Covington, KY – James E. Parsons has joined the Northern Kentucky office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP as of counsel. Parsons recently announced his retirement as County Administrator for the Boone County Fiscal Court, a position he held for the past seven years.

Parsons brings three decades of public service and government law experience to Taft. He has focused his career on serving the residents and businesses of Northern Kentucky.

"Jim has devoted his entire career to the improvement and expansion of Northern Kentucky, and its citizens and the business community have benefited greatly from his efforts," said Robert B. Craig, partner-in-charge for Taft's Northern Kentucky office. "He brings experience in the often complicated areas of public finance and government law knowledge that will benefit business and community expansion projects."

As Boone County's Fiscal Court Administrator, Parsons was responsible for managing a $100 million budget and 300 county employees. He helped implement numerous infrastructure needs including the expansion of water and sanitary sewer lines, the development of new parks and the construction and planning of several new road projects. He also was instrumental in improving government efficiency through the merger of the County Police and Sheriffs Departments, and construction of a new jail, justice center, law enforcement center and a planned fire training center.

"He is without a doubt the most outstanding city or county manager in our region," said Boone County Judge Executive Gary Moore. "It's his outstanding knowledge, his ability, that has been the key to what we have accomplished," Moore said, adding that Parsons is often referred to as Professor Parsons for his knowledge of state statues, government and finance, and for his willingness to explain it to others.

Prior to his county work, Parsons spent nearly two decades as City Manager and City Solicitor for the City of Newport. As such, he led revitalization efforts including negotiations and development agreements for the Newport Aquarium, Newport on the Levee and other riverfront projects that brought millions of dollars in new investment to the city. He also is credited with authoring and defending many model ordinances for the regulation of alcohol and adult entertainment that are now used nationwide.

"We're truly honored to have a man of Jim's character, integrity and compassion join the Taft family," said Thomas D. Heekin, managing partner of Taft Stettinius & Hollister. "Our existing and prospective clients will benefit greatly from his local, regional and state-wide reputation as the consummate professional and trusted advisor."

Parsons received his J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law of Northern Kentucky University, where he also graduated cum laude with a B.A. in 1976. His memberships include the Kentucky Bar Association, Northern Kentucky Bar Association and Northern Kentucky City-County Management Association. He is licensed to practice law in all the courts of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

He is an adjunct instructor in the Public Administration Department at NKU, teaching Executive Management and Urban Administration; is board chairman for the Newport Housing Development Corporation; and serves as a board member for OKI, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, Boone County Extension District and Northern Kentucky Independent Health District.

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP has offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton and Northern Kentucky. The firm provides a broad range of legal services to businesses and individuals, including litigation, corporate and business law, securities and municipal financing, tax and estate planning, labor and employment law, real estate and environmental, health care, intellectual property and unfair competition and antitrust law.