John Stalfort serves as counsel to commercial and investment banks, political subdivisions, economic development agencies, for-profit and not-for-profit entities (including health care institutions, secondary schools and other 501(c)(3) organizations), corporate trustees and bond purchasers in all types of tax-exempt and taxable bond transactions. He has served as bond counsel in connection with many of the most significant economic development projects in the State of Maryland for more than 30 years. Included in these projects are the public-private-partnership (P3) financing of the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore's harbor, the Chesapeake Hyatt Resort development (a 400-room hotel, golf course, spa and resort in Cambridge, Maryland), the National Harbor project (a 7,000,000-square-foot, mixed-used community along the Potomac River) and the National Aquarium in Baltimore. During the past 15 years, a particular focus of his practice has been land-based infrastructure transactions, including special taxing districts, tax increment financing districts (TIF) and community development authorities in the Mid-Atlantic Region as bond counsel, developer's counsel and underwriter's counsel. These transactions have included the first two special taxing district financings in the State of Delaware. Several of these transactions have involved transit-oriented development projects (TOD's). John's practice also involves equipment leasing and finance transactions in which he represents operating lessors, corporate and municipal clients as lessees and financial institutions acting as a lender, lessor, buyer, seller or trustee. These transactions have included single-investor structures, leveraged lease structures and synthetic lease structures. He also serves as counsel to financial institutions in connection with asset-based lending and commercial finance transactions and secured real estate loans. John is Chair of the Firm's Business Department and a member of the Firm's Board of Directors. Credentials Best Lawyers in America ®: Public Finance Law (2008-2012) Tax Increment Finance Coalition of the Council of Development Finance Agencies: Committee Member (2005-Present) Maryland State Bar Association: Section Council, Section of Business Law, Chairman (1995-1996) Maryland Super Lawyers®: Selected for inclusion in the area of Bonds/Government Finance, Real Estate, Banking (2009-2012) National Association of Bond Lawyers Publications "Maryland Commercial Financing Forms," (Co-Author) (1986-2000). Speaking Engagements Council of Development Finance Agencies Tax Increment Finance Course, Washington, D.C (Speaker). "Bond Counsel Opinions," National Association of Bond Lawyers, Bond Attorneys Workshop, Chicago, Illinois (Panelist). "Emerging Issues in Municipal Finance: A Survival Guide for Municipal Attorneys," National Institute of Municipal Law Officers, Seminar, Bethesda, Maryland (Panelist). "Industrial Development Bonds for the Small and Large Business," Advanced Tax Institute, Baltimore, Maryland (Panelist). "Letters of Credit and Other Types of Credit Enhancement for Tax-Exempt Conduit Financings," National Association of Bond Lawyers Bond Attorneys Workshop, Chicago, Illinois (Panelist). "Secured Transactions," The Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland (Panelist). |