National Chair of the Public Finance Practice Group

Rebecca A. Speckhard

National Chair of the Public Finance Practice Group

Rebecca Speckhard dedicates her practice to municipal and governmental finance. Ms. Speckhard serves as bond counsel to municipal and governmental issuers throughout the State of Wisconsin, with particular expertise in general obligation financings, public utility revenue bond financings, community development authority and redevelopment authority financings, and related tax incremental financing and development matters. Ms. Speckhard also regularly serves as underwriter's counsel and issuer's counsel on public finance transactions. Her recent experience includes

• Serving as bond counsel on the State of Wisconsin Transportation Revenue Bond, General Fund Annual Appropriation Bond, and Operating Note Programs.
• Serving as bond counsel on hundreds of municipal financings in the State of Wisconsin, including general obligation bonds and promissory notes, utility revenue bonds, bond anticipation notes, and special assessment bonds.
• Serving as bond counsel on dozens of community development authority and redevelopment authority lease revenue bond financings and providing related development agreement advice.
• Serving as bond counsel on Clean Water Fund, Safe Drinking Water, and Land Recycling Loan financings.
• Advising and assisting municipalities with the creation of tax incremental districts.

Legal Services

• Public Finance

Education and Honors

• University of Wisconsin Law School (J.D., 1990)
• Order of the Coif
• Phi Beta Kappa
• University of Wisconsin (B.A., 1986)

Bar Admissions

• Wisconsin

Court Admissions

• U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, 1990

Professional and Civic Activities

• State Bar of Wisconsin (Member)
• National Association of Bond Lawyers (Member)
• Milwaukee Bar Association (Co-chair, Government Law Section, 2007–2008)

Professional Recognition

• Selected for inclusion in the 2005–2008 Wisconsin Super Lawyers® lists (Public Finance)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® (2007–present: Project Finance Law / Public Finance Law)
• Listed in Wisconsin's Best Lawyers® (2011: Public Finance Law / Project Finance Law)
• Named as Fellow to the American College of Bond Counsel (2009)

Publications and Presentations

10/16/18
SEC Expands Disclosure Obligations for Governmental Bond Issuers
Public Finance Alert

09/01/14
Continuing Disclosure Requirements Related to Bond Issues and the SEC MCDC Initiative
WGFOA Fall Conference

07/01/14
Post-Closing Requirements for Debt Issuance & Economic Development Financing Strategies
UW-GB Master Academy for Civic and Public Affairs

05/01/12
Post-Issuance Compliance
Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials Spring Conference

02/01/12
Economic Development Financing
Ehlers & Associates, Inc. Seminar for Municipal Officers

12/20/11
Post-Issuance Compliance Policy for Tax-Exempt and Tax-Advantaged Obligations
Public Finance Law Update

12/01/11
New Law Changes Time Requirement For Filing Referendum Questions
Public Finance Law Update

12/01/11
Dodd-Frank & Certain Rules Pertinent to Bond Financings
WGFOA Winter Conference

08/17/11
Material Event Filings for Certain Pre-Refunded Rated Obligations That Have Been Downgraded
Public Finance Law Update

05/10/11
Proposed Senate Bill 83 Would Adversely Impact Activities of RDAs and CDAs by Changing Standards for Blight Findings
Public Finance Law Update

12/01/10
Tax Law Changes for 2011 Affect Municipal Bonds
Public Finance Law Update

05/21/10
Relief for Distressed Tax Incremental Districts
Public Finance Update

02/23/10
Build America Bonds: IRS Sends Out Questionnaire to Issuers of Build America Bonds Regarding Post Issuance Compliance
Public Finance Law Update

02/02/10
Recovery Zone Facility Bonds: Waiver and Reallocation of Allocations; Counties Permitted to Issue Industrial Revenue Bonds Under WI 2009 Senate Bill 440
Public Finance Update

09/01/09
New Bond Programs Under ARRA and Other Recent Legislation
WGFOA Fall Conference

09/01/09
Continuing Disclosure with EMMA
WGFOA Fall Conference

06/23/09
Guidance and Allocations Released for ARRA Recovery Bonds
Public Finance Update

06/19/09
Midwestern Disaster Area Bonds Provide Tax-Exempt Financing Opportunities for Private Businesses
Public Finance Update

05/18/09
MSRB Webinars for EMMA Continuing Disclosure Submission Process; Changes to Small Issuer Continuing Disclosure Exception
Public Finance Update

04/30/09
Midwestern Disaster Area Bonds Provide Tax-Exempt Financing Opportunities for Private Businesses
Public Finance Update

04/22/09
Campaign Practices
Public Finance Update

04/15/09
Stimulus Bond Programs At A Glance: Build America Bonds, Tax Credit Bonds and Others Compared
Public Finance Update

04/14/09
Treasury Guidance Regarding ARRA Bond Provisions
Public Finance Update

03/23/09
Public Finance Provisions included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information for Bond Issuers
Public Finance Update

03/20/09
Public Finance Provisions included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information for Wisconsin Bond Issuers
Public Finance Update

02/18/09
Public Finance Stimulus Legislation Changes: New "Bank Qualified" Limits and Changes to AMT Treatment
Public Finance Update

01/27/09
Post Issuance Compliance: IRS Questionnaire Sent to Hundreds of Governmental Issuers
Public Finance Update