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About Barron
As a result of his experience with virtually all types of governmental entities and diverse finance structures, Barron Wallace's public finance practice is both unique and broad. His clients benefit from his knowledge of traditional and highly structured project finance conduit transactions involving state agencies, cities, school districts, airports, higher education, economic development, private and primary secondary schools, regional mobility authorities, special districts and not-for-profit organizations focusing on parks and cultural arts. His multifaceted practice spans traditional municipal finance, tax increment finance, urban redevelopment, as well as general public law.
Barron's leadership, insight and in-depth understanding is beneficial in providing bond, disclosure and tax counsel to issuers, underwriters, trustees, third-party credit providers, and borrowers. He serves as bond and disclosure counsel for cities, counties, state agencies, and special districts, including local government corporations. In addition, Barron represents national and regional investment banking firms as underwriter's counsel and also advises conduit bond issuers, tax increment reinvestment zones, local government corporations and certain special districts as general counsel or special counsel. As a by-product of his many years of experience and innovations in public finance, he also focuses on urban infrastructure and transportation development and public/private partnerships.
Civic leadership and support of his community play an important role in Barron's career and personal objectives. He serves as Chairman on the Houston Parks Board and on the board of directors of the Discovery Green-Downtown Park Corporation and the Houston Social Justice Fund.
Experience
Recent Notable Matters
Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority — bond counsel and general counsel in a $212 million transaction for the 365 Tollway, which is a critical public safety and economic investment along the Texas-Mexican border which the Anzalduas and Pharr International Bridges and provides access to the McAllen International Bridge
City of Houston, Texas — bond counsel in connection with the August 2021 financing of a multi-terminal baggage handling system at the Houston Airport System of approximately $289 million of airport special facilities debt secured by and payable from various leases with United Airlines, Inc.
Texas Public Finance Authority — bond counsel in connection with $14.275 million Texas Southern University Revenue Financing System Refunding Bonds, Series 2021
City of Houston Airport System — bond counsel in connection with multiple transactions for a combined par amount of $856 million Subordinate Lien Revenue Refunding Bonds to finance improvements at Hobby Airport and refinance outstanding debt and $450 million in Inferior Lien Appropriation Facility Revenue Bonds, Series 2015
Houston Independent School District — disclosure counsel in connection with $174.615 million Maintenance Tax Notes, Series 2018; $86.960 million Limited Tax Schoolhouse Bonds, Series 2018; and $848.74 million Limited Tax Schoolhouse and Refunding Bonds, Series 2017
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) — disclosure counsel in connection with $304.130 million Sales and Use Tax Refunding Bonds, Taxable Series 2020A and $92.81 million Sales and Use Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2019A and Series 2019B
Texas Water Development Board — disclosure counsel in connection with $328.515 million State Water Implementation Revenue Fund Revenue Bonds, Series 2020 (Master Trust); $858.810 million State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas Revenue Bonds, Series 2019A and 2019B (Master Trust); and $1.672 billion State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas Revenue Bonds, Series 2018B (Master Trust)
Lone Star College System — bond counsel in connection with $178.275 million Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds, Series 2021A and 2021B; $65.320 million Limited Tax General Obligation Taxable, Series 2021C; and $37.320 million Revenue Financing System Refunding Bonds, Series 2021
Texas Public Finance Authority — bond counsel in connection with $164.51 million Refunding General Obligation Bonds, Series 2018A; $767.67 million of Revenue Commercial Paper Notes (Texas Facilities Commission Projects) Series 2016A (Taxable) and Series 2016B (Tax-Exempt)
City of Houston, Texas — bond counsel in connection with over $1 billion Airport System subordinate lien revenue bonds and senior lien commercial paper
City of Houston, Texas — bond counsel in connection with $188.360 million Public Improvement Refunding Bonds, Series 2021A; $117.710 million Public Improvement Refunding Bonds, Series 2021A (Taxable); and $2.595 million Certificates of Obligation (Demolition Program), Series 2021C
Midtown Redevelopment Authority — counsel in connection with a public/private partnership agreement regarding the funding of certain public infrastructure, including plazas, streetscape and sidewalk improvements, and elements of a parking garage with ground-floor retail space associated with the development of an innovation district in Midtown Houston
Midtown Redevelopment Authority — bond counsel in connection with $11.085 million Tax Increment Contract Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2020 and $39.310 million Tax Increment Contract Revenue and Refunding Bonds, Series 2017
City of Houston, Texas — bond counsel in connection with $1 billion Texas Pension Obligation Bonds, Series 2017
Harris County, Texas — disclosure counsel in connection with $60.405 million Unlimited Tax Road Refunding Bonds, Series 2021 and $29.095 million Permanent Improvement Refunding Bonds, Series 2021
Texas Water Development Board — bond counsel in connection with $1 billion State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas Revenue Bonds, Series 2017A (Master Trust) and $18.9 million State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas Revenue Bonds, Taxable Series 2017B
Aldine Independent School District — bond counsel and disclosure counsel in connection with $73.590 million Unlimited Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2020 and $148 million Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2018
Spring Independent School District — bond counsel in connection with $8.795 million Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2021; $29.425 million Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2020; and $98.07 million Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2019
Port of Houston Authority — bond counsel and disclosure counsel in connection with $176.555 million of Unlimited Tax Refunding Bonds, Series 2018A (AMT)
Texas Public Finance Authority — underwriter’s counsel in connection with $472.470 million General Obligation and Refunding Bonds Taxable, Series 2020
Harris County – Houston Sports Authority — underwriter’s counsel in connection with $86.300 million Senior Lien Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2020A and 2020B and $25.865 million Second Lien Revenue Refunding Bonds, Taxable Series 2020C
Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority — bond counsel in connection with $67.885 million Senior Lien Vehicle Registration Fee Revenue Bonds, Series 2020A and 2020B
Publications and Speeches
"Understanding the Roles of Disclosure Counsel and Underwriter’s Counsel," The Institute: Virtual 2021, National Association of Bond Lawyers, March 3-5, 2021.
"Roles and Responsibilities Series – Disclosure Counsel," The Institute, National Association of Bond Lawyers, March 19-20, 2020.
"The Life of Disclosure Counsel," The Institute, National Association of Bond Lawyers, March 7-8, 2019.
"Hot Topics in Securities Law," The Workshop, National Association of Bond Lawyers, September 11-13, 2019.
“Spotlight on Public Finance: Rule 15c2-12 Amendments,” Bracewell Lunch and Learn, January 9, 2019.
“Opportunity Zones: The Promise,” The Bond Buyer’s Texas Public Finance Conference, February 12, 2019.
"Hurricane Harvey – After the Storm, Disclosure Considerations for Bond Issuers," The Bond Buyer, September 7, 2017.
"Representing the Infrequent Issuer," National Association of Bond Lawyers Tax and Securities Law Institute, March 2017.
Underwriters Counsel Roundtable, Chicago, IL, 2013 - 2015.