Overview

James specializes in the area of Public Finance. He has extensive experience as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, trustee’s counsel and credit enhancement counsel in all areas of public finance and has been involved in financings in over 40 states. He has developed an expertise in lease transactions (including COPs), tax increment financing, tax-exempt commercial paper, resource recovery financings, variable rate and unit priced securities, escrow receipts, dedicated and blind pool transactions, special assessment bonds, general obligation bonds and various types of revenue-backed debt (including specialized areas such as solid waste, redevelopment and housing). He has represented issuers at every level of government, including the State of New Jersey and its various public authorities, counties, municipalities, local authorities and boards of education. He also served as underwriter’s counsel, trustee’s counsel and credit enhancement counsel in a wide variety of transactions. James’ principal clients have included the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority and the Mercer County Improvement Authority, as well as various municipalities.

James has been a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers since 1989, and the New Jersey State Bar Association and its Local Government Law section. He is a trustee of the Greater Trenton Community Mental Health Center, Inc., and is a former Chair and Treasurer of that organization.

James received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University in 1981, and received his law degree from Cornell Law School in 1984.

Representative Experience

  • Representing the borrowers and their parent-guarantors in a $167,500,000 leasing transaction for the construction of broadcast facilities for the CNBC and MSNBC cable television networks.
  • Serving as bond counsel in connection with a $323,727,990 restructuring of the public-private solid waste system of the Union County Utilities Authority and an affiliate of Ogden Martin Systems.
  • serving as bond counsel in connection with a $146,455,000 financing for The College of New Jersey involving an interest rate swap agreement representing the underwriters in connection with a $450,000,000 financing for the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority involving a forward delivery bond purchase contract.

Professional & Community Activities

  • Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers
  • Member, New Jersey State Bar Association – Local Government Law 
  • Trustee, Greater Trenton Community Mental Health Center, Inc.

Representative Experience

  • Representing the borrowers and their parent-guarantors in a $167,500,000 leasing transaction for the construction of broadcast facilities for the CNBC and MSNBC cable television networks.
  • Serving as bond counsel in connection with a $323,727,990 restructuring of the public-private solid waste system of the Union County Utilities Authority and an affiliate of Ogden Martin Systems.
  • serving as bond counsel in connection with a $146,455,000 financing for The College of New Jersey involving an interest rate swap agreement representing the underwriters in connection with a $450,000,000 financing for the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority involving a forward delivery bond purchase contract.