight, plus a unique perspective on Pennsylvania’s ever-changing craft beer landscape. On October 12, Zeller will present “2019 Sales Tax & Craft Beer Legal Updates,”.

Zeller, Chair of the firm’s Liquor Law Practice Group, has extensive experience in liquor law, regulatory licensing, commercial transactions, real estate transactions, and litigation. He was lead counsel in a beer rights case brought against the world’s largest brewers, and is General Counsel to Brewers of Pennsylvania.  Known throughout Pennsylvania, he also represents beer interests on a national level and advises breweries and wholesalers on state regulatory matters involving beer distribution and franchise laws. He regularly prepares distribution agreements for his clients, and coordinates state and federal licensing for manufacturing and national distribution. Zeller has tried multiple cases in county and federal court, including jury trials, and hundreds of cases before arbitration panels, district justices, and administrative law judges. He is General Counsel to D.G. Yuengling and Son, Inc., represents alcohol interests in every category and has helped numerous start-up breweries, wineries, distilleries, and retailers.  He presently serves as Chairman of the Allentown Parking Authority. Zeller is an author on the firm’s Liquor Law Blog. He earned his J.D. from Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, and his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

Posted in: Business Law, Economic Development Law, Liquor Law, Licensing, Manufacturing and Distribution, Litigation, News, Theodore J. Zeller III | Tags: Brewers of Pennsylvania, Brewing, Business of Brewing, craft beer, Craft Brewing Industry, Mid Atlantic Brewers’ Symposium, pennsylvania, Ted Zeller

John F. Lushis, Jr., a Member of Norris McLaughlin, P.A., and Co-Chair of its Economic Development Law Group, presented at the 2017 RE3 Conference from November 1 to November 3 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown.  He and Brett W. Cox of TRC Environmental Corporation presented “Bethlehem Works and Commerce Center at 20 Years,” providing insights from both an owner’s and consultant’s perspective that are relevant today; how and why key decisions were made, how they were implemented, and acknowledge the key roles of all stakeholders; and demonstrating the value to the Bethlehem-Allentown region twenty years later.

Hosted by EnviroBlend, Metal Waste Treatment by Premier Magnesia, LLC, in cooperation with the Association for Redevelopment Initiatives, the RE3 Conference spotlights best practices and lessons learned for the cleanup and repositioning of industrial, manufacturing, and logistics-oriented sites.  In its third year, the RE3 Conference has become an essential gathering of professionals looking to redevelop brownfield properties through real world remediation technology and methods.

Lushis focuses his practice on transaction, real estate, and environmental law.  He serves as one of the Firm’s corporate environmental counsel, focusing on soil and groundwater issues and other environmental issues for various businesses.  He provides counsel transactions including loan transactions, corporate restructurings, acquisitions and divestitures, leases, industrial development authority financings, and a wide array of commercial agreements.  He has worked on multi-million-dollar loans and major tax-exempt financings for businesses and non-profits, as well as tax increment financing projects that have spurred major industrial and commercial developments.  Lushis serves as solicitor for Northampton County General Purpose Authority, and co-solicitor for Lehigh County Industrial Development Authority, Northampton County New Jobs Corp, and Lehigh’s Economic Advancement Project.  In his work as solicitor for the General Purpose Authority, he is one of the “architects” of the first-of-their-kind P3 projects in the United States with particular focus on innovative financing.

Lushis has represented some of the Lehigh Valley’s most prominent entities, including American Bank, BB&T, Health Network Labs, Horwith Trucks, Lehigh University, LifePath, Melting Pot Restaurants, Molded Acoustical Products of Easton, the Paxos Restaurant Group, and Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.  In his career, he has been involved in transactions and financings totaling well into the billions of dollars.

Lushis earned his J.D. from Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law in 1980, and his B.S.M.E., cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame in 1977.  He holds an AV (Preeminent) rating from Martindale-Hubbel.

Posted in: Economic Development Law, John F. Lushis, Jr., News | Tags: Allentown Attorney, Bethlehem, economic development, John Lushis, Lehigh Valley Lawyer, pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Redevelopment Initiatives

Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is proud to sponsor the 2017 Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) Fall Conference to be held at the Renaissance Allentown Hotel from Monday, October 23, through Wednesday, October 25.  John F. Lushis, Jr., and S. Graham Simmons, Members of the firm and Co-Chairs of its Economic Development Practice Group, will participate in the event.  Simmons will introduce and wrap up “From Brownfields to Business: Turning Blight into Opportunity” on Tuesday, 3:00 – 4:00 PM. and Lushis will discuss “Addressing Aging Infrastructure through Public-Private Partnerships” on Wednesday, 9:00 – 10:15 AM.

Other sessions will cover employers’ perspectives, entrepreneurship culture, strategic collaboration, small business development, equitable economic development, regional growth, downtowns, urban cores, national trends, and economic competitiveness.  Participants are expected to include professionals representing economic and community development at the municipal, county, regional, and state levels, as well as commercial and industrial developers, business incubator operators, project finance professionals, IDA directors, elected officials, and executives representing utilities and transportation, engineering, and construction.  For more information and to register, download the event brochure here or visit the PEDA website at www.peda.org.

PEDA is the primary statewide association representing local, state, corporate, and non-profit economic development professionals.  It provides educational opportunities to share best practices that enhance the professional dialogue, supports economic development initiatives, promotes economic development policies, and nurtures an effective statewide network to foster the economic growth of the Commonwealth.  Members of PEDA include county and regional economic developers, state government economic development employees, utility and transportation executives, industrial development authority directors, operators of industrial and technology incubators, chamber of commerce executives, municipal directors of community and economic development, engineering and construction executives, economic development finance professionals, commercial and industrial developers, and local, county and state elected officials.

“The Lehigh Valley has been an epicenter of economic progress and innovation. As an architect of the innovative P3 Bridge Renewal Project in Northampton County and novel tax increment projects for the construction of major infrastructure in Lehigh County, Norris McLaughlin, P.A. is proud to be a partner in this progress,” said Lushis.

Simmons adds, “the heart of the Neighborhood Improvement Zone in the great City of Allentown is really the perfect location for PEDA’s Fall Conference so that economic development professionals from across the Commonwealth can witness first-hand the renaissance made possible by strong public and private partnerships leveraging what can be transformative economic development incentives.”

The Norris McLaughlin, P.A. Economic Development Practice Group provides economic development strategic, legal, and advocacy services to our clients, including private companies, 501(c)(3) non-profit companies, developers, and municipal governments and authorities.  In addition, they have significant experience with the establishment of leadership summits focused on projects and initiatives impacting the Lehigh Valley.

The attorneys in the group possess unique breadth and depth of experience in working with Lehigh and Northampton County administrations, local cities and other municipalities, as well as their economic development departments, to lead financings, public-private partnerships, and strategic planning for transformative projects throughout the Lehigh Valley.  They serve on the committees and boards of local and regional economic development organizations such as the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Greater Easton Development Partnership; are members of Pennsylvania Economic Development Association, Urban Land Institute, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce; and provide special counsel legal services to the Easton Redevelopment Authority, Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and Lehigh Valley Land Recycling Initiative.

Posted in: Economic Development Law, John F. Lushis, Jr., News, S. Graham Simmons, III | Tags: Allentown, economic development, Graham Simmons, John Lushis, lehigh valley, Norris McLaughlin, P.A., PEDA

John F. Lushis, Jr., a Member of Norris McLaughlin, P.A., was a co-presenter at the National Association of Counties (NACo) Conference & Exposition in Columbus, Ohio, on July 21.  Along with Northampton County Executive, John Brown, and County Director of Public Works, Stan Rugis, he discussed Northampton County’s P3 projects.

The NACo Annual Conference & Exposition, held July 21-24, brought together elected officials and county staff from across the country to education and networking sessions aimed to improve the residents’ lives and the efficiency of the counties.

Lushis focuses his practice on transaction, real estate, and environmental law.  He serves as one of the Firm’s corporate environmental counsel, focusing on soil and groundwater issues and other environmental issues for various businesses.  He provides counsel transactions including loan transactions, corporate restructurings, acquisitions and divestitures, leases, industrial development authority financings, and a wide array of commercial agreements.  He has worked on multi-million-dollar loans and major tax-exempt financings for businesses and non-profits, as well as tax increment financing projects that have spurred major industrial and commercial developments.  Lushis serves as solicitor for Northampton County General Purpose Authority, and co-solicitor for Lehigh County Industrial Development Authority, Northampton County New Jobs Corp, and Lehigh’s Economic Advancement Project.  In his work as solicitor for the General Purpose Authority, he is one of the “architects” of the first-of-their-kind P3 projects in the United States with particular focus on innovative financing.

Lushis has represented some of the Lehigh Valley’s most prominent entities, including American Bank, BB&T, Health Network Labs, Horwith Trucks, Lehigh University, LifePath, Melting Pot Restaurants, Molded Acoustical Products of Easton, the Paxos Restaurant Group, and Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.  In his career, he has been involved in transactions and financings totaling well into the billions of dollars.

Lushis earned his J.D. from Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law in 1980, and his B.S.M.E., cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame in 1977.  He holds an AV (Preeminent) rating from Martindale-Hubbel.

Posted in: Economic Development Law, John F. Lushis, Jr., News | Tags: John Lushis, NACo, National Association of Counties, northampton county, P3

Allentown, PA – Norris McLaughlin, P.A. has officially launched their Economic Development Law Practice Group. The firm has worked on representative projects including the 25th Street Palmer Tax Increment Financing (TIF), the Easton Intermodal and City Hall Project (located on 3rd Street), Bethlehem Tech Centers, TIF projects including Hillwood Industrial Project at Routes I-78 and 863, the Route 33 Chrin interchange project at Route 33 and Tatamy Road in Palmer Township, Ruckus Brewing’s Allentown redevelopment project in the Neuweiler Brewery, City Center real estate and development work in downtown Allentown, and Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation’s (BEDCO) Partnership for Innovation at Cantelmi’s Hardware in South Bethlehem. Norris McLaughlin, P.A.serves as special counsel to Easton’s Redevelopment Authority regarding the Silk Mill Complex and has handled tax-exempt financings for financings for the Northampton County General Purpose Authority as well as Cetronia Ambulance Corp., and the Da Vinci Science Center.

“Despite the fact that we have had a hand in many successful economic development projects in the Lehigh Valley for some time, we found that now, with the Neighborhood Improvement Zone underway in Allentown, and the recent approval of the City Revitalization Improvement Zone in Bethlehem, this was the perfect time to formally launch our Economic Development Law Practice Group,” said S. Graham Simmons, Co-Chair of the Economic Development Practice Group.

Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is a full service law firm with offices in Allentown, Pennsylvania; Bridgewater, New Jersey; and New York City. The Pennsylvania office has been serving the Lehigh Valley for over 100 years and has been named as one of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania and a Morning Call Top Workplace.

Posted in: Economic Development Law, News |

S. Graham Simmons, an Associate with Tallman Hudders & Sorrentino, the Pennsylvania office of Norris McLaughlin, P.A., was featured in the Express-Times article “Graham Simmons Takes Over as Chairman of Easton Area Chamber of Commerce” written by Tom Zanki which ran on Sunday, October 17, 2010. The article outlined Simmons’s personal and professional involvement with the city of Easton; he is committed to bettering the city by encouraging development projects which will encourage economic growth. The article featured quotes from Marc Troutman, chairman of the Greater Easton Development Partnership, and Marta Gabriel, the parent chamber’s executive vice president of operations and Easton initiatives.

“If I’m going to live in a place, I want to leave it better than I found it,” said Simmons.

Simmons practices law in the primary areas of corporate and business organizations, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and land use, banking and financial services, and health care. Simmons has been recognized in Philadelphia Magazine as a Rising Star, a distinction for lawyers aged 40 and under or who have been practicing for less than 10 years and reserved for no more than 2.5% of all attorneys in Pennsylvania.

In his corporate practice, Simmons assists clients in selecting the optimal legal entity for their chosen business or profession, and has experience representing sellers, buyers and financiers in a broad range of transactions including mergers, consolidations, stock purchases, share exchanges, bulk sales and dissolutions. Simmons also assists clients with all manners of commercial law, including the negotiation and drafting of contracts for the sale of goods, technology licensing and reseller agreements, OEM arrangements, and End User License Agreements. Simmons has represented a number of lenders in various commercial credit facilities, including local area loan organizations in numerous economic development loans funded by the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority and Small Business First Fund.

In his real estate practice, Simmons has experience in drafting and reviewing all forms of documents, including commercial and residential agreements of sale, condominium documents, residential and commercial leases, and installment sale agreements. Simmons has also advised clients on a range of landlord-tenant issues, and has represented borrowers in refinancing commercial properties. In addition to his transactional experience, Simmons has also successfully represented clients in various zoning and land use hearings before municipal bodies, as well as appeals to the Court of Common Pleas. Simmons is also honored to serve as Assistant Solicitor to the City of Easton Parking Authority.

Simmons serves as Chair of the Easton Area Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Easton Development Partnership. Simmons is also a member of the Easton Main Street Initiative’s Organization Committee. He is an active member of College Hill Presbyterian Church and serves as a committee member and youth leader. Simmons lives in Forks Township with his wife Shelby, and their three children.

Simmons earned his J.D., magna cum laude and Order of the Coif, from Villanova University School of Law in 2004 and his B.A. from Roanoke College in 2001.

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Posted in: Economic Development Law, News, S. Graham Simmons, III |