Charity is a member of Butler Snow’s Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets Group and is a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) through the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). Charity has the distinction of being one of six women in the nation named to the 2024 Class of the Caren S. Franzini Fellowship, a merit-based program by the CDFA Foundation, recognizing outstanding women in development finance for their leadership and dedication to the advancement of the industry.
Overview
Charity is a member of Butler Snow’s Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets Group and is a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) through the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). Charity has the distinction of being one of six women in the nation named to the 2024 Class of the Caren S. Franzini Fellowship, a merit-based program by the CDFA Foundation, recognizing outstanding women in development finance for their leadership and dedication to the advancement of the industry.
Practice Areas
About
Charity focuses her practice on public finance, economic development incentives, and government relations and has served in multiple roles on public, private, and public-private finance transactions, and economic development matters, including Special Tax Counsel, Bond Counsel, Underwriter’s Counsel, Issuer’s Counsel, Lender’s Counsel, Disclosure Counsel, Trustee’s Counsel, and Developer’s Counsel. She has represented both governmental and private organizations in a variety of financing structures, including new market tax credit (NMTC) transactions.
Charity is a member of various civic and legal organizations, including the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL), Women in Public Finance (WPF), and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). She has been selected for several distinguished leadership programs, including the WPF Emerging Leaders Council (ELC), the Mississippi Bar Leadership Program, and the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) Leadership Program, and her work has been recognized by leading organizations, including NABL, which featured her in a Member Spotlight, highlighting her career and accomplishments in public finance. Charity has also been listed by a variety of notable industry publications, including: ALM’s The Daily Report and Law.com’s Southeastern Legal Awards: On the Rise in Mississippi, The Bond Buyer Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers® Mid-South Rising Stars, Marquis Who’s Who in America, and The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.
As part of her continued dedication to the advancement of the industry, Charity regularly speaks and writes on matters relating to public finance and economic development. She has presented at conferences and seminars across the nation, including the CDFA National Development Finance Summit and the Spelman College Municipal Finance Symposium. She has also authored articles and peer-reviewed publications, including a financing toolkit for medium-density housing developments titled: “Financing Tools and Incentives for Developers in Missing Middle Housing.”
Charity earned her bachelor’s degree from the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law. She is known for her thought leadership, commitment to community service, and steadfast dedication to mentoring the next generation of professionals.
Experience
- Underwriter's Counsel
- $29,495,000 Mobile County, Alabama Limited Obligation Warrants (GOMESA Projects), Series 2026
- $194,705,000 County Board of Education of Richmond County (Georgia) General Obligation Sales Tax Bonds, Series 2025
- $37,805,000 Development Authority of Fulton County, Georgia, Revenue Bonds (Spelman College), Series 2025
- $574,295,000 Southeast Energy Authority, A Cooperative District Energy Supply Revenue Bonds Series 2025C
- $10,470,000 Mississippi Development Bank Special Obligation Bonds, Series 2025 (Carroll County, Mississippi, General Obligation Road and Bridge Improvement Project)
- $20,940,000 Greater Ouachita Water Company, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, Waterworks and Sewer System Revenue Bonds, Series 2024
- $86,770,000 County Board of Education of Richmond County, Georgia, General Obligation Sales Tax Bonds, Series 2023
- $548,775,000 Southeast Energy Authority, a Cooperative District, Commodity Supply Revenue Bonds (Project No. 6), Series 2023B
- Special Tax Counsel
- $4,000,000 City of Atlanta Various Purpose General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025
- $10,650,000 Parishwide School District of Caddo Parish, Louisiana General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2025
- $88,000,000 City of Shreveport, State of Louisiana General Obligation Bonds, Series 2024
- $18,500,000 Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority Revenue Bonds (City of Slidell Project), Series 2024
- Bond Counsel
- $1,093,770,000 The Black Belt Energy Gas District Gas Project Revenue Bonds, 2026 Series E
- $1,235,285,000 The Black Belt Energy Gas District Gas Project Revenue Bonds, 2026 Series A
- $718,230,000 The Black Belt Energy Gas District Gas Project Revenue Bonds, 2026 Series B
- $40,000,000 Mississippi Development Bank Special Obligation Bonds, Series 2025 (Jackson, Mississippi Infrastructure Modernization Tax Revenue Bond Project)
- $2,340,000 Mississippi Development Bank Special Obligation Bonds, Series 2025 (Leflore County, Mississippi Capital Improvements General Obligation Bond Project)
- $14,960,430 Hancock County Utility Authority, Hancock County, Mississippi Taxable Grant Anticipation Notes (Non-Revolving Line of Credit), Series 2024
- $130,000,000 Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Taxable Revenue Bond, Series 2023 (Cane Creek Solar, LLC Project)
- $9,500,000 Mississippi Development Bank Taxable Special Obligation Bonds, Series 2023 (City of Jackson, Mississippi General Obligation Planetarium Improvement Bond Project)
- $3,500,000 Pine Belt Regional Solid Waste Management Authority, Solid Waste Revenue Bonds, Series 2023
- $72,355,000 Mississippi Home Corporation Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds, Series 2022C (Non-AMT) (Social Bonds) and $15,000,000 Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bonds, Series 2022D (Federally Taxable)
- $11,673,000 City of Greenville, Mississippi Taxable General Obligation Airport Bonds (Kearns Aerospace Project), Series 2022
- $7,500,000 Mississippi Development Bank Special Obligation Bond, Series 2022 (City of Jackson, Mississippi General Obligation Planetarium Improvement Bond Project)
- $7,000,000 Tunica County, Mississippi Urban Renewal Revenue Bonds, Series 2022 (Infrastructure Improvement Project)
- $5,750,000 Mississippi Development Bank Special Obligation Bonds, Series 2022 (Booneville School District Capital Improvements General Obligation Bond Project)
- $1,135,000 Town of Como, Mississippi Taxable Water System Revenue Bond, Series 2022 (USDA Financing Project)
- $3,024,000 Pearl River County, Mississippi Taxable (Convertible to Tax-Exempt) Limited Obligation Hospital Refunding Bonds, Series 2021
- $2,872,000 Colony Park Public Improvement District Special Assessment Refunding Bonds, Series 2021 (Renaissance Improvement Project)
- Economic Development and Incentives Counsel
- $6,205,000 City of Pascagoula, Mississippi, Tax Increment Financing Bonds (Denny Avenue Shopping Center Project), Series 2025
- NTE $900,000 City of Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi, Tax Increment Financing Project (Cannery Row Project)
- NTE $8,000,000 City of Pass Christian, Harrison County, Mississippi, Tax Increment Financing Project (West Pass Station Project)
- NTE $25,000,000 Harrison County, Mississippi, Tax Increment Financing Project (Buc-ee’s Construction Project)
- NTE $5,000,000, City of Pascagoula, Jackson County, Mississippi, Tax Increment Financing Project (Ice and Freezer House Project)
- NTE $2,500,000 Town of Seminary, Covington County, Mississippi Tax Increment Financing Project (Woolwine Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram Project)
- NTE $2,000,000 City of Brandon, Rankin County, Mississippi Tax Increment Financing Project (Crossgates Crossing Development Project)
- NTE $1,300,000 City of Greenwood, Leflore County, Mississippi Tax Increment Financing Project (Ramada Inn Redevelopment Project)
- $35,175,197 Topgolf International, Inc., Tourism Tax Rebate Incentive Project (Ridgeland, Mississippi)
- NTE $1,000,000 City of Diamondhead, Hancock County, Mississippi Tax Increment Financing Project (Diamondhead Medical Center Project)
- NTE $1,000,000 City of Ocean Springs, Jackson County, Mississippi Tax Increment Financing Project (1515 Government Street Mixed-Use Development Project)
- $31,300,000 City of Monroe, Louisiana, Cooperative Endeavor Agreement Incentive (Monroe Riverfront Development Project)
- $1,500,000 New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana Qualified Low Income Community Investment Loan, and $740,000 Term Loan (NOWCS NMTC Project)
- $10,000,000 YWCA Quad Cities Title Holding Company NFP, Rock Island, Illinois Qualified Low Income Community Investment Loan (YWCA NMTC Project)
- Lease Purchase Counsel
- $2,554,000 Sunflower County, Mississippi Lease Purchase Financing (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Equipment), Series 2026
- $20,000,000 Canton Public School District, Madison County, Mississippi, Certificates of Participation (School Facilities Lease Purchase Project), Series 2025
- $1,550,000 Leflore County, Mississippi, Equipment Lease Purchase Financing
- $8,500,000 Pearl River Community College District Certificates of Participation (School Housing Lease Purchase Project), Series 2024
- $72,000,000 Warren County, Mississippi Certificates of Participation (Correctional Facility Lease Purchase Project), Series 2023
- $7,000,000 City of Picayune, Mississippi Certificates of Participation (Police Station Lease Purchase Project), Series 2023
- Legislative and Other Experience
- Instrumental in securing the first-ever Moody’s rating for the Mississippi Intercept Program.
- Represented governmental entities in connection with IRS audits of outstanding bonds.
- Successfully represented a city in connection with both an unofficial and official inquiry and investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
- Prepared and drafted, or collaborated in the drafting of, various matters of legislation presented to and passed by the Mississippi Legislature, including local and private legislation.
- Assisted in drafting regulations and documents related to various financing programs administered by state agencies in Mississippi.
- Drafted various economic development plans for cities and counties throughout Mississippi and the Southeast, including tax increment financing plans, redevelopment plans, urban renewal plans, and solid waste management plans.
Distinctions
- ALM’s The Daily Report and Law.com, Southeastern Legal Awards, On the Rise in Mississippi, 2026
- Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers®, Mid-South Rising Stars, Government Finance, 2025
- The Bond Buyer, Rising Star, 2025
- National Black Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40, 2025-2026
- Marquis Who's Who in America, Honored Listee, 2025
- Women in Public Finance, Emerging Leaders Council, 2025-2027
- Mississippi Bar Association, Leadership Mississippi Bar Program, 2025-2026
- National Association of Women Lawyers, Leadership Program, 2025
- Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP), 2025-Present
- National Association of Bond Lawyers, Member Spotlight, February 2025
- Council of Development Finance Agencies Foundation, Caren S. Franzini Fellowship, 2024
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 2021
- U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern, Southern
Education
- University of Mississippi, J.D., magna cum laude, 2021
- Dean’s Leadership Council
- Business Law Fellowship
- Phi Alpha Delta Honor Society
- Bessie Young Scholar
- Dean’s Scholar
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
- Moot Court Board
- Judicial Internship, Honorable Carlton W. Reeves, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, 2020
- Cornell University, Charles H. Dyson School, B.S., Applied Economics and Management with concentrations in Accounting and Finance, cum laude, 2018
- Dean’s List
- Dyson Leadership Fellows Program
- Cornell Honor Society
- Intercultural and International Management Certificate Program
- Research Honors Program
- Peer Review Board
- Student Assembly Financial Aid Review Committee
Associations
- National Association of Bond Lawyers
- Mentorship Program, 2024-2025
- Government Finance Officers Association
- Women in Public Finance
- Mentorship Program, 2025-2026
- Council of Development Finance Agencies
- Mentorship Program, 2025-2026
- National Association of Women Lawyers
- Mississippi Bar Association
- Diversity Committee, Young Lawyers Division, 2026
- Bar Admissions Ceremony Committee, Young Lawyers Division, 2024-Present
- American Bar Association
- Metro Jackson Black Women Lawyers Association
- National Black Lawyers
- National Bar Association
- Magnolia Bar Association
- Capital Area Bar Association
- Jackson Young Lawyers
Papers, Presentations & Publications
- Publications
- Co-Author, “Financing Tools and Incentives for Developers in Missing Middle Housing.”
- Co-Author, “Green Small Business Development Center: Building the Entrepreneurial Ramp from 1:1 to 360:12.”
- Co-Author, “Balancing Tradition and Innovation in Hotel Ezra Cornell: Incorporating Technology Initiatives.”
- Co-Author, “Bootstrapped tech helps startups.”
- Presentations
- Speaker, “The AI Data Center Supercycle: Capital Markets, Incentives, Power & Water—How Wall Street and Main Street Can Win Together?” National Association of Securities Professionals, 2026 Annual Financial Services Conference, June 9, 2026.
- Panelist, “Cooling Systems and Code Sections: A 103 Perspective on Data Center Projects,” National Association of Bond Lawyers, Tax Law Committee, April 21, 2026.
- Presenter, “Intro to Municipal Finance,” Spelman College, Municipal Finance Seminar, April 20, 2026.
- Moderator, “CDFA Franzini Fellowship Capstone Webinar: Lessons from Corridor Revitalization Projects,” Council for Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) Foundation, Caren S. Franzini Fellowship, March 10, 2026.
- Presenter, “The Partners Involved: Bond Issuer and Bond Counsel,” Council for Development Finance Agencies, CDFA Winter Institute: 2026 Intro to Bond Finance Course, February 24, 2026.
- Panelist, “2026 Black Law Student Association Lunch and Panel Discussion,” University of Mississippi, School of Law, Black Law Student Association, January 23, 2026.
- Panelist, “Building Community Wealth,” Mississippi Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials 2026 Winter Conference, January 12, 2026.
- Event Chair, “Bonds 101: Unlocking the Basics of Public Finance,” Women in Public Finance, Member Webinars, November 13, 2025.
- Moderator, “Blended Capital Strategies: Lessons from High-Impact Community Revitalization Projects,” Council for Development Finance Agencies, CDFA National Development Finance Summit, October 9, 2025.
- Panelist, “New Associate Orientation: Getting the Most out of the Mentor Program,” Butler Snow LLP, Recruiting Committee, August 26, 2025.
- Panelist, “Inclusivity Women’s Luncheon: Lessons Learned from the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) Leadership Program,” Butler Snow LLP, Inclusivity Committee, August 18, 2025.
- Presenter, “The Partners Involved: Bond Issuer and Bond Counsel,” Council for Development Finance Agencies, CDFA Summer Institute: 2025 Intro to Bond Finance Course, August 5, 2025.
- Judge, “Capstone Presentations,” Grow America (formerly, National Development Council (NDC)), 2025 City of Jackson, Mississippi SEED Real Estate Developer Academy, June 26, 2025.
- Presenter, “Building the Team,” Grow America (formerly, National Development Council (NDC)), 2025 City of Jackson, Mississippi SEED Real Estate Developer Academy, May 20, 2025.
- Presenter, “Economic Development from a Lawyer’s Perspective,” Mississippi Association of Supervisors, Minority Caucus, 2025 Annual Educational Conference, April 10, 2025.
- Presenter, “Intro to Municipal Finance: Bond Financing Legal Documents,” Spelman College, Municipal Finance Symposium, April 8, 2025.
- Panelist, “The Essentials 2025: Know Before You Go Webinar,” National Association of Bond Lawyers, 2025 The Essentials, April 8, 2025.
- Presenter, “Intro to Municipal Finance: Bond Math, Credit Rating Fundamentals & Pricing a Transaction,” Spelman College, Municipal Finance Symposium, April 1, 2025.
- Presenter, “The Partners Involved: Bond Counsel,” Council for Development Finance Agencies, 2025 Intro to Bond Finance Course, March 10, 2025.
- Presenter, “Intro to Municipal Finance: Overview of Municipal Finance & Career Path Discussions,” Spelman College, Municipal Finance Symposium, March 4, 2025.
- Panelist, “2025 Black Law Student Association Lunch and Panel Discussion,” University of Mississippi, School of Law, Black Law Student Association, January 22, 2025.
- Presenter, “Basic Municipal Finance,” Mississippi Municipal League, 2025 Mid-Winter Legislative Conference, January 14, 2025.
- Presenter, “Addressing Barriers to Financing Medium-Density Affordable Housing,” Council of Development Finance Agencies, National Development Finance Summit, November 14, 2024.
- Instructor, “Legal Structures and Compliance Requirements for Small Businesses,” The Center for Social Entrepreneurship, 2024 iPath Business Bootcamp, June 27, 2024.
- Panelist, “2024 Black Law Student Association Lunch and Panel Discussion,” University of Mississippi, School of Law, Black Law Student Association, January 25, 2024.
- Circular, “Use of American Rescue Plan Funds,” Mississippi Economic Development Council, Economic Leaders Forum, February & April 2022
- Circular, “The Impact of Recent Federal and State Court Decisions on Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice in Mississippi,” Mississippi Association of County Board Attorneys CLE, 2022 & 2023.
Civic Involvement
- Jackson Rising
- Task Force Member, 2025
- City of Jackson, Mississippi Real Estate Developer Academy
- Steering Committee, 2025
- Junior League of Jackson
- Member, 2025-Present
- Money Box Academy Inc.®
- Advisory Board, 2024-Present
- Madison County Business League & Foundation
- Firm Delegate, 2024-Present
- Wills for Magnolia State First Responders Clinic
- Volunteer Attorney, 2022-Present
- WarHorses for Heroes
- Pro Bono Counsel, 2022-Present