Profil
George A. Smith, Jr. has broad experience in publicly and privately offered tax-exempt and taxable municipal bonds. He has further experience in Public-Private Partnerships. Over the past 26 years, he has focused his practice on municipal finance matters and has served as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, underwriters’ counsel, issuer’s counsel and trustee counsel on more than 600 bond issues totaling over $36 billion in principal amount borrowed.
Notably, he served as Disclosure Counsel for the $3.5 billion Revenue Bonds, Series 2020A (Taxable) issued by the State of Florida State Board of Administration Finance Corporation, the largest fixed rate municipal bond transaction ever issued in the State of Florida. In addition, he served as bond counsel to the State of Florida Division of Bond Finance on approximately 42 bond issues exceeding $590 million in aggregate principal amount issued.
Concentrations
- Public School Board - Certificates of Participation and Revenue Bonds
- Community Development District and other Special District - Special Assessment Bonds
- City and County - Revenue Bonds and General Obligation Bonds
- Industrial Development Revenue Bonds
- Public-Private Partnerships – Municipal and Developer representations
- Underwriter’s Counsel
- Trustee Counsel
Kluczowe Praktyki
Doświadczenie
- Has represented Florida School Boards as Bond Counsel or Disclosure Counsel in over 250 transactions exceeding $10 billion issued for all types of financings including Certificates of Participation and Sales Tax Bonds.°
- Often drafts legislation and statutory amendments related to public finance and bonding initiatives pertaining to public educational facilities.
- Serves as Bond Counsel to more than twenty Community Development Districts.
- Has represented numerous Community Redevelopment Agencies in municipal redevelopment matters, including serving as bond counsel for the issuance of tax increment secured financings.°
- Represents various Florida School Boards and Cities evaluating P3 unsolicited proposals.
- Represented a P3 Developer delivering a new $98 million public high school funded through the State’s Special Facilities Construction Account established for School Districts.°
- Serves as Trustee Counsel on Multi-family Housing bond issues.
- Represents various investment banks underwriting tax-exempt municipal bonds.
- Serves as the Chair of the Public Finance Seminar presented by the Florida Bar’s City County and Local Government Section, a full day continuing legal education seminar dedicated to tax-exempt municipal finance.
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Smith prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Wyróżnienia i aktywność zawodowa
- Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers, 2000-Present
Wykształcenie i uprawnienia do wykonywania zawodu
- J.D., Florida State University College of Law
- B.S., Florida State University, College of Business
- Florida