Pope Zeigler

Concentrating on public finance, governmental and utility representation

At Pope Zeigler, our job is to help government agencies and public utilities make the best use of their financial resources.  We help to ensure that they have the legal mechanisms they need to succeed with the projects that help build a strong South and North Carolina.


In public finance, we work with governments as big as the State of South Carolina or as small as the smallest towns and rural water districts.  We work with their financial teams and outside advisors to structure the most cost-effective and secure ways to finance important public infrastructure projects and reduce their cost of debt.  We help them issue bonds, finance equipment, and create special improvement and taxing districts.  In addition, we assist them in drafting agreements, creating revenue sources and complying with the legal limits imposed on their governmental powers.

We help our regulatory utility clients provide efficient, reasonably priced utility service through assistance with rates and rate regulation, sales and acquisition of water and sewer systems, adopting and administering impact fees, negotiating wholesale and industrial contracts, and establishing joint ventures.

Since Margaret C. Pope and Belton T. Zeigler founded Pope Zeigler, LLC in January 2008, the firm has served as bond counsel in transactions totaling more than $500 million.  The firm serves as public finance or special counsel to approximately 70 counties, municipalities and special purpose districts and as local or general counsel to three large public service districts.  The firm has represented clients before the South Carolina Public Service Commission in major utility proceedings, and has served as lead outside counsel to the pre-construction review and siting certification of V.C. Summer Units 2 & 3, a $6.3 billion nuclear power project. 

More than 95 percent of Pope Zeigler’s clients are government entities or public utilities, a focus that minimizes conflicts of interest government clients can encounter at larger firms.

The firm’s work falls into several principal categories: Public Finance, Laws Related to Governmental Entities, Public Utility Law, and Law Related to Regulated Utilities. 



Together, Mrs. Pope, Mr. Zeigler and Mr. Lucas bring 80 years of experience in public finance, government  and utility law.  Mrs. Pope is past president of the American College of Bond Counsel, a select group of leading public finance lawyers from around the country.  Mr. Zeigler is past general counsel to a Fortune 500 utility company. Both have been recognized by their peers, through Martindale-Hubbell ratings, as having achieved AV status. This indicates the highest level of professional and ethical excellence.   




The firm’s office in Columbia, S.C., is located in the South Carolina Municipal Association Building about two blocks from the State Capitol.  The Columbia location, and the state’s excellent system of interstate highways, allows the firm to serve clients efficiently no matter where they are.  The firm’s Charlotte office is located in the heart of the financial district and is accessible to clients throughout North Carolina. 

Pope Zeigler provides legal services only and does not provide financial advisory services to its clients.