Public Finance and Public Law

Thompson Coburn LLP (Thompson Coburn) enjoys a national reputation for its work on public finance and public law issues. We have a long tradition of representation of state and local governmental entities, and of business clients interacting with such entities. We pride ourselves on being able to provide a one-stop array of legal services for governmental entities both small and large, as well as for businesses and other private parties dealing with such entities.

Public Finance
Our attorneys have created a national public finance practice, with primary emphasis on the states of Missouri and Illinois, and the District of Columbia. Governmental clients in the public finance area include states, state agencies, state universities, counties, cities, school districts, water and sewer districts, public hospitals and other public health agencies, industrial development corporations and other governmental entities. In addition, our attorneys represent parties in financings for private schools and universities, nonprofit hospitals, senior living facilities and eligible manufacturing facilities. We also work on public/private partnerships and development incentive transactions, including tax increment financing transactions, tax abatements, neighborhood improvement districts, community improvement districts, special service areas and transportation development districts.

Thompson Coburn is nationally recognized for its Public Finance practice. Our Public Finance attorneys are listed in The Bond Buyer's Municipal Marketplace . We serve as bond counsel for various types of municipal bond issues, including general obligation bonds, governmental revenue bonds, industrial revenue bonds, tax, revenue and bond anticipation notes, lease revenue financings, certificate of participation financings, tax increment financings, special district financings, conduit 501(c)(3) financings and other types of private activity bonds. We also serve as counsel to banks, investment banks, corporations and nonprofit institutions in connection with tax-exempt financing matters. In that capacity, we have extensive experience as underwriter's or disclosure counsel, issuer's counsel, borrower's counsel and trustee's counsel. Our attorneys serve as counsel to commercial banks issuing letters of credit or other credit facilities as credit enhancement for health care, education, housing and other public finance transactions.

Governmental
Thompson Coburn Public Finance attorneys serve as bond counsel, disclosure counsel and in other roles in connection with the issuance by cities, counties, school districts and other governmental entities of general obligation bonds for public infrastructure and other projects. We participate in governmental revenue, leasehold revenue and certificate of participation financings for various governmental entities.

Health Care
Our attorneys act as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, issuer's counsel, borrower's counsel and credit enhancer's counsel in transactions for public and private hospitals, senior living facilities and other health care providers to finance hospital construction, renovation and other health facility improvements. When working on health care finance matters, practice group attorneys call upon the experience of the members of our Health Care practice group, which counsels hospitals, health systems, integrated delivery systems, nursing homes, physicians and other health related entities on a wide array of issues.

Education
Public Finance attorneys serve as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, issuer's counsel, borrower's counsel and credit enhancer's counsel in financing transactions for public and private colleges and universities, school districts and private elementary and secondary schools. Educational finance transactions undertaken by the Firm include long-term fixed rate financings, variable rate issues, short-term cash flow financings and project lease financings. We have participated in numerous financings to fund student loan programs.

Public-Private Partnerships/Development Incentives - TIFs, NIDs, CIDs, TDDs, IRBs
We represent governmental entities, lenders and private developers in connection with the implementation of public-private partnerships leading to the development of commercial, transportation and other projects. Examples of public-private partnerships and development incentive programs utilized in financings the Firm has worked on include tax increment financing, tax abatement and tax credits, as well as the formation and/or use of neighborhood improvement districts, community improvement districts, transportation development districts, special service areas and other special assessment vehicles. In addition, we work with local economic development agencies in taxable and tax-exempt financing programs for manufacturing companies and other private entities of various sizes.

Utilities
Our lawyers participate in public finance matters for public and private utilities, including water, sewer and electrical projects. Such financings have included both individual transactions for local utilities as well as pooled transactions such as state revolving funds.

Post-Issuance Compliance/Arbitrage Rebate Services
Thompson Coburn provides rebate review and computation services to issuers, conduit borrowers and trustees. Through available elections, selections, applications and allocations, we have helped many clients reduce their anticipated rebate liability and helped others file successful rebate refund claims. We counsel issuers and borrowers regarding various other post-issuance compliance issues regarding tax (such as change in use, reissuance and IRS audit response), continuing disclosure and other matters.

Public Law
The Firm serves as general counsel or primary outside counsel for a significant number of governmental entities. We have counseled governmental and private sector clients on a variety of municipal law and public law issues. In addition to a wealth of experience in the Public Finance and Public Law practice, our attorneys bring a strong business and financial perspective to the representation of governmental entities with regard to state and local governmental law issues. Representation of our government clients is further enhanced by the past and present involvement of members of the Public Finance and Public Law practice in public service activities on the local, regional and national levels.  When needed, Thompson Coburn litigation attorneys provide vigorous and effective representation to clients in the public law sector.

In addition to general representation of state and local entities, our resources are drawn upon for legal work in connection with transactional and special projects for such entities. Among the principal practice areas called upon in connection with the representation of municipal and other public law clients are:

• Employee Benefits
• Environmental
• Government Contracts
• Labor and Employment
• Real Estate
• Tax
• Utilities

Representative Clients
Our clients include the State of Missouri, state agencies, various cities, counties and school districts, and commercial banks, corporations, investment bankers, financial advisors and nonprofit institutions.

General Counsel/Major Outside Counsel

• Metro (Bi-State Development Agency)
• Missouri Health and Educational Facilities Authority
• Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority
• Missouri State Employees Retirement System
• St. Louis County, Missouri
• Saint Louis Zoo
• University of Missouri

Significant Transactional Work

• City of Washington, Missouri
• Brentwood School District
• Francis Howell School District
• Pattonville School District
• Southeast Missouri State University
• University City School District

Investment Bankers and Financial Institutions

• Commerce Bank, N.A.
• Edward Jones
• Fifth Third Bank
• First St. Louis Securities
• Piper Jaffray & Co.
• Stern Brothers & Co.
• Stifel, Nicolaus & Co.
• UBS Financial Services, Inc.
• U.S. Bank National Association
• Ziegler Capital Markets Group