Service Areas
- Business
- Nonprofit + Charitable Organizations
- Governments + Nonprofits
- Financings
- Nonprofit + Charitable Organizations
- Securities Law
- Swaps + Derivatives Structuring
- Public Law - Powers, Open Meetings + FOIA
- Individuals + Families
- Nonprofit + Charitable Organizations
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D.
- Michigan State University, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
- Licensed to practice only in Michigan
As a key player in every publicly offered bond issue by a public university in Michigan for at least the last 15 years, Jerry T. Rupley brings vast experience to his role as bond counsel or underwriter’s counsel. He also has represented the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on every State Trunk Line Fund and Comprehensive Transportation Fund bond and note issue since 1978 (except for one in 1992 on which he acted as underwriter’s counsel.) With three decades of experience in the bond area, Jerry helped develop the General Revenue pledge concept now used by all public universities in Michigan. He also has been the lead practitioner in adapting financial tools such as advance re-fundings, variable rate demand bonds and interest rate swaps for use by Michigan’s universities.
“The principal job of bond counsel is not merely to know when to advise a client that they cannot legally and safely pursue any particular course of action, but also to be able to craft creative and legally effective methods to help them achieve the same or nearly the same goals as originally sought.”
Jerry T. Rupley
Jerry has drafted much of the bond financing laws for MDOT and testified before the Michigan Legislature on that legislation. He also has guided MDOT through the development of a variety of new financing techniques and programs, such as the local government loan program, advance re-fundings, capital appreciation bonds and interest rate locks.
Experience
Jerry has done a significant amount of work in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin as underwriter’s counsel on bond issues for both public and private higher education institutions and has acted as bond counsel in bond issues for private colleges and universities in Michigan. In the health care area, he has been bond counsel for all of the bond issues for the University of Michigan Health System, and for private institutions such as Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo and Covenant Medical Center in Saginaw.
“I have assisted these hospitals in utilizing such tools as interest rate swaps and forward starting transactions.”
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan, Member since 1974
- Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
- National Association of Bond Lawyers
- National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)
- American College of Bond Counsel, Fellow
Honors + Awards
- Best Lawyers in America, Education Law, Public Finance Law 2005-present; 2012 Detroit Public Finance Lawyer of the Year
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Bonds/Government Finance 2006-present
- DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers, Public Finance 2011
Civic, Cultural + Social Activities
- Northville Public Schools, Trustee and Treasurer of the Board of Education, 1999-2003
- First United Methodist Church of Northville, Past Chair of the Administrative Board
- Advocates for Quality Education, Vice-president
Publications
"The Aftermath of the Affirmative Action Decision in Michigan," Miller Canfield Update, Ann Arbor, December 2006
Frequent presenter at seminars on transportation, and college and university finance topics
Seminars + Events
- Before the Bell Breakfast Forum: Municipal Debt - Crisis or Business as Usual? Myths and Realities Act 4: Michigan's New Emergency Act
- Before the Bell Breakfast Forum: Back to the Future - Cases Back in Court
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