James M. Weaver

James Weaver is a Nashville-based public policy and government relations attorney. He is a co-leader of the Public Policy & Regulation Group's Tennessee State and Local Government Advocacy Team. From a small town in West Tennessee, Mr. Weaver, over a career spanning more than three decades, has earned a reputation as one of the most influential and effective business advocates in the Southeast.

Mr. Weaver is known for his ability to build and lead coalitions among clients, state and local governments and other key stakeholders in high-profile public-private partnerships. Clients rely on Mr. Weaver's insight and years of experience to overcome obstacles as they pursue their short- and long-term objectives.

In addition, Mr. Weaver represented Memphis Tourism Inc. (the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau) regarding funding related to more than $600 million in renovations to the FedEx Forum, the home of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. Mr. Weaver negotiated a comprehensive and complicated multiparty financing structure, as well as the related state and local legislative language that redirected a portion of local jurisdiction’s hospitality occupancy taxes toward the renovation project. The project involved intense negotiations with state and local officials, state and local tourism industry associations, as well as a drafting and securing passage of two pieces of state legislative necessary to effectuate the agreed-upon transaction.

In 2023, he successfully led the Tennessee Titans' efforts for a new stadium by securing more than $1.2 billion in state and local funds to construct a state-of-the-art domed stadium for the National Football League (NFL) franchise. Mr. Weaver helped global financial services company AllianceBernstein relocate its corporate headquarters to Nashville with state and local incentives. He assisted healthcare giant Lifepoint Health in securing economic development incentives for new corporate headquarters and advised international manufacturer Bridgestone Americas in developing its new North American headquarters. Representing Speedway Motorsports, Mr. Weaver secured $17 million in Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's fiscal year 2023 state budget for the renovation of the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

Clients turn to Mr. Weaver to manage the challenges that can delay or derail significant development projects. Mr. Weaver has spent years developing close relationships with elected officials and senior business leaders across Tennessee. These relationships provide him with unique perspectives and an unparalleled ability to forge productive alliances to solve problems confronting clients in real estate, construction, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, energy, transportation, hospitality, professional sports and other industries.