Phone (901) 522-9000
Fax (901) 527-3746
lwelch@martintate.com

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Lee Welch is a member of the firm who practices primarily in the areas of business transactions with a special emphasis on student housing development and management, as principal counsel for a major developer and manager of student housing nationwide.

Mr. Welch represents clients in the planning, financing, acquisition, development, construction, management, and sale of projects nationwide. With a background as general counsel for the public company that is Tennessee's largest independent financial institution, he is experienced at helping clients find solutions to financing issues for major projects. Mr. Welch's practice has ranged from the organization and representation of start-up companies to initial public offerings to representation of public companies. He currently serves as counsel to Education Realty Trust, Inc., a leading developer and manager of student housing since 1964, in connection with student housing projects serving the University of California, Berkeley; California State University San Marcos; the University of Arizona; the University of Northern Colorado; the University of Illinois, the University of Cincinnati; California University of Pennsylvania; Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania; Clarion University of Pennsylvania; the University of Louisville; Alabama A&M University; the University of Georgia; Florida State University; the University of North Carolina; North Carolina State University; Clemson University and Salisbury (Maryland) University.

Mr. Welch represents a joint venture of the Mid-South's and California' s leading agricultural seed companies in connection with the joint venture's exclusive license to produce and market patented rice seed.

Mr. Welch has served on the Board of Visitors for the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Tennessee and the Dean's Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Sciences of Mississippi State University. He is a former Vice-Chair of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Chair of the Lawyers' Committee of the Association of Bank Holding Companies and member of the American Society of Corporate Secretaries. He is a member of the Memphis, Tennessee and American Bar Associations. Mr. Welch is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Memphis and served as president of the Dixie Homes Boys and Girls Club.

Areas of Practice

• Business Law
• Corporate Law

Bar Admissions

• Tennessee, 1966

Education

• University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1966
  J.D.
• Mississippi State University, 1962
  B.A.
  With Special Honors

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Association of Bank Holding Companies Lawyers' Committee, 1972 - 1988
  Member, Chair 1983 - 1984
• American Society of Corporate Secretaries, 1974 - 1980
  Member
• Tennessee Human Rights Commission, 1979 - 1985
  Member
• Memphis Bar Association
  Member
• Tennessee Bar Association
  Member
• American Bar Association
  Member

Past Employment Positions

• First Tennessee National Corporation and First Tennessee Bank National Association, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, 1971 - 1990

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Kappa Phi
• Omicron Delta Kappa
• Phi Eta Sigma
• Sigma Chi