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Biography

Denise is a public finance attorney with more than 26 years of experience serving as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, trustee counsel, disclosure counsel and bank or purchaser’s counsel in municipal finance transactions. She is experienced with transactions involving large public and private issuers and the issuance of private activity bonds, as well as governmental bonds that are payable from taxes and other public funds. Denise has experience with financings for airports, transportation, logistics, solid waste, single and multi-family housing, 501c-3 financings, gas and electric utilities, economic development, manufacturing, general obligation, sewer and water, and tax increment financing. She is also experienced with derivatives, privatization and public-private partnership (P3) transactions. Denise has extensive experience with airport and logistics, including financing and leasing and is familiar with FAA airport rules and regulations. Denise has also worked on general, non-finance local government issues, including economic development, tax abatement, annexation, open door and public records issues.

Denise leads the Public Finance Practice Group at Frost Brown Todd. In this role, she utilizes her P3 and economic development experience to assemble the correct mix of people and skills to best match the client’s needs.

Lawyers have a reputation for being risk-averse and advising clients not to do something, often because the idea is novel. Clients will attest that Denise does everything she can to avoid this. In her experience, if she can get to the reason why the client wants to pursue a particular course of action, there is likely a way to achieve the desired results while working within the legal rules.

Other Info About Denise

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Represented an airport in a bond transaction that involved the creation and implementation of an entirely new and modernized Bond Ordinance governing their operations and future debt.

Represented an underwriter on a large state highway financing involving the State’s takeover of a failed P3 transaction.

Represented an airport in a series of financings over eight years for construction of a new terminal.

Represented an airport in the takeover and reuse of a facility on the airport upon the tenant’s bankruptcy and has worked with the airport for 20 years to manage, lease, and reuse the facility.

Represented a municipality in redeveloping its downtown core by negotiating four simultaneous incentive agreements and facilitating all accompanying bond issues.

Education

Law School

Indiana University Maurer School of Law, J.D., 1997

Graduate School

Indiana University, Bloomington, Kelley School of Business, M.B.A., 1997

Undergraduate School

Boise State University, B.B.A., 1994

Bar Memberships

Denise is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Indiana

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America®, Public Finance Law, 2023-2025

Rising Star Award, Women in Public Finance, 2009

Graduate, Indianapolis Bar Association, Bar Leader Series

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

National Association of Bond Lawyers

Indiana AIM – Accelerating Indiana Municipalities

Central Indiana Women’s Business Council, past Board Member

Women in Public Finance, past National Board Member

Indianapolis Bar Association

Indiana Bar Association

Firm Committees

Denise serves or has served in the following leadership role(s) at Frost Brown Todd:

Partner Personnel Committee, former Member

Public Finance Team, Practice Group Leader

Financial Services Steering Committee, Member

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