Ms. Grande has concentrated her practice in the area of revenue bonds and general obligation bonds, and regularly handles state law issues relating to the issuance of bonds.
Ms. Grande represents government agencies and instrumentalities and has substantial experience working with first-time issuers. She often counsels clients with unusual problems and special situations, and provides broad-based municipal law advice to municipal clients relating to application and amendment of their charters and the drafting and passage of legislation. Most recently, she has developed expertise relating to finances of distressed communities, focusing on powers of municipalities in proceedings under Chapter 9 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.
Ms. Grande has served as bond counsel to cities and towns as well as to many state, regional and municipal agencies which finance public projects including school projects, student loans, health care facilities, public water supply and wastewater projects, recreational facilities and economic development projects. She has been listed in both The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Public Finance Law as well as a Rhode Island Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters.
Notable Experience
· Serves as counsel advising institutions of higher education and health care providers on bond financings for educational and health care facilities.
· Serves as underwriter's counsel to various investment banking firms, both locally and in New York.
· Developed a wealth of experience on wastewater issues, having served as bond counsel for sewer utility financings and as borrower's counsel to various cities and towns in connection with wastewater financings.
· Has worked with public water supply systems on infrastructure projects for safe drinking water.
· Provides advice and renders opinions in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds by governmental issuers at all levels and has significant experience advising governmental entities regarding creative financing solutions.
Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications
· Speaker, "Surviving Financial Meltdown: State Oversight Legislation and Legal Aspects of Municipal Bankruptcy," American Water Summit 2011, Atlanta, Georgia, November 2011.
· Speaker, "Economic Crisis-Driven Transactions: Defaults, Workouts and Bankruptcy Issues in Public Finance," National Association of Bond Lawyers Bond Attorneys' Workshop, San Antonio, Texas, October 2011.
· Speaker, "Everything you wanted to know about municipal bankruptcy but are afraid to ask," Donald J. Milkus 9th Annual Spring Training Seminar, Waltham, Massachusetts, April 1, 2011.
· Speaker, "Current Developments in Public Finance," Providence, Rhode Island, June 3, 2008.
· Ms. Grande was a speaker at a seminar sponsored by Rhode Island Department of Health and Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency on Legal Issues involved in Borrowing through the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund, 2003.
· Speaker regarding Tax Increment Financing at the "Power of Place Summit" sponsored by Grow Smart RI in Providence, Rhode Island, May 2, 2008.
· Ms. Grande was a presenter at a seminar sponsored by the Atlantic States Rural Water & Wastewater Association on June 8, 2006.
News & Publications
August 10, 2010, Sixty EAPD Attorneys Recognized by the Best Lawyers in America
September 1, 2009, 62 EAPD Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers in America 2010
February 4, 2009, 57 EAPD Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers in America 2009
October 30, 2008, EAPD Attorneys Named Super Lawyers 2008
October 10, 2007, 57 EAPD Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers in America 2008
Before Edwards Wildman
Prior to joining the Firm's Public Finance Group, Karen spent 18 years in the public finance group at another Rhode Island law firm.
Besides Edwards Wildman
Karen is on the Board of Directors of the Greenwood Credit Union. She is a graduate of Leadership Rhode Island, a program designed to educate leaders to serve as catalysts for positive change. Karen has served on the Board of Trustees/Elders of the Greenwood Community Church and serves as Chairperson of the Church's Investment Committee. As a double major in English and Music in college, Karen particularly enjoys reading and choral music.
Events
March 31 - April 1, 2011, Waltham, MA, Donald J. Milkus 9th Annual Spring Training Seminar
June 3, 2008, Providence, RI, Current Developments in Public Finance
Industries
· Energy, Infrastructure & Cleantech
· Government
· Healthcare
Memberships
· National Association of Bond Lawyers
· Rhode Island Government Financial Officers Association
· Rhode Island Bar Association
· Rhode Island Bar Foundation Fellow