SC lawyer tapped to chair National Bond Lawyers

GREENVILLE, SC – On September 17, SC attorney Kathleen Crum (Kathy) McKinney was elected president-elect of the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL) at its 2008 annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois, at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. She is a shareholder with the South Carolina-based law firm Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. in its Greenville office.  McKinney will serve a one-year term before assuming the presidency of the 3,000-member organization.

Also elected were John M. McNally, a partner at Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP, of Chicago, as treasurer, and Kristin H.R. Franceschi, a partner at DLA Piper US LLP in Baltimore, as secretary.  William A. Holby, a partner at King & Spalding LLP in Atlanta, became NABL’s new president, replacing J. Foster Clark, a partner at Balch & Bingham LLP in Birmingham..

Anne S. Ellefson, managing director of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, said, “Kathy’s election and continued involvement with NABL comes at a very critical and important time for our country.  This organization represents the interests of the municipal bond market before the federal government, tracks developments on the federal level, and works with other professional associations on important financial issues. Kathy’s election to this national office by her peers is a testament to her grasp and understanding of the complex and ever-changing issues affecting the bond market.  Our firm is very proud of Kathy’s leadership accomplishments.”

McKinney is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® – Public Finance, and Chambers USA.  She has been very active in NABL and served in the following roles, including a member of the NABL Executive Committee:
• Chair, 2004 Bond Attorneys’ Workshop (the profession’s premiere forum for bond counsel)
• 2005 Chair of the NABL Municipal Law Group
• Treasurer of NABL (2007) and former Secretary
• Served on NABL’s Board of Directors
• Faculty member of the NABL Fundamentals of Municipal Bond Law and Steering Committee for the Bond Attorneys’ Workshop.

At Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, McKinney’s law practice involves serving as bond counsel in tax-exempt financings for 501(c)(3) healthcare, educational and cultural organizations.  She is bond counsel for many of South Carolina’s leading hospitals, both governmental and non-for-profit, as well as numerous colleges and universities, community groups, continuing care retirement centers, and museums.

In the past five years, McKinney has acted as bond counsel in more than 100 separate revenue bond issues resulting in $3 billion of capital investment in South Carolina.  In recent matters, she has successfully:
• completed the restructuring of outstanding debt of major hospitals in SC
• completed the first bond issue involving accommodations tax for storm water financing.

Also active in national, state and community activities, McKinney is chair of the Furman University Board of Trustees and was recently elected to the South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities Board.  McKinney is a member of the Society of International Business Fellows and also serves on the advisory board of Leadership South Carolina.  A past president of the Upcountry History Museum and South Carolina Children’s Theater, McKinney was a founder of the Upstate South Carolina Alliance, a regional economic development entity. A South Carolina native, McKinney is a frequent speaker at national, regional and state business, economic development, healthcare, and educational conferences.

McKinney was instrumental in drafting the legislation for the creation of the South Carolina Jobs – Economic Development Authority (JEDA).  She was recently recognized for her efforts as a bond partner that enabled JEDA to contribute to the economic welfare of South Carolina through loans, investments and the financial promotion of exports of goods and services produced within the state.  The Bond Buyer named the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA) as the top issuer of bonds in South Carolina, having issued over $674 million in bonds during 2007.

In 1978, McKinney earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of South Carolina, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  She received her undergraduate degree, B.A., summa cum laude, also from USC in 1975.  She is admitted to practice in South Carolina and the U.S. District Court of South Carolina.