Practice Groups

The Public Finance & Governmental Practice Group is involved in the issuance of tax-exempt securities in the State of Rhode Island. The Firm is one of few in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts listed as a nationally recognized bond counsel. We serve as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel and issuer’s counsel in connection with the issuance of tax-exempt securities for the State and a number of its agencies and local communities. Attorneys in this group work with all of the principal fiscal advisors in Rhode Island, and have successful dealings with major underwriters, bond insurers and rating agencies on a national level. They structure precedent-setting and unique revenue obligation bond issues designed to comply with the State of Rhode Island’s complex constitutional and statutory debt limitation provisions.

We were also instrumental in the creation of the Rhode Island Refunding Bond Authority, the first in the nation to issue state authority revenue bonds to advance refund general obligations of a state. This innovative financing transaction resulted in saving millions of dollars for the State’s taxpayers.

The Firm has acted as bond counsel to the State of Rhode Island on the first rated lease participation certificate issue in the State’s history. Our attorneys have been instrumental in drafting legislation and providing the legal rationale to support the creation of municipal public building authorities.