Public Finance

Building on a nearly 100-year firm history in public finance that includes the financing of such iconic projects as the Golden Gate Bridge and Carnegie Hall, Orrick’s public finance lawyers have handled thousands of public finance transactions, and consistently ranks as the top public finance firm in the United States.

Our clients include municipal issuers, non-profit corporations, Indian tribes, underwriters, private borrowers, credit providers, investment providers, swap/derivative product providers and others in both primary and secondary market transactions.

Unmatched Experience with Municipal Debt

Our experience encompasses every type of project or program financed with municipal debt, whether tax-exempt or taxable, for municipal or private borrowers. Examples include a broad range of infrastructure, cultural, sports, transportation, utility, housing, health care, education, and other projects.

Post-Issuance Compliance and Enforcement Issues

In conjunction with Orrick’s wholly owned subsidiary, BLX Group, we also are a leader in helping clients and other municipal market participants with post-issuance compliance and enforcement issues, including arbitrage rebate, continuing disclosure, investment placement and management, program administration, IRS audits, SEC investigations, defaults, bankruptcies, and other workouts.

Bond Buyer Rankings and Awards

• 2010 Bond Buyer Rankings

  • No. 1 - Bond Counsel – 416 issues aggregating more than $45 billion dollars with a market share of 10.7%.
  • No. 1 Disclosure Counsel – 132 transactions aggregating more than $31 billion dollars with a market share of 7.3%.
  • No. 4 Underwriter's Counsel – 148 transactions aggregating more than $14 billion dollars with a market share of 3.4%.

• 2010 Bond Buyer Northeast Deal of the Year

  The California School Finance Authority Educational Facilities as bond counsel in connection with a $12 million direct subsidy qualified school construction bonds to fund construction of a K-8 charter school facility located on the Chula Vista campus of High Tech High.

• 2010 Bond Buyer Far West Deal of the Year

  Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park Project as borrower’s counsel in connection with $650 million of Second Priority Liberty Revenue Refunding Bonds to refund $650 million of variable rate demand bonds issued to fund a portion of the cost of a 51-story office tower to serve as the New York Headquarters of Bank of America (tallest building in New York after the Empire State Building). This was the first project ever to utilize financings in both the property securitization market and the public finance market.