Squire Patton Boggs is pleased to announce that Robert (Bob) D. Labes will serve as Practice Group Leader of the firm’s nationally recognized Public & Infrastructure Finance Practice Group, effective January 1, 2021. He will succeed Mike Sharb, who will continue with his bond and disclosure counsel practice and client relationships.
“Our Public & Infrastructure Finance Practice Group has roots that date back to the founding of our firm and has remained an industry leader. Bob brings wide-ranging knowledge of the public finance landscape, strong leadership and a commitment to client services that will continue this strong tradition,” said Mark J. Ruehlmann, Chairman and Global CEO.
Mr. Ruehlmann continued, “I thank Mike for his leadership and service. He has led the group through some of the most transformative times in the US economy and legal services market, while maintaining our top tier rankings.”
With over 30 years of experience, Mr. Labes’ practice focuses on serving as bond counsel, underwriter counsel, lender counsel, purchaser counsel and borrower counsel on complex public finance transactions, primarily in the areas of multifamily housing, healthcare facilities and other nonprofit facilities. He has extensive experience working on transactions involving low-income housing tax credits, new markets tax credits, and historic rehabilitation tax credits, in addition to tax-exempt and taxable bond issues. Mr. Labes also has extensive experience working on traditional municipal finance transactions representing local governments on financing matters.
“As Practice Group Leader, I plan to continue strengthening the great foundation established by Mike and his predecessors. We have been a leader in the public finance market for several decades, and I am committed to enhancing and expanding our platform throughout the US. Together, with our best-in-class Public Policy Practice, we are uniquely positioned to deliver to our public sector clients innovative solutions to their financing needs, combined with deep relationships with both municipalities and at the state and federal levels,” said Mr. Labes. “I look forward to the new challenge and building on the hard work Mike has put in over the past five years.”
Under Mr. Sharb’s leadership, the practice earned U.S. News & World Report’s “Public Finance Law Firm of the Year” distinction in 2015, 2018 and 2020.
“I decided that it was the right time for me to return my full attention to my practice; and Bob’s leadership, judgment, client-first approach and forward-looking vision for the future of this practice make him an excellent choice for this role,” commented Mr. Sharb.