Introduction
Daniel Deaton has a public finance practice in which he serves as bond counsel, disclosure counsel and underwriter’s counsel.
My focus
I serve as bond counsel, disclosure counsel and underwriter’s counsel in a wide variety of public finance transactions, including for states, cities, counties, airports, water and wastewater funds, among others. I have served as bond counsel involving complex variable rate products as well as the creation of new master indentures. I have served as disclosure counsel in some of the most complex financing in the public finance market. I have also served in various capacities in connection with university and cultural institution financings. In addition, I have recently served as underwriter’s counsel in connection with a tax exempt project financing transaction that financed the construction of facilities that will manufacture medium density fiberboard from rice straw.
Disclosure
I am a thought leader in the fast-evolving regulatory developments involving disclosure and due diligence obligations of issuers and underwriters. I am a frequent panelist and project participant on a wide variety of topics ranging from disclosure policies and procedures, underwriter due diligence obligations, application of securities laws to secondary market statements, among others.
/Insights
Presentations
- Speaker, “The Evolving Landscape of Municipal Disclosure,” CDIAC Municipal Market Disclosure: Fundamentals and Evolving Practices, Costa Mesa, CA, April 9, 2025
- Speaker, “Climate Change and Natural Hazard Risk Assessment and Disclosures,” CDIAC Municipal Market Disclosure: Fundamentals and Evolving Practices, Costa Mesa, CA, April 9, 2025
- Speaker, “National Fixed Income,” Bond Dealers of America: National Fixed Income Conference, December 5, 2024
- Speaker, “Annual Municipal Disclosure Training,” CDIAC Municipal Market Annual Disclosure Training Webinar, October 15, 2024
- Speaker, “Hot Topics in Securities Law,” The Workshop 2023 - National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL), Chicago, IL, October 18, 2023
- Speaker, “The Evolving Landscape of Municipal Disclosure,” CDIAC Municipal Market Disclosure: Fundamentals and Evolving Practices, Folsom, CA, March 29 2023
- Speaker, “Assessment and Disclosure of Climate Change Risks,” CDIAC Municipal Market Disclosure: Fundamentals and Evolving Practices, Folsom, CA, March 29 2023
- Speaker, “Hot Topics Securities”, NABL U Presents – The Workshop, Chicago, IL, October 14, 2022
- Speaker, “The Municipal Market Summit”, Bond Dealers of America Conference, Dallas, TX, April 8, 2022
- Speaker, City of San Diego Disclosure Training, Virtual, November 17, 2021
- Speaker, “Disclosure Checklist & Final Takeaways,” BondLink & Nixon Peabody's At the Forefront of ESG, Social Media, and COVID-19 Disclosures Conference, June 24, 2021
- Speaker, “Effective Investor Outreach: Concepts for an Effective Investor Relation Strategy During Strange Times,” National Association of State Treasurers (NAST), Webinar, July 28, 2020
- Speaker, “Spotlight on Transparency: A Discussion of Secondary Market Disclosure Practices,” SEC's Office of Municipal Securities (OMS) Virtual Conference, June 16, 2020
- Speaker, “What COVID-19 Means for Issuer Disclosure Practices,” GFOA Annual (Virtual) Conference, June 4, 2020
- Speaker, “Disclosures and due diligence obligations during the COVID-19 crisis,” presentation to the Indianapolis Bond Bank, May 22, 2020
- Speaker, “SEC Statement on COVID-19 Disclosure,” GFOA Annual (Virtual) Conference, May 15, 2020
- Speaker, “Navigating Investor Disclosures During the COVID-19 Crisis,” California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission, Webinar, May 1, 2020
- Regularly speaks at Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission (CDIAC), and Bond Dealers of America
Publications
- “Revisiting limited offering in the municipal securities market,” Nixon Peabody Client Alert, originally published in the Bond Dealers of America’s quarterly magazine Fixed Income Insights, October 20, 2022
- “What should the municipal securities market learn from the SEC's proposed corporate climate change rules?,” Nixon Peabody Client Alert, June 08, 2022
- “What should the municipal securities market learn from the SEC’s recent proposed corporate cybersecurity rules?”, Nixon Peabody Client Alert, April 11, 2022
- “SEC releases coronavirus (COVID-19) disclosure guidance for issuers of municipal securities,” Nixon Peabody Client Alert, May 11, 2020
- “Clayton calls for meaningful coronavirus (COVID-19) disclosure,” Nixon Peabody Client Alert, April 15, 2020
- “SEC staff releases antifraud guidance made by issuers of municipal securities,” Nixon Peabody Client Alert, February 14, 2020
- “SEC adopts amendments to rule 15C2-12 to add events for which notice must be provided,” Nixon Peabody Client Alert, August 27, 2018
- “Crafting Disclosure Policies,” National Association of Bond Lawyers, August 20, 2015
In the news
- Phoenix Business Journal
Grand Canyon University completes $520 million bond refinance
Dec 12, 2024This article covers a $520 million refinancing for Grand Canyon University through the Industrial Development Authority of the County of Maricopa Education Bonds. NP is mentioned in the coverage for serving as counsel to Goldman Sachs in connection with the GCU bonds. The NP team was led by Los Angeles Project Finance & Public Finance partner Dan Deaton, and included PBFN partner Bruce Serchuk of Washington, DC and associates Georgia Sackey and Kate Stack of New York City, and Washington, DC Corporate partner Lloyd Spencer.
- AZ Big Media
Colliers arranges $520 million refinancing for GCU
Dec 10, 2024This article covers a $520 million refinancing for Grand Canyon University through the Industrial Development Authority of the County of Maricopa Education Bonds. NP is mentioned in the coverage for serving as counsel to Goldman Sachs in connection with the GCU bonds. The NP team was led by Los Angeles Project Finance & Public Finance partner Dan Deaton, and included PBFN partner Bruce Serchuk of Washington, DC and associates Georgia Sackey and Kate Stack of New York City, and Washington, DC Corporate partner Lloyd Spencer.
- The Bond Buyer
Issuers facing worst environment in 50 years
Oct 16, 2023Los Angeles Project Finance & Public Finance partner Dan Deaton is quoted in this article from comments at the recent Government Finance Officers Associate MiniMuni Conference. Dan discusses takeaways from the current bond issuance environment and provides insights on the importance of developing strong relationships and having a structure in place for voluntary and continuing disclosure.
- The Bond Buyer
Santee Cooper approves $1.3 billion tender, exchange bond refunding
This article on Santee Cooper’s board approving a $1.3 billion tender and exchange bond refunding mentions the firm for serving as disclosure counsel. The NP team representing the South Carolina-owned utility company includes partners Liz Columbo, Virginia Wong, and Barry Rothchild of New York, Mitch Rapaport of Washington, DC, and New York counsel Abigail Olsen and associate Sebastian Torres-Rodriguez, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance group. Washington, DC Corporate partner Lloyd Spencer and Los Angeles Project Finance & Public Finance partner Dan Deaton assisted with the analysis of securities laws related to the tender and exchange.Feb 9, 2022 - The Bond Buyer
California sugarcane-to-ethanol plant verified green bond sale
This article on the $575 million in bonds for California Ethanol + Power, which will fund the construction of the Sugar Valley Energy alternative fuel and energy plant to convert sugarcane into ethanol mentions NP as disclosure counsel. The NP team includes Los Angeles partners Dan Deaton and Angelica Valencia and New York City partner Scott Singer, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance group.June 3, 2021 - The Bond Buyer
Changing circumstances reduced demand for California school note program
This article, on the California School Finance Authority’s borrowing program created to help school districts manage pandemic-driven budget deferrals, mentions NP as disclosure counsel for notes issued in March and April for elementary, high school, and community college districts. Los Angeles partners Rudy Salo and Dan Deaton, and San Francisco partners Travis Gibbs and Graham Beck, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance group, advised CSFA in this deal. Update: New York Bankruptcy & Restructuring partner Robert Christmas also advised CSFA in this deal.April 29, 2021 - The Bond Buyer
Los Angeles makes tender offer ahead of taxable MICLA refunding
This article mentions the firm as bond counsel on the City of Los Angeles’ hybrid tender offer and refunding related to the Municipal Improvement Corporation of Los Angeles lease revenue bonds. The NP team includes Los Angeles partners Jade Turner-Bond and Dan Deaton; San Francisco partner Travis Gibbs; Washington, D.C. associate Joel Swearingen; and Los Angeles associate David Song—all of the Project Finance & Public Finance group.Feb 18, 2021 - The Bond Buyer
State conduit plans notes for schools facing California budget deferrals
NP was mentioned in this article on the California School Finance Authority’s plans to price $1.4 billion in short-term notes for the work by Los Angeles Project Finance & Public Finance partner Dan Deaton serving as disclosure counsel.Feb 11, 2021 - Reuters Legal
New Hampshire Sued over 'Unnecessary' Nursing Facility Placements
The following article covers a class action complaint filed against the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services for failing to properly administer its CFI Medicaid waiver program. NP—together with NH Legal Assistance, Disability Rights Center-NH, and the AARP Foundation—filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of older adults and persons with disabilities enrolled in the CFI program.Jan 11, 2021The NP team includes Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Deane, associate Kierstan Schultz and paralegal Sharon Willier, and Government Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Mark Knights, all of Manchester.
- Bond Buyer
California Markets Its Second Deal Using Millionaire's Tax Credit
This article on the sale of $450 million in taxable social bonds from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority mentions NP as disclosure counsel. This marks the second round of bonds under the state’s No Place Like Home legislation, which was signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2016 to fund housing for unsheltered people with mental illnesses. Los Angeles Project Finance & Public Finance partner Dan Deaton led NP’s work on this deal.Oct 22, 2020 - Bond Buyer
SFO prepares bond refunding as airport rides out pandemic
This article about San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and its preparations for a $291 million bond refunding deal mentions NP as disclosure counsel. San Francisco partner Travis Gibbs and Los Angeles partner Dan Deaton and counsel Heather White, all of the Project Finance and Public Finance Group, advised on this matter.July 30, 2020 - The Bond Buyer
GFOA members urge issuers to disclose coronavirus impacts
This article quotes Los Angeles Project Finance and Public Finance partner Dan Deaton on SEC guidance for disclosures and how the uncertainty caused by the pandemic has impacted the market.June 5, 2020 - Bond Buyer
SEC Chair Clayton provides guidance on coronavirus disclosure
In this article discussing SEC Chair Jay Clayton’s guidance on corporate disclosure during the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles Project Finance and Public Finance partner Dan Deaton provides commentary about how the virus is introducing complexities to disclosures across markets.April 24, 2020 - Law360
Evaluating SEC Plan For New Municipal Issuer Disclosures
Public finance partners Julie Seymour (Chicago), Liz Columbo (New York) and Dan Deaton (Los Angeles) published a contributed article on the SEC’s proposed amendment to Exchange Act Rule 15c2-12 and what it could mean for market participants.March 13, 2017 - Bloomberg BNA Securities Law Daily
Municipal Securities Issuers to Face Enforcement Actions
This feature article discusses the Securities and Exchange Commission crackdown on municipal securities disclosure violations. Los Angeles Public Finance partner Dan Deaton provides third-party commentary.Nov 17, 2015 - The Bond Buyer
NABL Provides Issuers Disclosure Guidance in Wake of SEC Cases
The National Association of Bond Lawyers released a paper giving its members tools to help issuer clients develop written disclosure policies and procedures in response to recent Securities and Exchange Commission cases against issuers. Los Angeles Public Finance partner Dan Deaton, part of the paper’s drafting committee, is quoted within the piece.Aug 20, 2015 - The Bond Buyer
SEC Strikes Back on MCDC
Los Angeles Public Finance partner Dan Deaton discusses the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation initiative.May 22, 2014
Admitted to practice
California
Texas
Education
Southern Methodist University, J.D.
University of California, Irvine, B.A.
Professional activities
- State Bar of California
- State Bar of Texas
Recognition
- Recognized for exceptional standing in the legal community in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2024 for Public Finance (California).
- Recommended in The Legal 500 United States 2024 editorial for Project finance - Infrastructure and PPP
Languages
Spanish
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllVirginia Wong
Partner / Practice Group Leader, Project Finance and Public Finance- New York
- Office:+1 212.940.3028
- vwong@nixonpeabody.com
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Julie K. Seymour
Partner / Strategic Impact Partner- Chicago
- Office:+1 312.977.4353
- jkseymour@nixonpeabody.com
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Scott R. Singer
Partner- New York
- Office:+1 212.940.3182Mobile:+1 917.886.5967
- ssinger@nixonpeabody.com
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