Initiatives

Municipal Recovery

Many municipalities face significant challenges reconciling increased public demands for local government services with declining revenue bases, reduced state funding, escalating labor and pension costs, a restrictive regulatory environment, and limited access to capital.

Our Municipal Recovery practice can be a powerful ally to local governments and their municipal investors in these uncertain times. We understand the fiscal pressures and credit consequences facing municipalities and have a track record of success helping our clients to:

  • access capital markets at affordable rates and terms;
  • enhance revenues by maximizing taxing authorities;
  • negotiate and arbitrate labor contracts;
  • expand tax bases through economic development;
  • identify opportunities for cost efficiencies;
  • monetize and privatize assets;
  • restructure outstanding bonds; and
  • negotiate and litigate defaults and remedies. 

Experience 

  • We are serving as Special Tax Counsel to a fiscally distressed Midwestern city in connection with a proposed long-term, tax-exempt working capital financing.
  • We represented a municipal bond financial guarantor in connection with negotiations with the State of Connecticut concerning the potential bankruptcy of the City of Hartford and the State's decision to provide annual debt service subsidy payments to prevent a payment default by the City.
  • Our bankruptcy lawyers prepared and filed an amicus curiae brief with the First Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the National Federation of Municipal Analysts in connection with an appeal of an adverse ruling by a U.S. District Court in a proceeding under PROMESA regarding the diversion of special revenues.