Industries & Practices

Public Finance

Public Finance

    Through bonds and other financing options, we support health, safety, education, energy and economic development.

    From clients who are contemplating a bond financing for the first time to those who are frequent issuers of multi-million dollar bond issues, we supply comprehensive advice that begins with the preliminary planning stage for the project, continues through the process of committee meetings and meetings of the legislative authority, and culminates with the funding of the capital project.

    Bricker Graydon’s Public Finance group is known regionally for developing innovative financing structures. We are the largest public finance practice group in Ohio, and every attorney in the group is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers. Our lawyers are listed in the Bond Buyer’s Red Book of bond counsel, and we have been widely recognized by issuers and the underwriting community as a law firm with a national caliber bond counsel opinion.

    We are experienced with the following:

    • Debt financings for governmental purposes
    • Economic development finance and incentives
    • Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)/energy efficiency
    • Structured finance transactions for non-profit and other entities
    • Private purpose bond financings
    • Tax-exempt and taxable leases
    • Election proceedings for voted levies, bond issues and charter questions
    • Tax and revenue anticipatory notes
    • Tax-exempt organizations
    • Post-issuance compliance services

    "Bricker & Eckler is simply outstanding in all aspects of public finance law. We've used Bricker in several complicated financing transactions. Their knowledge, experience, planning and dedicated service significantly stand out."

    Michael Mayher, Lakeland Community College, as quoted in Best Law Firms 2018

    Areas of Focus

    Finance & Levy Planning

    We help local subdivisions obtain and maintain the resources they need. We routinely serve as bond counsel, underwriters’ counsel, trustee counsel, issuer’s counsel, and/or company counsel in financings ranging from large publicly-offered general obligations. special obligation and revenue bond issues to smaller privately placed debt issuances. Our experience includes tax levies of all types, as well as lease-purchase arrangements, collaborative agreements, protection of assessed valuation, tax abatement and exemption issues, booster and foundation support, and more.

    Economic Development Finance

    Utilizing the economic development tools that best suit our clients’ goals, we structure and layer resources, connecting government entities and private developers with available financial incentives. Tax increment financing and joint economic development districts are just a few of the areas in which we are highly experienced. 

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    Energy Finance & PACE

    Participating in the issuance of Ohio’s first property-assessed clean energy (PACE) bonds, our firm is a national leader in the area of energy project finance. We help public entities use funding opportunities to update existing office buildings or warehouses or to acquire an alternative energy source, like solar panels or wind turbines, without impacting certain local debt limitations.  We have facilitated over $500 million of PACE transactions for over 200 PACE projects. Visit our PACE Financing Resource Center >>

    501(c)(3) Project Finance

    From the time a 501(c)(3) borrower first identifies a facility or capital-related need to the first day of operation, we blend real estate, project finance, compliance and taxation knowledge to advise our clients through each phase of growth.  Our clients include health care providers and other non-profit organizations.

    Underwriters' Counsel

    Our attorneys regularly represent underwriters in bond financings. In this role, we draft the official statement, the purchase agreement and the continuing disclosure agreement for the transaction and guide our client in completing due diligence review.

    Higher Education

    Bricker & Eckler is a leader in higher education finance and regularly serves as bond counsel, university counsel and underwriters' counsel in connection with tax-exempt financing for private and state universities. 

    Post-Issuance Compliance

    Our attorneys and public finance analysts have decades of experience assisting clients with their post-issuance compliance responsibilities.  We develop post-issuance compliance policies and procedures, manage federal continuing disclosure filings, and provide arbitrage and rebate computation services.  We also represent clients in IRS bond audits and provide advice on matters related to federal tax law such as change of use and private business activity.