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Harold R. Davis

Practice Focus and Experience

Hal Davis is one of the founding partners of Davis Malm. He practices in the public finance area and real estate areas. Currently, much of his time is involved with qualifying and selling Massachusetts brownfield tax credits for real estate developers, both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Hal specializes in the use of tax-exempt bond financing for industrial development, residential rental housing and not-for-profit organizations and has acted as bond counsel in hundreds of tax-exempt bond transactions in municipalities across the Commonwealth as well as in other New England states. Prior to the restrictions imposed by the 1986 Tax Reform Act, Davis Malm and Hal consistently handled more industrial revenue bond transactions with the Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency and local municipal industrial development financing authorities than any other Massachusetts law firm (more than 50 per year). Hal also has extensive experience in the use of government assistance programs for business expansion including those of the United States Small Business Administration and the Massachusetts Economic Development Incentive Program.

In addition to being Of Counsel to Davis Malm, Hal is President of New England Economic Development, an economic development consulting service to businesses, developers and municipalities. He has helped to qualify towns as Economic Target Areas eligible to use the Massachusetts Economic Development Incentive Program. He has also developed in Massachusetts and Connecticut methods to create special improvement districts that may issue tax-exempt bonds to finance project infrastructure, and has been instrumental in preparing legislation for that purpose. Mr. Davis is also a principal of Economic Development Incentives Inc. This joint venture between New England Economic Development Corp. and Dorfman Capital was established to serve real estate owners who develop Brownfield sites and are eligible to receive Massachusetts Brownfields Tax Credits.

Representative Matters

Drafted, with William F. Griffin, Jr., enabling legislation authorizing the issuance of tax-exempt special assessment bonds to finance local municipal infrastructure, which was enacted in 2012 as Chapter 23L of the Massachusetts General Laws.
Represented the owners of a seafood distribution center in the remarketing of $4.4 million in tax-free revenue bonds.
Created numerous certified development companies in five different states to participate with the Small Business Administration's local development program.
Represented Russian state organizations and private companies in their business in the U.S. and Europe.
Organized first sports lottery in Albania to finance country's participation in 1992 Olympic Games.

Professional

Admitted: Massachusetts.
Fellow: Massachusetts Bar Foundation.
Member: Boston Bar Association; American Bar Association.

Community Involvement

Treasurer and Director of the New England Trade Adjustment Center.
Chairman, Douglas Economic Development Commission.
Member, Douglas Zoning Board of Appeals.
Awarded 2012 Government Affairs Award by NAIOP Massachusetts, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association in recognition of his expertise and advocacy to create the new Local Infrastructure Development Program.
Past Member, Quincy Park and Recreation Board.
Past Elected Member, Quincy School Committee.
Past Member, Quincy Industrial Development Financing Authority.
Past Member, Braintree Finance Committee.