Mr. Kirk's practice concentrates in the areas of real estate development, planning, finance, zoning and land use, state and local governmental development and tax incentives, construction law, environmental law and business law and transactions. Mr. Kirk possesses extensive experience representing both real and personal property owners in the assessment and appeal of local real and personal property was successful in drafting an amendment to Section 67-9-501 of the Tennessee Personal Property Tax Statute which was enacted and signed into law effective January 1, 2010.

 

In addition, Mr. Kirk represents developers and corporate clients in drafting complex development, construction, leasing and management agreements for the development and use of industrial, commercial and governmental properties. Mr. Kirk has also represented chemical concerns, property owners and commercial entities on both the state and federal level in environmental litigation under the Clean Water Act, the Toxic Substance Control Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Recent successful results obtained on behalf of clients include a ruling from the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals declaring a provision of the Tennessee Clean Water Act to be unconstitutional and preventing the taking of a client’s real property by a local condemning authority.

 

He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. Mr. Kirk served as General Counsel for Vertac Chemical Corporation and by appointment to the National Agricultural Chemical Association Law Committee from 1978 to 1980. He also served as the Attorney for the City of Germantown, Tennessee Planning Commission from 1988 to 1991. He is a member of the Memphis, Tennessee and American Bar Associations and the State Bar of currently is a member and serving as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Woodland Presbyterian School, and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Fire Museum of Memphis and served as past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fire Museum of Memphis.