Service Areas
- Governments + Nonprofits
- Public Law - Powers, Open Meetings + FOIA
Education
- Northwestern University School of Law, J.D.
- University of Illinois, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Joel L. Piell represents local units of government, specializing in the often complex and confusing area of municipal finance. By cutting through the clutter, he helps his clients implement public policies regarding capital planning and infrastructure needs in ways that provide the most cost efficient and expeditious solution to achieve their goals. His advice is based on decades of experience and often involves innovative structures which may require new financing methods and implementing legislation.
I'm a problem solver for cities, counties and other local units of government attempting to solve their infrastructure needs.”
Joel L. Piell
As an expert in municipal finance, Joel’s work has taken him to all of Michigan's 83 counties. He also lectures to municipal groups, drafts proposals for legislative solutions and publishes papers on municipal finance. He previously served as a member of the firm’s managing partner group and as CEO.
Experience
Over the years Joel has worked on over 2,000 important bond projects. They include the acquisition and creation of streets, water supply and sewer systems, parking decks, city halls, fire trucks and police cars, recreational facilities, brownfields, tax increments financings, industrial and commercial developments and nonprofit facilities. Overall, they range from matters which are simple to those of great complexity -- virtually the entire universe of municipal finance.
Joel played a key role in one of the first brownfield bond issues in Michigan. The proceeds were used to fund infrastructure improvements which helped a client city retain a major employer. In a similar matter, Joel helped another city find ways to arrange financing to encourage a locally based company to relocate an out-of-state company it had purchased to its home city.
“My colleagues and I were able to devise a financing plan which utilized sophisticated financial products, the amendment of state statues, along with complex tax and securities analysis which assisted our client in achieving a significant economic development victory.”
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan, Member since 1966
- Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
- National Association of Bond Attorneys
- National Association of Municipal Lawyers
- Bond Club of Detroit
- American College of Bond Counsel, Fellow
- Michigan Municipal Finance Officers' Association, Legislative Committee
- Municipal Treasurers' Association
- Government Finance Officers' Association
- Walsh College, Member, President's Advisory Council
- Municipal Advisory Council, Chairman, Board of Trustees
Honors + Awards
- Best Lawyers in America, Public Finance Law 2007-present
Civic, Cultural + Social Activities
- Active in civic, religious, & community activities
Publications
"So You Want to Finance a Firehall? Michigan's Revised Municipal Finance Act," 48 Wayne L. Rev. 363 (2002). (Coauthored with Ruth H. Swartout)
"Financing of Municipal Improvements through the Issuance of Tax-exempt Securities" in Local Governmental Law and Practice in Michigan, published jointly by the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, 2000
Speeches
Frequent panelist at various governmental association forums such as Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Townships Association, and other organizations regarding municipal finance issues
Frequent lecturer and panelist at governmental seminars and meetings