Eckert Seamans continues expansion of Public Finance practice with addition of five lawyers from Rhoads & Sinon LLP
January 3, 2018
Five prominent public finance attorneys from Rhoads & Sinon LLP have joined Eckert Seamans’ Harrisburg office. Members (partners) Jens H. Damgaard, Jonathan W. Cox, Benjamin A. Ried, David O. Twaddell and associate Ryan A. Mentzer will join Eckert Seamans on January 8, 2018.
Eckert Seamans has one of the preeminent public finance practices in the country. In 2016, the firm represented clients in 133 transactions, including tax-exempt and taxable debt financings totaling more than $12 billion in aggregate principal amount, and derivative transactions (interest rate swaps, swaptions, caps, collars, and floors) in an aggregate notional amount in excess of $2 billion.
“With this group of talented lawyers joining our firm and our existing municipal finance practice, we believe that Eckert Seamans now has the strongest Public Finance presence in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Dorothy A. Davis, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Eckert Seamans.
Co-Chief Executive Officer Timothy Q. Hudak added, “The significant talent, reputation, and experience these lawyers bring to Eckert Seamans enhances our already premier Public Finance practice, giving us the added size and scope to handle transactions of all types throughout the country.”
About the Lawyers
Jens H. Damgaard joins the firm as a member (partner). He assists school districts, counties, municipalities and municipal authorities in orchestrating tax-free bond issues and loans, and grants, for a variety of public projects. Additional beneficiaries of tax-exempt and structured financings include nonprofit institutions, manufacturers and other eligible for-profit companies. He also represents banks, underwriters and trustees in connection with bond issues, investment and derivative products and credit issues.
Jonathan W. Cox joins the firm as a member (partner). He serves as bond counsel and bank counsel in connection with the financing of capital projects for municipalities, school districts and sewer and water authorities, as well as non-profit entities, including continuing care retirement communities, hospitals, colleges and fire and emergency medical service providers. Cox also assists clients with state and federal funding programs, including those of PennVest, PEDFA, PEMA and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Community Development and Rural Utilities Service.
Benjamin A. Ried joins the firm as a member (partner). He assists municipalities, school districts, and municipality authorities in issuing tax-exempt bonds and notes to finance and refinance their projects. Ried also assists other beneficiaries of tax-exempt financing including continuing care retirement communities, colleges, hospitals, and volunteer fire companies, and has served as counsel to underwriting firms and banking institutions throughout the Commonwealth.
David O. Twaddell serves a wide range of clients with their special financing needs. Acting as bond counsel, bank counsel, underwriters’ counsel, and special project counsel, he manages public offerings and private placement of bonds and notes, bank loans, industrial and commercial development projects, and state and federal grants and loans. His experience includes issuance of general obligation bonds and notes and revenue based financing for the Commonwealth and its agencies and for municipalities, school districts, hospitals, colleges, and other nonprofit organizations, as well as for private businesses. In addition to providing traditional finance structures, Twaddell assists clients in the development of innovative programs including bond pools, non-debt lease financing, and variable tender bonds.
Ryan A. Mentzer joins the firm as an associate. He assists municipalities, school districts, and municipality authorities in issuing tax-exempt bonds and notes to finance new projects and to refinance outstanding debt. Mentzer also assists other beneficiaries of tax-exempt financing including continuing care retirement communities, colleges, hospitals, and volunteer fire companies. He also represents banking institutions in public finance transactions throughout Pennsylvania.