Overview

Clients rely on Rob to get the job done with focus, diligence, and practical insight. With extensive experience across many practice areas of public finance, Rob brings clarity, efficiency, and confidence to every stage of complex financings, from initial structuring through post-issuance compliance.

Rob Ernst is Of Counsel in Dilworth Paxson’s Public Finance Practice, where he serves as bond counsel, underwriters’ counsel, and borrower’s counsel on a wide range of tax-exempt and taxable financings. Over the course of his career, Rob has worked on more than 250 public and private offerings, representing state and local issuers, nonprofit corporations, and leading public finance investment banking firms nationwide. His experience spans financings for hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living and retirement communities, colleges, universities, preparatory schools, municipalities, real estate developers and cultural institutions.  He is involved in every phase of the financing process, from preliminary planning through post-issuance compliance, ensuring that each transaction is structured soundly and executed efficiently.

Rob’s practice covers all aspects of public offerings and private placement transactions, including the negotiation and drafting of bond-related documents such as authorizing resolutions, bond indentures, master trust indentures, loan and security agreements, offering documents, bond purchase agreements, continuing disclosure agreements, and other financing documents. He has guided clients through financings for statewide authorities including the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority (ANIZDA), Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA), Delawar Valley Regional Finance Authority (DelVal). Maine Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority (MHHEFA), the New Hampshire Health and Education Facilities Authority (NHHEFA), and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY).  His experience also includes complex financings for borrowers such as MaineHealth, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Catholic Health System, and Touro University.  In addition, Rob has served as counsel in significant financings for healthcare systems, higher education institutions, and cultural organizations across the United States.

In every engagement, Rob combines technical depth with a practical understanding of client needs.  He takes a measured, organized approach to structuring transactions that align with client goals and market realities.  His strong working relationships with underwriters, issuing authorities, and financial advisors enable him to anticipate potential challenges and move transactions forward smoothly.  Known for his professionalism, reliability, and collaborative style, Rob strives to make each financing a constructive and efficient process for everyone involved.

Representative Experience

  • Served as bond counsel for the Maine Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority (MHHEFA) on multiple financings, including more than 20 institutions such as Colby College, Bowdoin College, and MaineHealth. Led the state’s moral obligation program, which has issued more than $1 billion in pooled bond financing proceeds.
  • Served as bond counsel to the New Hampshire Health and Education Facilities Authority (NHHEFA) on financings for institutions, including the University System of New Hampshire, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Catholic Medical Center, and Proctor Academy.
  • Served as special tax counsel to the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) for financings involving major borrowers such as Northwell, Catholic Health System, and Touro University, including more than $3 billion in total transactions.
  • Served as underwriters’ counsel to the New Jersey Healthcare Facilities Financing Authority (NJHCFFA) on financings for Hackensack Meridian, Holy Name Medical Center, Kennedy Health Center, and Warren Hospital, including a $900 million plan of financing to consolidate multiple health systems under a new credit structure.
  • Represented the underwriters in a $79 million tax-exempt financing for the Wildlife Conservation Society, supporting post–Superstorm Sandy recovery and improvements at the Coney Island Aquarium and other New York City facilities.
  • Represented the underwriters in a $130 million taxable private placement financing for Prime Healthcare Foundation, supporting the launch of the California University of Science and Medicine.
  • Served as underwriters’ counsel in the issuance of multiple series of Tax Revenue Bonds in the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone.
  • Advised on numerous general obligation and economic development financings, as well as P3 transactions for infrastructure and sewer system projects.

Representative Experience

  • Served as bond counsel for the Maine Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority (MHHEFA) on multiple financings, including more than 20 institutions such as Colby College, Bowdoin College, and MaineHealth. Led the state’s moral obligation program, which has issued more than $1 billion in pooled bond financing proceeds.
  • Served as bond counsel to the New Hampshire Health and Education Facilities Authority (NHHEFA) on financings for institutions, including the University System of New Hampshire, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Catholic Medical Center, and Proctor Academy.
  • Served as special tax counsel to the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) for financings involving major borrowers such as Northwell, Catholic Health System, and Touro University, including more than $3 billion in total transactions.
  • Served as underwriters’ counsel to the New Jersey Healthcare Facilities Financing Authority (NJHCFFA) on financings for Hackensack Meridian, Holy Name Medical Center, Kennedy Health Center, and Warren Hospital, including a $900 million plan of financing to consolidate multiple health systems under a new credit structure.
  • Represented the underwriters in a $79 million tax-exempt financing for the Wildlife Conservation Society, supporting post–Superstorm Sandy recovery and improvements at the Coney Island Aquarium and other New York City facilities.
  • Represented the underwriters in a $130 million taxable private placement financing for Prime Healthcare Foundation, supporting the launch of the California University of Science and Medicine.
  • Served as underwriters’ counsel in the issuance of multiple series of Tax Revenue Bonds in the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone.
  • Advised on numerous general obligation and economic development financings, as well as P3 transactions for infrastructure and sewer system projects.