Samuel W. Keyes, Jr.
Office Information
Practice Areas
An experienced public finance attorney, Sam focuses his practice on municipal bonds, government relations, economic development incentives, and public and administrative law.
Biography – View PDF Bio
- Associations
- Bar Admissions
- Distinctions
- Education & Honors
- Experience
- In the News
- Papers, Presentations, & Publications
- Recent Blogs
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1981
- U.S. District Courts
- Mississippi: Northern, Southern
Distinctions
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Government Relations Practice, 2008-2021
- Public Finance Law, 2008-2021
- Mid-South Super Lawyers®, Bonds/Government Finance, 2012-2013
- Chairman, Opinions Committee, Assistant Attorney General, State of Mississippi, 1985-1993
- Deputy Attorney General, State of Mississippi, 1993-1994
- Leadership Mississippi
Education & Honors
- University of Mississippi, J.D., 1981
- University of Southern Mississippi, B.S., Community and Regional Planning, 1976
Experience
- Served as Bond Counsel in connection with closing numerous municipal bond and loan transactions for the Mississippi Development Bank and local government issuers in Mississippi. Recent representative transactions include
- Mississippi Development Bank $35,000,000 Special Obligation Bonds, Series 2006A (Magnolia Regional Health Project).
- Mississippi Development Bank $6,010,000 Special Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2006B (Magnolia Regional Health Project).
- City of Hattiesburg, Mississippi $2,200,000 Promissory Note Funded from Proceeds of $90,000,000 Mississippi Development Bank Special Obligation Bonds (Capital Projects and Equipment Acquisition Program).
- Lauderdale County, Mississippi $10,050,000 Taxable General Obligation Industrial Development Bonds, Series 2006 (Tower Automotive Project), and $10,000,000 Taxable General Obligation Industrial Development Bonds, Series 2006-B (Loblolly Project).
- City of Meridian, Mississippi $10,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2006.
- Mississippi Development Bank $5,810,000 Special Obligation Bonds, Series 2006 (DeSoto County Utility Authority Wastewater Treatment System Revenue Bond Project).
- City of Ridgeland, Mississippi $5,360,000 Tax Increment Limited Obligation Bonds, Series 2005.
- Mississippi Development Bank $8,500,000 Special Obligation Bonds, Series 2006 (Petal, MS Combined Water and Sewer System Project). More...
- Reported Decisions or Other Notable Representation:
- Represented Mississippi Association of Supervisors, Inc. as intervenor in AT&T vs. Mississippi State Tax Commission, in which the telecommunication company challenged the State’s method of assessing its property for ad valorem tax purposes. On behalf of the intervenor client, successfully prosecuted a summary judgment action challenging the constitutionality of legislation purporting to statutorily redefine the manner of assessing public utility property for ad valorem tax purposes. The intervenor client’s Motion for Summary Judgment was granted in AT&T Communications, Inc. vs. Mississippi State Tax Commission, et al., Hinds County Circuit Court, First Judicial District, Cause No. 251-96-1055, decided August 20, 1998.
- State of Mississippi vs. Mississippi Association of Supervisors, Inc., et al., 699 So. 2d 699 (Miss. 1997). Represented the Mississippi Association of Supervisors and the two Counties in an action seeking injunctive and declaratory relief relating to jurisdiction over county roads and bridges. Prosecuted this action to enjoin enforcement and challenge the constitutionality of legislation usurping constitutional jurisdiction of county boards of supervisors relating to weight regulations on county roads and bridges. Clients’ Motion for Summary Judgment was granted and the decision was affirmed by Mississippi Supreme Court.
- Serves as counsel for MPE Services, Inc., MPE Workers Compensation Services, Inc., MPE Employee Benefit Services, Inc., Mississippi Public Entity Workers’ Compensation Trust and Mississippi Public Entity Employee Benefit Trust. Handles all legal matters for these public entity workers’ compensation and health benefit pools and service providers.
- Serves as counsel for Mississippi EdNet Institute, Inc., a nonprofit corporation that provides, coordinates and manages ITFS educational, licenses and program services for State of Mississippi.
In the News
- 198 Butler Snow Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021
- 173 Butler Snow Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers® 2020, 19 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- Butler Snow Ranked as a Top 10 Private Bond Counsel Firm Nationally by Thomson Reuters Top Legal Counsel Review
- Butler Snow Ranked as Top 10 Bond Counsel Firm for First Half of 2017
- 147 Butler Snow Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers®, 18 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- Butler Snow Ranked as a Top 10 Bond Counsel Firm Nationally by Thomson Reuters Top Legal Counsel Review
- Butler Snow Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets Group Launches PFI Blog
- A Conversation with Sam Keyes on the Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce - Northside Sun
Papers, Presentations, & Publications
- "Powers and Duties of Supervisors," Chapter III of County Government in Mississippi, Third Edition, Center for Governmental Training & Technology, Mississippi State University Extension Service, 2004.
- "County Borrowing and Debt Management," Appendix to A Handbook for County Board Attorneys in Mississippi, by Benjamin E. Griffith, Center for Governmental Training & Technology, Mississippi State University Extension Service, 2000.
- "Functions and Powers," Chapter IX of Municipal Government in Mississippi: A Handbook for City Officials, Center for Governmental Training & Technology, Mississippi State University Extension Service, 1997.