Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the arrival of a new Public Finance practice group based in our Houston office. With more than 140 years of collective experience, the group has represented clients in more than $200 billion of public finance transactions.

The team includes Public Finance partners Rick A. Witte, Todd B. Brewer, Tanya A. Fischer, and Hoang T. Vu, and Tax partner Russell Miller.

“It is always exciting to have attorneys of the absolute highest caliber join our firm,” said Wade Cooper, managing partner of Jackson Walker. “Adding this accomplished team propels Jackson Walker into the top ranks of Texas public finance.”

The new Jackson Walker team has worked with practically every type of entity that can borrow funds on a tax-exempt basis or provide tax-exempt financing. The attorneys serve traditional governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, and private entities, as well as representing national and regional underwriters, domestic and foreign banks, and other financial institutions.

Meet the Team

Rick A. Witte, who leads the Public Finance group, has extensive experience with education, infrastructure financings, and economic development. His practice focuses on public finance, counseling on tax-exempt and taxable bond transactions for school districts, junior college districts, cities, counties, state agencies, economic development corporations, and special authorities throughout Texas.

“We have long admired Jackson Walker’s leadership in Texas,” Rick said. “Jackson Walker has established a reputation as the go-to firm for doing business in Texas, and we intend to be the go-to public finance team in the state.”

Rick received his J.D. from the University of Iowa and his B.A. from Knox College.

Todd B. Brewer brings a wealth of public finance experience in all areas of tax-exempt and taxable transactions. His practice includes the roles of bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, and direct purchaser counsel for cities, counties, school districts, special purpose districts, local government and economic development corporations, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private entities for infrastructure, public and private schools, charter schools, economic development, cultural and community facilities, land development, and the securitization of assets and revenue streams due to private entities. Additionally, Todd has extensive experience in representing governmental entities and private parties in connection with economic development projects and major sports and entertainment facilities.

“Jackson Walker is a fantastic fit for our public finance team,” Todd said. “We are excited to bring our group to the firm and work alongside the experienced teams in securities, corporate law, tax, banking, real estate, and bankruptcy as we serve our broad range of public finance clients.”

Todd received his J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law and his B.A. from the University of Tennessee.

Tanya A. Fischer represents domestic and foreign banks that provide credit and liquidity facilities for tax exempt or taxable financings as well as on public finance transactions involving

loans and direct purchases.. She serves as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, and underwriters’ counsel in tax-exempt bond transactions for school districts, junior college districts, cities, counties, and state agencies throughout Texas.

“Our public finance group is keenly focused on delivering excellent client service,” Tanya said. “It’s clear that Jackson Walker shares those values.”

Tanya received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and her B.A. from the University of Houston.

Hoang T. Vu represents governmental entities, underwriters, nonprofit organizations, banks and other financial institutions on all types of public finance transactions.

“With its leading presence in Texas, Jackson Walker complements our practice perfectly,” Hoang said. “We look forward to serving our clients as part of the largest firm in Texas.”

Hoang received his J.D. from the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law and his M.S. and B.A. from the University of Florida.

Russell Miller’s practice focuses on federal income tax law related to public finance including nonprofit finance, healthcare finance, working capital financings, and pooled financings. Russ has assisted public finance clients involved in Internal Revenue Service audits, and he has provided assistance to organizations in seeking or retaining non-profit or governmental tax-exempt status.

“I am thrilled to join Jackson Walker and work alongside this great team of public finance attorneys,” Russ said. “I’m also glad to join one of the pre-eminent tax groups in Texas.”

Russ received his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law, his LL.M. from New York University, and his B.S. from the University of Southern California.

Meet JW

Since Jackson Walker’s founding in 1887, our attorneys have represented some of the most influential companies and business leaders in the world. Today, we remain firmly rooted in Texas while serving clients around the globe. With almost 500 attorneys, we are the largest firm in Texas and have been recognized by Law360 as a “Texas Powerhouse” and an “elite law firm” that regularly provides counsel to industry-leading clients on highly complex transactions ranging from millions to billions.