Jon’s practice involves municipal and infrastructure finance, public authority finance, stadium finance, economic development, housing finance, project finance, government relations, and privatization and securitization of public assets.
He has broad experience developing innovative legal structures for numerous state and local bond issuers and investment bankers. He has served as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, borrower’s counsel, developer’s counsel, and trustee counsel for tax-exempt and taxable transactions in various specialties, including economic development, housing, transportation, education, sports facilities, not-for-profit, loan securitization, solid waste, water, and wastewater.
From 1996 to 2001, Jon was employed by another well-known law firm in New York, where he led and developed the municipal bond practice. He also has been an investment banker in the public finance department of a major investment bank.
Representative Matters
- Special bond counsel to the New York Yankees in connection with the financing by the New York City Industrial Development Agency of the new Yankee Stadium, which was honored in 2006 by The Bond Buyer as its “Deal of the Year.” Federal tax law revisions were required to undertake the financing. This transaction, and two subsequent related deals, involved the issuance of over $1.2 billion of tax-exempt PILOT Revenue Bonds and $125 million of federally taxable Rental Revenue Bonds.
- Special counsel to the Empire State Development Corporation. Led legal team that created the New York Liberty Development Corporation (NYLDC) for the primary purpose of issuing New York Liberty Bonds for commercial projects to assist New York City following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
- Led bond counsel team on NYLDC’s issuance of $1.9 billion of revenue bonds to finance the construction of the new world headquarters of Goldman Sachs near Ground Zero.
- Led bond counsel team for the Empire State Development Corporation on the financing of a new arena for the New Jersey Nets to be constructed in the Atlantic Yards area of downtown Brooklyn. Numerous novel legal issues relating to the finance structure, securities, and real estate and tax laws needed to be solved prior to the closing.
- Participated as underwriters’ counsel on many significant financings, including those of the New York State Thruway Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
- Served as underwriter’s counsel on nearly $1 billion of financings and refinancings of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York on behalf of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.
- Served as underwriter's counsel or bond counsel on numerous financings of educational facilities through DASNY and a number of industrial development agencies.
- Served as underwriter’s counsel on over $2 billion NYS Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation Asset-Backed Revenue Bonds.
- Served as bond counsel for the New York State Housing Finance Agency and New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation.
- Served as bond counsel or underwriter’s counsel for state fiscal oversight boards in the City of Buffalo and Nassau County.
- Served as bond counsel and borrower’s counsel on innovative governmental infrastructure finance transactions for libraries, water systems, solid waste facilities, and cultural centers for various cities and counties.
Recognitions & Awards
- New York Super Lawyers: Bonds/Government Finance (2007 – 2012)
Professional & Community Involvement
- Board member, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
- Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers
Jon’s practice involves municipal and infrastructure finance, public authority finance, stadium finance, economic development, housing finance, project finance, government relations, and privatization and securitization of public assets.
He has broad experience developing innovative legal structures for numerous state and local bond issuers and investment bankers. He has served as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, borrower’s counsel, developer’s counsel, and trustee counsel for tax-exempt and taxable transactions in various specialties, including economic development, housing, transportation, education, sports facilities, not-for-profit, loan securitization, solid waste, water, and wastewater.
From 1996 to 2001, Jon was employed by another well-known law firm in New York, where he led and developed the municipal bond practice. He also has been an investment banker in the public finance department of a major investment bank.
Representative Matters
- Special bond counsel to the New York Yankees in connection with the financing by the New York City Industrial Development Agency of the new Yankee Stadium, which was honored in 2006 by The Bond Buyer as its “Deal of the Year.” Federal tax law revisions were required to undertake the financing. This transaction, and two subsequent related deals, involved the issuance of over $1.2 billion of tax-exempt PILOT Revenue Bonds and $125 million of federally taxable Rental Revenue Bonds.
- Special counsel to the Empire State Development Corporation. Led legal team that created the New York Liberty Development Corporation (NYLDC) for the primary purpose of issuing New York Liberty Bonds for commercial projects to assist New York City following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
- Led bond counsel team on NYLDC’s issuance of $1.9 billion of revenue bonds to finance the construction of the new world headquarters of Goldman Sachs near Ground Zero.
- Led bond counsel team for the Empire State Development Corporation on the financing of a new arena for the New Jersey Nets to be constructed in the Atlantic Yards area of downtown Brooklyn. Numerous novel legal issues relating to the finance structure, securities, and real estate and tax laws needed to be solved prior to the closing.
- Participated as underwriters’ counsel on many significant financings, including those of the New York State Thruway Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
- Served as underwriter’s counsel on nearly $1 billion of financings and refinancings of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York on behalf of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.
- Served as underwriter's counsel or bond counsel on numerous financings of educational facilities through DASNY and a number of industrial development agencies.
- Served as underwriter’s counsel on over $2 billion NYS Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation Asset-Backed Revenue Bonds.
- Served as bond counsel for the New York State Housing Finance Agency and New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation.
- Served as bond counsel or underwriter’s counsel for state fiscal oversight boards in the City of Buffalo and Nassau County.
- Served as bond counsel and borrower’s counsel on innovative governmental infrastructure finance transactions for libraries, water systems, solid waste facilities, and cultural centers for various cities and counties.
Recognitions & Awards
- New York Super Lawyers: Bonds/Government Finance (2007 – 2012)
Professional & Community Involvement
- Board member, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
- Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers