King & Spalding announced today that Brendan Staley has joined the firm as a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice group. Staley is based in Washington, D.C. Staley joins King & Spalding from Hunton Andrews Kurth, where he was a partner.
Staley joins the firm’s economic development team to assist companies from around the globe as they locate or expand in the U.S. He has extensive experience in bond transactions that are critical to this work, and he has structured public finance and project development transactions for a range of public and private infrastructure and economic development projects. These have included airports, roads and highways, street lighting systems, broadband infrastructure, convention and conference centers, educational facilities, government administrative facilities, and water and wastewater facilities.
“Brendan is a business-minded and ambitious lawyer with an impressive array of economic development capabilities that will be critical as we continue to grow this area of our corporate practice,” said Jonathan Melmed, co-leader of the firm’s Corporate practice group. “In particular, Brendan’s background in bond transactions, public-private partnerships and complex financial and corporate transactions will bring immediate benefits to our clients entering new markets and expanding or relocating their facilities.”
King & Spalding began expanding its economic development and incentives capabilities in late 2023, when leading economic development lawyer Stephanie Yarbrough joined the firm as a partner. The practice advises domestic and international companies of all sizes on all aspects and stages of economic development transactions, including incentives, real estate, environmental, corporate, tax, finance (including equipment finance), construction and governmental relations matters.
Staley received his undergraduate degree and his M.A. in International Law and Government from Georgetown University and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.
“The breadth and momentum of King & Spalding’s economic development and incentives practice is really impressive and has me very excited to be part of this dynamic and forward-thinking team,” said Staley. “The firm’s scope and its interconnected practices provide a strong platform on which to leverage my experience in public finance and state and local government law to grow my practice.”
