Kutak Rock is Third-Ranked Bond Counsel in Nation
News | January 16, 2020Kutak Rock has been named the third-ranked municipal bond counsel firm in the nation for 2019 in Refinitiv’s year-end Municipal Marketplace Analysis. The firm closed 485 long-term municipal issues, more than any other law firm, totaling over $19.4 billion. This follows the firm’s fourth-place finish in 2018.
In addition, Kutak Rock was ranked the number seven disclosure counsel in the nation with 148 issues totaling $5.4 billion. In the role of underwriter’s counsel, the firm surpassed last year’s ranking and placed fifth nationally in 2019, with 272 issues, the most of any firm for the year, totaling over $11.7 billion.
Notably, Kutak Rock closed the highest number of deals in several categories:
- Refunding bonds
- Variable-rate bonds
- Single-family housing (ranked number one, three times more issues than the next-highest)
- Revenue bonds
- Long-term bonds
- Negotiated issues
- Solid-waste finance (more than double the next-highest)
- Airport (tied)
When asked what the high rankings and number of deals mean for Kutak Rock’s clients, partner John Wagner said, “It means we’re user-friendly. We’re in touch with our clients, and we have good people on our teams. You can’t do without that.” Wagner co-chairs the firm’s national Public Finance Practice.
More than 100 attorneys comprise the firm’s National Public Finance Department across 14 office locations. Kutak Rock has served as bond counsel to issuers and borrowers of every type across the United States, including traditional political bodies such as states, counties, cities and school districts, as well as numerous special purpose financing authorities such as public power districts, higher education finance authorities, state housing finance agencies and student loan agencies.
Refinitiv—formerly Thomson Reuters—is a leading information source for the financial, legal, tax/accounting, scientific, healthcare and media markets. Refinitiv based its rankings and volume totals on all long-term municipal new issues underwritten and reported from Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2019.