John F. Stafstrom Jr. is chair of the Public Finance Department and is experienced in the fields of government and municipal law, public finance and commercial finance and commercial transactions.
John has served as bond counsel, letter-of-credit counsel and underwriters' counsel in large government bond transactions and has represented borrowers in significant government finance transactions. He also has drafted significant legislation in the public finance area.
John has extensive experience in negotiating contracts between private developers and contract operators and government entities. He has counseled financial institutions and government entities in transactions involving the making of loans and the modification, settlement and restructure of loan obligations. He also has extensive experience in negotiating intercreditor arrangements.
Representative Experience
· Representation of Connecticut Innovations, Inc. and the University of Connecticut on the Jackson Laboratory Project in the structuring of $191 million in forgivable loans and $99 million in grants and as liaison with the State Treasurer and State Office of Policy and Management on the $290 million in State bond financing needed to create the Connecticut BioScience Collaboration and to site the Jackson Laboratory in Connecticut as an economic generator
· Representation of Stamford's Harborpoint Infrastructure Improvement District in its establishment as a special tax district including advisement of its structure and by-laws, bidding procedures, and corporate governance as well as structuring a 30-year tax sharing agreement with the City of Stamford and the issuance of $145 million in bonds to finance the public infrastructure of this $1 billion revitalization project
· Representation of Connecticut's largest municipality as bond counsel in the issue of $350 million of pension deficit funding bonds, the first such issue under specific state legislation and the largest city bond issue in Connecticut
· Representation of 14 child care providers in the issue of $30 million of bonds through the Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority to finance the first-in-the-state child care facilities in four separate bond issues
Professional Affiliations
Council of Development Finance Agencies
National Association of Bond Lawyers
Government Finance Officers Association
Community Involvement
Bridgeport City Council - former four term member
Bridgeport Regional Business Council - vice chairman, board of directors; former long term chair, Government Relations Committee
Career Resources, Inc. - founder
Honors & Awards
"Strong Community Builder Award" from the Alpha Community Services Branch YMCA, 2007
"Outstanding Volunteer of the Year" in the category of Leadership from the Volunteer Association of Greater Bridgeport
"Impact Award" from the Bridgeport Regional Business Council
"Community Builder Award" from the United Way of Eastern Fairfield County