James R. Williamson - In Memoriam 1945-2025
Jim Williamson passed away on February 9, 2025. He was a Senior Member of the firm based in its Louisville office. Jim joined the firm in 1978 and focused his practice on real estate, lending, CMBS servicing, credit enhancements and the acquisition and development of public project sites. His primary emphasis was on real estate financing transactions and enforcement matters for CMBS master and special servicers, land acquisition, and eminent domain.
Mr. Williamson previously served on the firm's Management Committee and chaired its Finance Committee.
Lead counsel for leading CMBS master and special servicers in loan modifications, enforcement and workout agreements in a modification, multi-state basis involving hotel and convention center properties, apartment complexes and condominiums, shopping centers and industrial properties
Served as lead counsel for Indiana American Water Company's multi-phased land and easement acquisition project for the construction of new water mains, plant facilities and well site development in Southern Indiana, including condemnation of right of way easements
Co-counsel for the $1 billion Louisville Airport Improvement Program to expand Standiford Field for which he structured and oversaw the legal aspects of commercial land acquisition, aviation easement acquisition and business relocation programs and Federal grant financing compliance and oversight
Lead counsel for the Waterfront Development Corporation's acquisition and relocation of major business properties and right-of-way acquisition for the $100 million Louisville Waterfront Park and development of Slugger Field Triple A baseball stadium
Has served in a number of construction, development and related financing transactions for banks and institutional lenders in multi-state transactions; industrial site acquisitions and plant development companies in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Michigan; and, low and moderate income housing development and tax credit financing projects in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee
Louisville YMCA, Board of Directors
Christ Church United Methodist, Member
University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
University of Kentucky
Topics on which Mr. Williamson has lectured or written include First Amendment Rights at Airports for the Auburn University School of Engineering, real estate and mortgage foreclosure services for the University of Louisville School of Law, legal issues for financial institutions for the University of Kentucky College of Law, and acquisition and relocation procedures in Federal and Federally assisted projects for the National Business Institute, and the Federal Aviation Administration. He has also co-authored "Kentucky Construction Law" (HLK Global Communications, Inc.) and "Deskbook Guide to Receivership and Foreclosure" (Trigild, Inc.).
Mr. Williamson was a member of Christ Church United Methodist in Louisville. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Louisville YMCA, where he was a past chair of the Camp Piomingo Board of Managers and recipient of the outstanding Volunteer Award for 2002. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Indiana Economic Development Council, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Louisville Bach Society, as a member of the Crescent Hill Athletic Association and the Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee.
Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated
