G. Mark Mamantov

Member

Knoxville

(865) 521-0365

mmamantov@bassberry.com

https://www.bassberry.com/professionals/mamantov-g-mark/

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Mark Mamantov has developed one of the leading financing and real estate practices in Tennessee, with a special emphasis in public finance. Having practiced in the public finance area for nearly 30 years, Mark has served as bond counsel for more than $4 billion of debt issues and has built a reputation nationally for his experience in tax-exempt finance and economic incentives. His public finance experience encompasses a broad spectrum of financings, including traditional government financing and conduit financing for charitable institutions, low-income housing and manufacturing facilities. As a result, Mark has had the opportunity to work on many of Tennessee’s largest bond financings, including public projects such as convention centers, stadiums and arenas; hospital system financings; and public utility system financings.

Having worked on public finance transactions in more than 80% of the counties in Tennessee, Mark’s public finance practice specifically involves:

General Obligation Debt – Representing counties, cities and special school districts across the state in connection with the issuance of general obligation debt for governmental projects.
Governmental Revenue Debt – Representing municipal utilities and utility districts in Tennessee in connection with the issuance of revenue bonds, including financings for electric, gas, water, wastewater, cable and fiber optic systems, gas prepayment financings and airport financings.
Healthcare – Serving as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel and lender’s counsel for a number of non-profit healthcare providers in Tennessee, including hospitals, continuing care facilities and other healthcare related activities.
Education – Serving as bond counsel and/or lender’s counsel for many non-profit colleges and secondary educational institutions.
Low-Income Housing – Serving as bond counsel in the financing of low-income housing, having worked on at least such 30 financings.
Manufacturing – Serving as bond counsel for the issuance of small-issue industrial development bonds for manufacturing projects.

As an adjunct to his public finance practice, Mark has also developed a robust economic incentives practice. In that area, Mark has closed numerous property tax abatement transactions throughout Tennessee, representing both local governments and private parties. Mark has also assisted a number of local governments in developing tax abatement policies and procedures. Additionally, Mark has closed a large number of tax increment financing transactions to support redevelopment, retail and other projects and has worked with many housing and redevelopment authorities and industrial development boards across the State on such financings. Mark frequently represents the governmental issuers of the tax increment financing in these transactions, but also has represented developers and other private parties.

In connection with his economic incentive practice, Mark has had the opportunity to draft or assist in drafting much of the key state legislation in this area. Specifically, Mark drafted the legislation that first authorized the use of tax increment financing through the industrial development board, and much of the legislation that modernized Tennessee’s statutes relating to tax increment financing by housing and redevelopment authorities and the use of special assessment districts. Mark has also drafted economic incentive legislation relating to allocation of state and local sales tax revenues.

Mark is a frequent speaker on the topics of public finance and economic incentives and is an active participant at seminars sponsored by the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL). He has served as chair for all three of NABL’s annual seminars, including the Bond Attorneys’ Workshop.

In addition to his public finance practice, Mark maintains an active practice representing financial institutions in all types of commercial loans, including large syndicated credit facilities. He is particularly active in East Tennessee, having represented a majority of the national and regional banks with a presence in the area.

Mark frequently represents buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants in real estate matters, assisting with large real estate developments as developer’s counsel and representing franchisees and financial institutions in connection with the acquisition and development of locations across East Tennessee. He also serves as local counsel on real estate and financing transactions involving out-of-state entities.

Memberships

National Association of Bond Lawyers — Member

American College of Bond Counsel — Fellow

Leadership Tennessee — Signature Program Class IX (2022-2023)

Representative Experience

RAD Program Conversion for 500 Affordable Housing Units in Tennessee

During 2022, we assisted housing authorities with the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversion of approximately 500 affordable housing units. These...

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Representation of Men of Valor in Partnership with Fourth Purpose Foundation

Counseled Men of Valor in its new partnership with 4^th Purpose Foundation in East Tennessee

Our firm continues to represent Men of Valor in a pro bono capacity as it equips prisoners to successfully re-enter...

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Client Type: Pro Bono
Team Serves as Bond Counsel to Emerald Academy

Served as bond counsel to Emerald Academy in connection with a tax exempt bond issue

A team of Bass, Berry & Sims attorneys from the Knoxville office served as bond counsel to Emerald Academy in...

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Client Type: Nonprofit, Pro Bono
Shelby County Schools Board Secures Funding for 95,000+ New Devices for Students

We represented Shelby County Schools (SCS) Board in a transaction to secure funding bringing laptop computers to nearly 95,000 students in the District. By providing nearly 95,000+ new devices and WiFi access to students in the District, each student will have the proper materials to participate in online learning this year. Students are scheduled to have a laptop or tablet by November 2020. The investment in students, which was announced on June 16, is historic step for the District in bridging the digital divide and builds upon the ongoing Equity in Action Plan, which aims to ensure all students have the same access to academic supports.

COVID-19 highlighted the lack of internet access and technology for many students and families in Memphis, Tennessee. This deal is part of a broader $37 million plan to enable all students to learn online. The transaction was formed through a lease-purchase agreement with Microsoft and Hewlett Packard. The funding included federal coronavirus relief dollars through the CARES Act Fund, as well as government bonds from Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

We represented Shelby County Schools (SCS) Board in a transaction to secure funding bringing laptop computers to 95,000+ students in...

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$600 Million Debt Financing for Covenant Health

Bond counsel and borrower counsel to Covenant Health in connection with the issuance of over $600 million in taxable and tax-exempt debt to finance and refinance its healthcare facilities in Tennessee

We served as bond counsel and borrower counsel to Covenant Health in connection with the issuance of over $600 million...

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Client Type: Nonprofit
Knoxville Attorneys Partner with University of Tennessee College of Law to Provide Pro Bono Help Via TN Free Legal Answers

Attorneys from the firm's Knoxville office are partnering with students from the University of Tennessee College of Law to answer...

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Client Type: Pro Bono
Tax-Exempt Financings for Three Low-Income Housing Facilities

Served as bond counsel to LHP Capital, LLC in three tax exempt financings relating to the rehabilitation of three low-income housing facilities located in Nashville

We served as bond counsel to LHP Capital, LLC for three tax exempt financings relating to the rehabilitation of the...

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Client Type: Private Company
$950 Million Dollar Bond Issuance for Ballad Health

Served as bond counsel to Ballad Health for a $950 million bond issue to finance new healthcare facilities and refinance certain existing debt

We served as bond counsel to Ballad Health for a $950 million bond issue to finance new healthcare facilities and...

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Client Type: Nonprofit
$8.5 Million Public Bond Offering for the Tri-Cities Airport Authority

Served as bond counsel to the Tri-Cities Airport Authority in connection with its $8.5 million public bond offering

We served as bond counsel to the Tri-Cities Airport Authority in connection with its $8.5 million public bond offering, the...

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Client Type: Government
200+ General Obligation Bond Issues in Three Years

Represented cities and counties across Tennessee on more than 200 general obligation bond transactions valued at a combined total of approximately $4.5 billion

Over the past three years, we have represented cities and counties across Tennessee on more than 200 general obligation bond...

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Client Type: Government

Publications

Best Practices for Electronic Public Meetings in Tennessee During the COVID-19 Pandemic

April 9, 2020
Mark Mamantov and Jay Moneyhun Discuss Public Incentives in Retail Developments

July 28, 2017
SEC MCDC Initiative – Deadline Extension

August 8, 2014

Past Events

Risk Management, Indemnification & Insurance

September 26, 2022 | Pigeon Forge, TN
East Tennessee Purchasing Association/Tennessee Association of Public Purchasing (ETPA/TAPP) Fall Professional Development Conference
Tennessee Government Finance Officers Association Fall Conference 2022

September 21-23, 2022 | Nashville, Tennessee
Tennessee Government Finance Officers Association Fall Conference
Bristol Tennessee City Council

July 29, 2019 | Nashville, Tennessee
Bristol Tennessee City Council

Media Mentions & Firm News

Mark Mamantov Discusses Bond Financing for New Knoxville Downtown Stadium

May 11, 2023
Mark Mamantov Comments on Plans for New Chattanooga Lookouts Stadium

November 11, 2022

Accolades

Best Lawyers® — Knoxville Real Estate Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2011)

Mid-South Super Lawyers (2006-2012, 2018-2019)

Business Tennessee “Top 150 Best Lawyers in Tennessee”

Business Tennessee “Commercial Real Estate Top 101”

Phi Beta Kappa

Virginia Law Review — Articles Editor (1983-1984)

Law Clerk to Hon. Boyce F. Martin, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit (1984-1985)