Jon is a Member in the firm's New York office, where he practices in the Public Finance department. His practice involves municipal and infrastructure finance, public authority finance, stadium finance, economic development, housing finance, project finance, government relations, and privatization and securitization of public assets.
Jon has broad experience developing innovative legal structures for numerous state and local bond issuers and investment bankers. He has served as bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, borrower's counsel, developer's counsel, and trustee counsel for tax-exempt and taxable transactions in various specialties, including economic development, housing, transportation, education, sports facilities, not-for-profit, loan securitization, solid waste, water, and wastewater.
Representative Matters
· Special bond counsel to the New York Yankees in connection with the financing by the New York City Industrial Development Agency of the new Yankee Stadium, which was honored in 2006 by The Bond Buyer as its "Deal of the Year." Federal tax law revisions were required to undertake the financing. This transaction, and two subsequent related deals, involved the issuance of over $1.2 billion of tax-exempt PILOT Revenue Bonds and $125 million of federally taxable Rental Revenue Bonds.
· Special counsel to the Empire State Development Corporation. Led legal team that created the New York Liberty Development Corporation (NYLDC) for the primary purpose of issuing New York Liberty Bonds for commercial projects to assist New York City following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
· Led bond counsel team on NYLDC's issuance of $1.9 billion of revenue bonds to finance the construction of the new world headquarters of Goldman Sachs near Ground Zero.
· Led bond counsel team for the Empire State Development Corporation on the financing of a new arena for the New Jersey Nets to be constructed in the Atlantic Yards area of downtown Brooklyn. Numerous novel legal issues relating to the finance structure, securities, and real estate and tax laws needed to be solved prior to the closing.
· Participated as underwriters' counsel on many significant financings, including those of the New York State Thruway Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
· Served as underwriter's counsel on nearly $1 billion of financings and refinancings of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York on behalf of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.
· Served as underwriter's or bond counsel on numerous financings of educational facilities through DASNY and a number of industrial development agencies.
· Served as underwriter's counsel on over $2 billion NYS Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation Asset-Backed Revenue Bonds.
· Served as bond counsel for the New York State Housing Finance Agency and New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation.
· Served as bond counsel or underwriter's counsel for state fiscal oversight boards in the City of Buffalo and Nassau County.
· Served as bond counsel and borrower's counsel on innovative governmental infrastructure finance transactions for libraries, water systems, solid waste facilities, and cultural centers for various cities and counties.
From 1996 to 2001, Jon was employed by another well-known law firm in New York, where he led and developed the municipal bond practice. He also has been an investment banker in the public finance department of a major investment bank.
Jon serves on the Board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). He served as chairman of the Municipal Assistance Corporation for the City of New York; chairman of the New York Public Asset Fund; member of the New York State Watershed Protection and Partnership Council; board member of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation and chair of its Capital Committee; member of the Environmental Control Board of the City of New York; and a member of the 2001 NYC Charter Revision Commission.
Jon is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Williams College, and earned his J.D. from George Washington University National Law Center.
Awards
· Named to the New York Super Lawyers list, 2007-2011.
· In its inaugural law firm ranking, Mintz Levin received first-tier New York metropolitan ranking in public finance by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers.
Speaking Engagements
· Panelist, Solid Waste Disposal, National Association of Bond Lawyers
· Panelist, Economic Development, Empire State Reports Conference
· Moderator, Downtown NYC Panel, The Bond Buyer Conference on New York Public Finance
· Panelist, The Bank of New York Symposium on NY Public Finance
· Speaker, Fiscal Policy Working Group, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Professional Memberships
· National Association of Bond Lawyers
· New York State Bar Association
· Municipal Forum of New York, Audit Committee
· New York State Economic Development Council
Industries
Education
Energy & Clean Technology
Financial Services
Government
Health Care
Real Estate