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Illinois Public Finance – Downstate

Ice Miller LLP has served as bond counsel, disclosure counsel and special counsel to Illinois downstate units of local government for decades working in all parts of the state. Our experience includes cities and villages, counties, school districts, fire protection districts, park districts and other special districts. 

Our downstate Illinois attorneys also regularly act in the capacity of underwriter’s counsel to most municipal bond underwriters. Ice Miller bond lawyers regularly brief industry groups on contemporary issues as well as serve as counsel to several national bond attorney organizations.  

Our Illinois bond lawyers who concentrate on downstate bond issues and devote their practice to municipal finance include Jim Snyder (29 years experience). Jim is joined by Bob Schillerstrom, Mark Huddle, Shelly Scinto, Austin Root, practice group specialist Kathy Thomas, and paralegal Jenine Phillips to form our Illinois bond team.
 
Ice Miller has been ranked among national leaders in many types of government financings, including financings for schools, higher education, hospitals, infrastructure, cities and villages, and tax increment and economic development transactions.
 
According to the 2022 rankings in the Midwest by The Bond Buyer or according to the Thomson Reuters Annual Municipal Reports, Ice Miller's Illinois rankings are as follows:
  • #1 in number of long-term bond issues as underwriter's counsel (2016-2018, 2021)
  • #2 in number of long-term bond issues as underwriter's counsel (2019, 2020, 2022)
  • #2 in number of general purpose bond issues as underwriter’s counsel (2020, 2022)
  • #2 in number of long-term bond issues as bond counsel (2016-2022)
  • #2 in number of long-term general purpose bond issues as bond counsel (2019-2022)
  • #2 in number of long-term bond issues as disclosure counsel (2016-2022)
  • #2 in number of long-term general purpose bond issues as disclosure counsel (2019, 2021, 2022) 
We dedicate all resources needed to provide our downstate 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.
 
 
2021 - 2022 Downstate Bond Issues
(# of issues)
  Bond Counsel Disclosure Counsel Other Roles
Illinois Downstate Villages and Cities 45 32 9
Illinois Downstate School Districts 16 12 7
Other Illinois Downstate Units of Local Government 20 6 4

Total Bond Issues

81

50

20
 


Contact Us
Downstate Office  
1701 Clearwater Avenue
Bloomington, IL 61704
Phone: 309-445-6017

Representative Experience

  • Bond counsel and disclosure counsel on numerous school district, county, village, city and park district and other traditional bond financings including debt certificates, general obligation bonds and alternate revenue bonds
  • Bond counsel on several tax increment financing bond issues throughout the State of Illinois

Professionals

Name Position Phone Email
James M. Snyder Partner 312-726-7127
309-445-6017
Mark Huddle Senior Counsel 312-726-7146
Austin C. Root Associate 312-726-2515
Kathleen Thomas Municipal Disclosure Administrator 312-726-7159
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