Public Finance

Overview

Nixon Peabody is recognized as one of the largest and most highly regarded Public Finance practices in the United States. Our team crafts innovative solutions for federal, state, and local governments to finance critical infrastructure and social projects in their communities. With more than 40 years of experience in all areas of public finance law, we can guide you through any type of project, handling the full range of financing options.

A key aspect of the practice is our unparalleled depth of tax law capabilities. Our team includes six attorneys functioning exclusively as “Section 103” lawyers, each of whom have worked on virtually every type of financing in the tax-exempt market. We leverage our broad experience and industry insight to help you serve your communities efficiently and effectively.

Representative Experience

• California Health Facilities Authority Served as disclosure counsel on the No Place Like Home Program, which funded the construction of permanent supportive housing for people who are homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness and suffer from mental illness. The project was awarded the Bond Buyer’s 2020 Deal of the Year.
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Served as disclosure counsel on the Bond Buyer’s 2019 ESG/Green Financing Deal of the Year, which was awarded for its $545 million bond issuance. Proceeds from the bonds are being used to finance rail, bus, and highway transit system projects, including those identified as environmentally beneficial.
• Los Angeles International Airport Automated People Mover Project Served as bond counsel on the Bond Buyer’s 2018 Far West Deal of the Year, awarded for its $1.2 billion financing of the Los Angeles International Airport Automated People Mover Project.
• New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) Serve as bond counsel to the MTA (subway, bus, and commuter railroads) and TBTA (nine bridges and tunnels) for decades in connection with tens of billions of dollars in bonds and notes.
• Power Authority of the State of New York Served as disclosure counsel on the Bond Buyer’s 2020 Northeast, Deal of the Year, which issued the largest public power green bond transaction of all time.
• San Diego Association of Governments Served as underwriters’ counsel on the Bond Buyer’s 2019 Far West Deal of the Year, which was awarded for its $331 million capital grants receipts revenue bond sale. This was the first public market, stand-alone securitization of a federal full-funding grant agreement in nearly 20 years. The deal accelerated the completion of the city’s $2.2 billion Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project.

Recognition

• Nixon Peabody has been named a Tier 1 National firm for Energy Law and Public Finance Law in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
• The Legal 500 United States 2024 editorial—ranked for Project finance - Infrastructure and PPP
• Ranked in Chambers USA for Public Finance—Nationwide and also in California, District of Columbia, Illinois, New York.
• U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2021 as “Law Firm of the Year” in Public Finance Law.
• The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 has recognized many of lawyers in Public Finance Law including Julie Seymour, Virginia Wong, and Ken Lind
• Crain’s Chicago Business 2022 recognized Julie Seymour as a “Notable Women in Law” 
• Thomson Reuters consistently ranks NP Top 10 in bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, disclosure counsel, special tax counsel, and green bond