Industries & Practices

Public Finance

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

We serve as bond counsel to more than 1,000 state, city, county, school district, library and higher education entities that are seeking the most economical and efficient ways to finance their capital improvements. From clients who are contemplating a bond financing for the first time to those who are frequent issuers, we supply comprehensive advice that begins with the preliminary planning stage, continues through the process of committee meetings, board meetings and council meetings, and culminates after the capital has been secured.

Our group is known statewide for developing innovative financing structures, and several members have actively participated in the drafting of statutory and constitutional provisions that govern bond finance in Ohio. We are the largest public finance practice group in the state, and every attorney in the group is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers. Our lawyers are listed in the “red book” of bond counsel, and we have been recognized by the state and its various political subdivisions, as well as by the underwriting community, as a law firm with a national caliber bond counsel opinion.

We are experienced with the following:

Election proceedings for voted levies, bond issues and charter questions
Tax and revenue anticipatory notes
Taxable and tax-exempt leases
Capital financings
Private purpose bond financings
Structured finance transactions
Tax-exempt organizations
Economic development incentives
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)/energy efficiency

"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

"I have found Bricker & Eckler to be extremely helpful at the concept stage of a project. They discuss the different finance pathways and the issues related to the various paths. This is very helpful when dealing with development and mixed-usage projects."

Debra Miller, City of Powell, as quoted in Best Law Firms 2018

Sale and acquisition of new headquarters

Assisted a local developer with the sale and partial leaseback of their previous headquarters and the acquisition of new headquarters. Our team handled all real estate aspects including the sale of...

Conversion of a former munitions factory

Served as counsel to a port authority for a capital lease transaction, providing a sales tax exemption to the developer and property owner. The transaction enables the conversion of a former m...

Ohio’s largest PACE transaction

Served as counsel on a $16.3 million refinancing of a construction loan that involved significant PACE financing. The project funds eligible upgrades to a hotel near The Ohio State University campu...

OFCC K-12 Project on State University Campus

Served as counsel for a recently consolidated school district for a $42 million K-12 OFCC (state) co-funded project on the campus of a state university, with the local share bonds sold to the USDA....

Cleveland-area solar farm development

Represented Cuyahoga County in closing a $10 million financing transaction for the development of a solar farm on former landfill property near Cleveland. The solar farm covers 17 acres and co...

Syndicated construction loan

Represented a lender in connection with a syndicated construction loan for a large office/residential project including a bridge loan addressing timing issues with public financing.

"Bridge Street" development

Represented a lender in connection with financing for the first office/retail building in a large multi-phase project with significant public/private partnerships involved.

$1.6 billion development in Warren County

Served as special counsel to a township in connection with a 1,230-acre, $1.6 billion mixed-use development in southwest Ohio. The transaction involved negotiating and structuring a tax increment f...

COTA downtown bus pass program

Assisted the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District with structuring and creating a process for implementing a program to encourage 43,000 downtown Columbus, Ohio, commuters to bus to work...

Economic development counsel for large scale mixed...

Assisted developer of mixed-use project in Dublin, Ohio known as “Bridge Park.” The work included the negotiation of incentives, including a tax increment (TIF) arrangement and co...

See All

Key Contacts

John Caleb Bell Columbus

Rebecca C. Princehorn Columbus

Areas of Focus

School Bond Finance & Levy Planning

We help school districts obtain and maintain the resources they need. Our experience includes bond and note issuances and tax levies, as well as lease-purchase arrangements, collaborative agreements, protection of assessed valuation, tax abatement and exemption issues, booster and foundation support, and more.

Municipal/County/Township Bond Finance

Representing political subdivisions to finance infrastructure is a key component of our firm’s foundation. We routinely serve as bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, trustee counsel, issuer's counsel and/or company counsel in financings ranging from large general obligation and revenue bond issues to small bond issues.

State of Ohio & State Agency Finance

Our attorneys are intimately familiar with the State’s fiscal processes and have worked with public officials for decades. From job-creating programs to bond and note issuances, we help government entities create and use Ohio’s financial tools.

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.

Energy Finance & PACE

Participating in the issuance of Ohio’s first property assessed clean energy (PACE) bonds, our firm is a trailblazer 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. Visit our PACE Financing Resource Center >>

Health Care Real Estate & Project Finance

From the time a hospital 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 health care organizations through each phase of growth.

Library Bond Finance & Levy Planning

Whether borrowing money from note or bond issuance or raising money through a voter-approved levy, our team guides libraries through each stages of the process. Having partnered with dozens of public libraries across the state, we bring well-rounded experience this unique type of financial matter.

Underwriter's 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.