Drawing on her experience working within various government departments, Betsy Knotts represents clients primarily in the areas of public finance and economic development incentives. In this role she counsels local governments and other governmental entities on matters related to various financing transactions. Her practice includes:

• Public Finance – Advising 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.
• Economic Incentives – Counseling government entities and private entities to create and negotiate incentives to spur growth in communities across the state.

Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Betsy had an extensive career in government. She most recently served as director at the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Local Government Finance where she assisted local governments in all areas of municipal finance and drafted legislation on issues related to local government debt issuance. Prior to that, Betsy 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. Betsy 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.

In 2023, Betsy earned the Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) credential, a program designed to verify knowledge in the disciplines of government finance by enhancing fundamental skills and increasing knowledge of best practices and standards in public finance.

Betsy is a Fulbright Scholar—she spent one year in Hanover, Germany teaching English as a second language to German public school students. She earned her law degree and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from the Paul M. Hebert Louisiana State University Law Center and an undergraduate degree in music and German literature from Tulane University.

Memberships

Tennessee Chapter of Women in Public Finance — Board Member (2016-Present)

Tennessee Government Finance Officers Association

National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL)

Nashville Rotary

Tennessee Bar Association — Administrative Law Section Executive Council (2014-2017)

Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature — Appellate Moot Court Coordinator (2014-2017)

Accolades

Graduate of LEAD Tennessee Alliance 7

William Fulbright Scholar — Hanover, Germany

The National Judicial College, Graduate of Administrative Law: Fair Hearing Program and Judicial Writing with distinction