Introduction
Graham Beck represents municipal and nonprofit issuers and underwriters of municipal securities in a wide range of tax-exempt and taxable offerings. He advises clients on public offerings and private placements serving as bond, underwriters’, and disclosure counsel.
My focus
Public Power
Much of my work involves assisting municipalities and joint action agencies in their issuance of tax-exempt debt to finance the construction and rehabilitation of hydroelectric, biofuel, wind, and coal-burning electric generation facilities. I also assist municipalities in fulfilling their long-term energy needs through prepayment for natural gas and electricity, as well as renewable electricity supplies, to pass those savings along to their ratepayers.
Education
Some of my favorite projects include working with California’s K–12, school districts, charter schools, and community college districts to finance the construction and rehabilitation of schools to better meet the needs of their students and the community. I have assisted multiple educational agencies through the election process to win voter approval for their bond issuances and have experience with a variety of financing options available to California school districts, including bonds authorized under Proposition 39 and the traditional authority, Mello-Roos financings, certificates of participation and lease revenue bonds, TRANs, and other financing mechanisms.
Disclosure
As disclosure counsel or underwriters’ counsel, I provide strategic advice to municipalities, school and special districts, national and regional investment banking firms underwriting municipal bonds, and others to assist in meeting compliance with SEC and MSRB rules and regulations, including the disclosure requirements of federal securities laws.
Looking ahead
The adoption of the Inflation Reduction Act has opened up unprecedented opportunities for public power agencies and other public utilities. The tax incentives it provides will allow utilities to own renewable energy projects and finally take advantage of the incentives that have historically only been available to private entities. The Public Power Group at Nixon Peabody is working hand in hand with our Tax Credit Group to assist public utilities in navigating these new direct-pay credits for the benefit of their ratepayers and customers.
In the news
- The Bond Buyer
Anatomy of a deal: Los Angeles Unified’s Far West winner
Nov 15, 2024This article highlights the Los Angeles Unified School District’s $2.9 billion Build America Bond refunding deal for winning the Far West category of the publication’s “Deal of the Year” awards. NP is mentioned for serving as underwriters’ counsel on the deal. The NP team was led by San Francisco Project Finance & Public Finance partner Graham Beck and counsel Dia Walrath.
- The Bond Buyer
Despite budget issues, California school deal generates strong orders
Oct 25, 2024This article mentions NP for serving as bond disclosure counsel in the West Contra Costa School District’s recent sale of $352 million of general obligation bonds. The NP team includes Project Finance & Public Finance partners Graham Beck of San Francisco, Rudy Salo of Los Angeles, and Joel Swearingen of Washington, DC; senior counsel Travis Gibbs of San Francisco; counsel Dia Walrath of San Francisco; associates Brandon Caywood of Chicago and Janelle Walker of San Francisco; and senior paralegal Stuart Clapp of Los Angeles.
- The Bond Buyer
LADWP expected to see strong demand despite spring downgrade, controversies
This article on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s issuance of power system revenue bonds mentions NP for the work by San Francisco partner Graham Beck and Los Angeles partner Danny Kim, both of the Project Finance & Public Finance group, for serving as disclosure counsel.Jan 12, 2022 - The Bond Buyer
Changing circumstances reduced demand for California school note program
This article, on the California School Finance Authority’s borrowing program created to help school districts manage pandemic-driven budget deferrals, mentions NP as disclosure counsel for notes issued in March and April for elementary, high school, and community college districts. Los Angeles partners Rudy Salo and Dan Deaton, and San Francisco partners Travis Gibbs and Graham Beck, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance group, advised CSFA in this deal. Update: New York Bankruptcy & Restructuring partner Robert Christmas also advised CSFA in this deal.April 29, 2021 - Law360
Law360 names attys who moved up the firm ranks in Q1
This article mentions recent leadership promotions at the firm including David Brown, Jared Lusk, Jim Vallee, Graham Beck, Kathleen Ceglarski Burns, Emily Crandall Harlan, Daniel Gibbons, Linda Huber, Ilana Kameros, Haydon Keitner, Darren Miller, Neal Pandozzi, Edward Puerta, Stephen Reil, and Elizabeth Young.April 28, 2017
Admitted to practice
California
Education
University of San Francisco School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude; member of the law review, McAuliffe Honors Society
University of California, San Diego, B.S.
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllVirginia Wong
Partner / Practice Group Leader, Project Finance & Public Finance- New York City
- Office:+1 212.940.3028
- vwong@nixonpeabody.com
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Julie K. Seymour
Partner / Lateral Recruiting Partner- Chicago
- Office:+1 312.977.4353
- jkseymour@nixonpeabody.com
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Scott R. Singer
Partner- New York City
- Office:+1 212.940.3182Mobile:+1 917.886.5967
- ssinger@nixonpeabody.com
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