Michael Charlebois is an attorney in the firm’s Finance Department who focuses his practice on public finance, project finance, and public-private partnership (P3) matters. He has served as underwriter’s counsel, bond counsel, disclosure counsel, and purchaser’s counsel in all types of municipal bond financings, including financings for charter schools, private schools, student housing and other 501(c)(3) organizations, and general obligation bond and lease financings for California school districts and municipalities, as well as underwriter’s counsel and special tax counsel on project financings for solid waste disposal facilities. He has also advised public entities and lenders on transportation, infrastructure, and energy P3 projects.
Mike focuses his work on conduit revenue bond financings for nonprofit organizations such as charter schools and private schools, cultural centers, higher education institutions and hospitals; project financings; student housing projects; and P3 projects. Mike has been involved in financings in over 15 states and Washington, D.C.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Underwriter’s counsel in connection with the issuance of approximately $1.3 billion in tax-exempt private activity bonds for the construction of the I-10 Calcasieu Bridge in Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Underwriter’s counsel in connection with the issuance of approximately $350 million in revenue bonds for the development of the University of Maryland’s NextGen Energy Program
- Borrower’s counsel to a nonprofit corporation in connection with several tax-exempt bond financings for the development of student and workforce housing projects nationally, including the issuance of approximately $73 million in revenue bonds for the development of an on-campus housing facility for the University of Memphis
Professional Highlights
Professional Activities
National Association of Bond Lawyers
Recognition & Accomplishments
The Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch,” – Public Finance Law (Los Angeles), 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025
Named a "Rising Star" by The Bond Buyer, 2024
Speaking Engagements
Moderator, “Financing Student Housing,” Northern California Student Housing & Higher Education, San Francisco, California, February 10, 2022
Speaker, "Student Housing: Solutions for Student Success, Equity and Affordable Housing," Community College League of California 2018 Annual Convention, Rancho Mirage, California, November 15, 2017
Credentials
Education
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (J.D. 2015)
Executive Technology Editor, Staff Editor; Hastings Law Journal
State University of New York at Albany, Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy (M.A. 2011)
State University of New York at Buffalo (B.A. 2006)
Admissions
California