Ice Miller LLP

Municipal Finance (Bonds)

Ice Miller has approved a majority of Indiana bond issues for decades. We have consistently been ranked number one for the volume of bond deals in Indiana, approving more Indiana transactions than all other firms combined. We were ranked number one in the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) by The Bond Buyer newspaper for our 2005 deals and number four in 2006. The Firm's practitioners actively engage in legislative drafting for the Indiana General Assembly and represent numerous municipal utilities before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Ice Miller's retired lawyers also were active in numerous cases that framed the home rule concept contained in the 1970 Illinois Constitution.

Our attorneys represent local governments handling many different legal issues, including bonds and municipal finance; economic development and redevelopment; local government litigation; cable television; ADA compliance; collective bargaining, general labor and employment law; antitrust law; construction law and litigation; computer law; employee benefits; environmental law; government services and lobbying; gaming; litigation; nonprofit organizations; real estate and zoning; condemnation; state tax law; securities law; federal tax law; and utility regulation.

Role in Economic Development
Ice Miller has developed in-depth knowledge and experience from working with local governments to provide incentives to companies seeking to relocate or expand. As bond counsel to cities, towns and counties, and participating State agencies and authorities from time to time, the Firm helps to negotiate the incentive package with the company and structures tax exempt and taxable financings for infrastructure or direct capital incentives. Ice Miller served in that role for the billion dollar United Airlines project in 1991, the billion plus dollar AK Steel project in 1997, and the billion plus dollar Gibson County (Toyota) projects from 1995 to 2000. The Firm works on transactions of all sizes for projects ranging from manufacturing and distribution plants to commercial and retail developments. Ice Miller is a national leader in the tax increment and economic development practice.

Legislative Drafting and Test Case Litigation
Ice Miller attorneys have drafted all or part of dozens of municipal finance statutes adopted by the Indiana General Assembly. Those statutes include enabling bond financing for state highways, the Hoosier Dome (now RCA Dome), United Airlines, Circle Centre Mall and numerous innovative financing mechanisms for state and local economic development projects. Also, Ice Miller attorneys have been involved in litigating most of the constitutional test cases involving Indiana municipal finance statutes.

Experienced and Active Professionals
Currently 23 lawyers devote their practice to municipal finance. They hold leadership positions in professional organizations and regularly brief industry groups on contemporary issues as well as serve as counsel to several of these organizations. Ice Miller bond lawyers have served or are currently serving with the following organizations (as members) and events (as speakers or sponsors):

  • Founding Fellows, Board of Directors and President of the American College of Bond Counsel
  • Illinois Municipal League
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Chairman of the Local Government Section Council
  • Indiana Association of Cities and Towns Foundation, Board of Directors and President
  • Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, Executive Committee
  • Association of Indiana Counties, Advisory Committee
  • Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association, Board of Directors
  • Indiana Economic Development Association, Board of Directors
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers, Board of Directors
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers Bond Attorneys Workshop, Steering Committee
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers Fundamentals of Municipal Bond Law seminar, Chair
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers Washington D.C. seminar, Chair
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers, Education Committee
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers, Opinions Committee
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers, Professional Responsibility Committee
  • Healthcare Financial Management Association Pressler Memorial Chapter, Board of Directors
  • American Bar Association Section of Taxation Tax Exempt Financing, Steering Committee

A Continuing Commitment
Ice Miller is committed to maintaining and enhancing its municipal law and finance practice through the continued hiring and training of highly qualified lawyers. This practice area grew steadily through the 1990's and plans for prudent growth are in place. We will continue to dedicate all resources needed to provide our clients with timely, efficient and nationally recognized bond counsel services of the highest quality at reasonable costs. Our goal is to understand our clients' capital and financing needs and to assist them creatively to achieve their financing goals.

Diverse Client List
Ice Miller serves as bond counsel to the following entities:

State Authorities
Bond counsel to Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Indiana Bond Bank, Indiana Health and Educational Facility Financing Authority, Indiana Finance Authority and the Illinois Finance Authority.

State Universities and Private Colleges and Universities
Bond counsel to Indiana University, Purdue University, Ball State University, Indiana State University, University of Southern Indiana, Vincennes University and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana and numerous private colleges throughout the country.

Healthcare and Other 501(C)(3) Entities
Bond counsel for numerous non-profit and county hospitals, retirement and nursing homes, cultural and civic institutions, and independent schools throughout Indiana and Illinois, as well as to other healthcare providers and non-profits corporations.

School Corporations, Municipal Units, Special Taxing Districts
Bond counsel to hundreds of Indiana and Illinois school corporations, cities, towns, villages, counties, redevelopment commissions, libraries, special taxing districts and special service areas. On behalf of these issuers, Ice Miller has approved thousands of lease rental, general obligation, special taxing district, revenue, tax increment excise tax, income tax and other types of bond financings.

Multifamily Housing and Industrial Development Financing
Bond counsel to statewide issuers and various counties, cities and towns. Ice Miller has served as bond counsel to the issuer in financings that provide affordable housing and job opportunities through the lending of bond proceeds to private entities that undertake an essential public purpose.

Power Industry Issuers
Bond counsel to dozens of municipal electric, gas, water and sewer utilities, including Citizens Gas & Coke Utility in Indianapolis, Indiana Municipal Power Agency, Northern Illinois Municipal Power Agency and investor owned utilities, including Public Service Company of Indiana, Inc., Indiana & Michigan Electric Company, and the Indianapolis Power & Light Company, for numerous solid waste issues.

Ice Miller also serves as General Counsel to the Association of Indiana Counties and as Special Counsel to the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.

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