Public Finance

Ruden McClosky has one of Florida’s largest and most diverse public finance practices. Since 2002, Ruden McClosky has participated in over 150 bond issues aggregating over $5.0 billion, serving as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, disclosure counsel, borrower’s counsel, issuer’s counsel and/or lender’s counsel.

The attorneys in our Public Finance practice group have significant experience in almost every type and purpose of bond financing including but not limited to general purpose financings, utilities, transportation, housing, environment, bio-technology, community redevelopment, education, health care, parking, infrastructure improvements, special districts, short term working capital financings, disasters recovery, financings for non profits and current and advance refundings. We work on financings secured by diverse repayment sources such as ad valorem taxes, sales taxes, special assessments, franchise fees, utility taxes, user fees of various types and covenants to budget and appropriate. Numerous bond issues in which we have participated were secured by credit enhancement of various types, including municipal bond insurance and letters of credit.

Many clients are infrequent issuers of bonds, or they issue a small volume of bonds each year and may therefore be entitled to favorable treatment under federal tax law. Our attorneys are knowledgeable about those rules, and work with small or infrequent bond issuers, providing personalized service to ensure the most favorable treatment possible under federal tax law.

Our Public Finance attorneys routinely attend legal education seminars conducted by the National Association of Bond Lawyers and other organizations, and serve as panelists and speakers on relevant municipal finance topics at seminars and conferences.

Expertise in a wide variety of local government law matters is an integral part of providing legal services to the municipal finance community. Our attorneys are familiar with State law issues involved in bond financings of all types. Members of Ruden McClosky’s Public Finance practice group have focused on developing innovative financing techniques based on statutory mechanisms, including the use of special districts, special assessments, impact fees and lease-purchase arrangements.

In addition, attorneys in our Governmental practice group provide the specialized expertise that is often needed to address issues that may arise in connection with the issuance of tax-exempt bonds. These attorneys have represented many Florida cities, counties, school districts, special districts, authorities and state agencies in connection with a wide array of legal issues arising within their disciplines.

As a full-service law firm, Ruden McClosky affords the attorneys in our Public Finance practice group the ability to consult with our attorneys and experts in other practice areas of the Firm as needed. It is commonplace for questions relating to real estate, bankruptcy, security interests, banking, trust estates, securities, corporations, partnerships, environmental regulation, administrative law, transportation, and federal and state taxation to arise in bond issues. Our expertise and resources in each of these areas allows a specialized response to any unique legal requirements that might arise in the course of providing bond counsel services to our clients.