Miller Canfield Leads Midwest in Municipal Bond Work in 2008
The law firm of Miller Canfield announces that it is the top bond counsel by dollar volume for deals closed in the Midwest for the first half of 2008. Total financing exceeded $3.5 billion, according to Thomson Financial.
“The firm has always been a leader for bond work in Michigan and we’ve had a prominent presence nationally and regionally. This is the second time we’ve led the entire Midwest in the number one spot,” said William J. Danhof, leader of the firm’s Public Law Group.
Among more than 135 deals handled by Miller Canfield in the first half of 2008 were $472.6 million in refinancings for Wayne County Airport Authority; $553 million in new money and refunding bonds for the Michigan Municipal Bond Authority's School Loan Revolving Fund in four series; general obligation bonds totaling $233.78 million for the State of Michigan to restructure existing debt and to provide new money for environmental protection programs; $158.1 million in bonds for Western Michigan University; bonds for street improvements in Marquette and for park renovations and recreation improvements in Birmingham; school improvements for the Ann Arbor, Oak Park, Saginaw Township, Trenton and Portage school districts; improvements to the electric and water utility systems for the Lansing Board of Water and Light; and water supply system improvements in Germfask, Camden, Hancock, St. Clair County, Munising, Ford River, Reading and Minden City.
“Despite reports of bad economic news, bond issuers in Michigan have by-and-large maintained or improved their bond ratings in 2008,” said Danhof.
Miller Canfield has the largest group of municipal finance specialists in the state of Michigan and recently opened an office in Chicago that includes public finance lawyers. The firm is known for its work in financing capital projects and infrastructure improvements, economic development and environmental response projects, as well as government and regulatory affairs, health care, housing, litigation, labor and employment, and local, state and federal tax. Miller Canfield has been the number one bond counsel in the state of Michigan every year in the Thomson Financial ranking’s 28+ year history.