Overview
Chris’s practice focuses on municipal bond finance, with emphasis in the areas of federal securities and tax law as well as state and local government law. His representations include serving as bond counsel, disclosure counsel and issuer’s counsel to numerous state, regional and local government entities as well as educational, senior living, cultural and other 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities. He has also represented financial and investment banking institutions as lender’s counsel and underwriter’s counsel for public finance transactions. During the course of providing such representations for almost 30 years, Chris has gained extensive experience with a broad array of financing structures and techniques and a variety of security structures, including not only traditional general obligation, utility revenue, lease revenue and other “subject-to-appropriation” financings but also special assessment, tax increment and other project-based financings.
Experience
- Assisted issuers in financing broad array of projects, including water and wastewater facilities, schools, universities, court facilities, parking facilities, public buildings and senior living communities.
- Served in bond counsel and underwriter’s counsel roles on community development authority financings to provide public infrastructure in support of residential, commercial and retail developments.
- Represented multi-jurisdictional authorities financing various public facilities, such as utility systems, convention centers and regional jails.
- Worked on public/private financings to facilitate construction of school facilities, transportation improvements, and an outdoor arena, hotel and conference center.
- Assisted 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities navigate taxable/tax-exempt forward refunding structures, as well as transition from LIBOR-based loans to an alternative variable rate index.
- Served as bond counsel on the first Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan closed in Virginia.
- Worked with issuers as well as underwriters on implementing newer bond structures, such as “Build America Bonds,” qualified school construction bonds, and recovery zone economic development bonds.
- Represented numerous issuers in financings through the various programs administered by the Virginia Resources Authority and the Virginia Public School Authority.
Accolades
Honors & Recognitions
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Public Finance Law (2007-2024), Project Finance Law (2023-2024) and Securities/Capital Markets Law (2024)
- Listed in Virginia Super Lawyers for Bonds/Government Finance, 2010-2015
Affiliations
Professional
- Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers
- Member, Virginia Local Government Attorneys Association
- Member, Bond Club of Virginia
- Co-Chair, Virginia Bar Association-Young Lawyers Division Central Virginia Pro Bono Hotline
- Fellow, American College of Bond Counsel
Insights
Legal Updates
Events & Speaking Engagements
News
Education
JD, University of Richmond School of Law, Senior Notes & Comments Editor, University of Richmond Law Review, McNeill Honor Society, 1992
BA, History and Classics, University of Virginia, Echols Scholar, 1988
Admissions
Virginia
