Knotts brings nearly 15 years of experience in state government to advise clients in public finance and economic development matters across Tennessee
Nashville, Tenn., (November 16, 2022) – Bass, Berry & Sims is pleased to announce its latest addition in Tennessee with the arrival of Betsy F. Knotts as counsel in Nashville, which marks the 34th new attorney announced firmwide in 2022. Knotts brings significant experience working with various government departments and now represents government and private entities primarily in the areas of public finance and economic development incentives. In addition to several previous government roles, she most recently served as director of the Division of Local Government Finance with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.
“Betsy brings years of experience working with state and local governments that will provide our clients with comprehensive perspective as they navigate the financing and economic incentive opportunities for continued development across our state and region,” said Mark Mamantov, chair of the Public Finance Practice Group at Bass, Berry & Sims. “We’re excited to welcome Betsy, her legal acumen and deep insight into the inner workings of government-connected transactions. Her solutions-focused approach to client service makes her an especially great fit for our team.”
Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Knotts had an extensive career in government service. While director of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury Division of Local Government Finance, she assisted local governments in all areas of municipal finance and drafted legislation on issues related to local government debt issuance. Prior to that, Knotts was the executive secretary at the Tennessee State Board of Equalization, Comptroller of the Treasury. In this role, she reviewed and approved certain tax incentive transactions and acted as administrative judge for the Tennessee Assessment Appeals Commission. She has also served in positions at the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of General Counsel; the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General, Financial Division; and the Office of the Texas Attorney General, Public Finance Division.
“After many wonderful years working with the Tennessee state government in a variety of capacities, I am excited to now leverage that experience to support the wide range of government entities that drive economic growth and opportunity in our state,” Knotts said. “I’ve had the great fortune to work with attorneys at Bass, Berry & Sims often through the years, and it is an honor to join a team with so many talented attorneys who share my passion for constantly improving our communities.”
Knotts counsels local governments and other governmental entities on matters related to various financing transactions. She advises on a variety of public finance matters, such as general obligation bonds for cities and counties, and various revenue bond issues for municipal utilities and utility districts. Knotts also counsels government and private entities to create and negotiate incentives to spur growth in communities across the state.
Outside of her practice, Knotts is highly active in professional and community organizations. She serves on the board of the Tennessee Chapter of Women in Public Finance and is a member of the Tennessee Government Finance Officers Association. She previously served on the Administrative Law Section Executive Council for the Tennessee Bar Association, as well as the Appellate Moot Court Coordinator for the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature.
Knotts earned her law degree and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from the Paul M. Hebert Louisiana State University Law Center (2007) and an undergraduate degree in music and German literature from Tulane University (2002). Knotts is a Fulbright Scholar, having spent one year in Hanover, Germany teaching English as a second language to German public school students.
About Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Bass, Berry & Sims is a national law firm with over 300 attorneys dedicated to delivering exceptional service to numerous publicly traded companies and Fortune 500 businesses in significant litigation and investigations, complex business transactions, and international regulatory matters. Our people are true partners who work seamlessly across substantive practice disciplines, industries and geographies to deliver highly-effective legal advice and innovative, business-focused solutions. In 2022 the firm celebrates its centennial anniversary and continues to build on our foundational attributes of agility, tenacity and collaboration. For more information, visit bassberry2022.wpengine.com.