Skip to main content

Nixon Peabody LLP

  • People
  • Capabilities
  • Insights
  • About
Trending Topics
    • People
    • Capabilities
    • Insights
    • About
    • Locations
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Alumni
    Practices

    View All

    • Affordable Housing
    • Community Development Finance
    • Corporate & Finance
    • Cybersecurity & Privacy
    • Entertainment & Media
    • Environmental
    • Franchising & Distribution
    • Government Investigations & White Collar Defense
    • Healthcare
    • Intellectual Property
    • International Services
    • Labor, Employment, and Benefits
    • Litigation
    • Private Wealth & Advisory
    • Project Finance
    • Public Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Regulatory & Government Relations
    Industries

    View All

    • Aviation
    • Cannabis
    • Consumer
    • Energy
    • Financial Services
    • Healthcare
    • Higher Education
    • Infrastructure
    • Manufacturing
    • Nonprofit Organizations
    • Real Estate
    • Sports & Stadiums
    • Technology
    Value-Added Services

    View All

    • Alternative Fee Arrangements

      Developing innovative pricing structures and alternative fee agreement models that deliver additional value for our clients.

    • Continuing Education

      Advancing professional knowledge and offering credits for attorneys, staff and other professionals.

    • Crisis Advisory

      Helping clients respond correctly when a crisis occurs.

    • DEI Strategic Services

      Providing our clients with legal, strategic, and practical advice to make transformational changes in their organizations.

    • eDiscovery

      Leveraging law and technology to deliver sound solutions.

    • Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)

      We help clients create positive return on investments in people, products, and the planet.

    • Global Services

      Delivering seamless service through partnerships across the globe.

    • Innovation

      Leveraging leading-edge technology to guide change and create seamless, collaborative experiences for clients and attorneys.

    • IPED

      Industry-leading conferences focused on affordable housing, tax credits, and more.

    • Legal Project Management

      Providing actionable information to support strategic decision-making.

    • Legally Green

      Teaming with clients to advance sustainable projects, mitigate the effects of climate change, and protect our planet.

    • Nixon Peabody Trust Company

      Offering a range of investment management and fiduciary services.

    • NP Capital Connector

      Bringing together companies and investors for tomorrow’s new deals.

    • NP Second Opinion

      Offering fresh insights on cases that are delayed, over budget, or off-target from the desired resolution.

    • NP Trial

      Courtroom-ready lawyers who can resolve disputes early on clients’ terms or prevail at trial before a judge or jury.

    • Social Impact

      Creating positive impact in our communities through increasing equity, access, and opportunity.

    • Women in Dealmaking

      We provide strategic counsel on complex corporate transactions and unite dynamic women in the dealmaking arena.

    1. Home
    2. People
    3. Elizabeth M. Columbo

      People
    1. Home
    2. People
    3. Elizabeth M. Columbo

      People

    Elizabeth M. Columbo

    Partner


    • New York City
    • Office+1 212.940.3183
    • ecolumbo@nixonpeabody.com
    • Download vCard
    • LinkedIn Profile

    Introduction

    Liz Columbo represents governments and public authorities, issuers, underwriters, financial institutions, and investors on tax-exempt and taxable financings for a variety of public infrastructure projects, with an emphasis on public power, transportation, multi-family housing facilities, as well as stadiums and arenas. She also advises clients with respect to regulatory developments and disclosure practices.

    Practice Areas

    Public FinanceProject FinanceInfrastructureDisclosure CounselEconomic Development BondsGeneral Obligation BondsMuseums & FoundationsPublic-Private Partnerships (P3)SecuritizationsPublic PowerWater & Wastewater Management

    Industries

    Sports & Stadiums

    /My focus

    I focus my practice on four main sectors, leveraging more than 20 years of experience to help clients manage their most complex transactions.

    Public Power

    Much of my work involves serving as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, or underwriters’ counsel on financings for public power clients across the country, including the Florida Municipal Power Agency, South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper), the Power Authority of the State of New York, the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company, Long Island Power Authority, Nebraska Public Power District, and JEA (Jacksonville, Florida), among others. My work includes public offerings, private placements and 144A financings, system and project financings, tax-exempt and taxable financings, secured and unsecured debt, senior and subordinated debt, fixed-rate and variable-rate debt, and derivatives. I have experience drafting disclosure documents, financing agreements, resolutions and trust indentures, escrow agreements, forward purchase and bond purchase contracts, letters of credit, continuing disclosure documents, and interest rate exchange agreements.

    Transportation

    I have worked as bond counsel or disclosure counsel for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority for over 25 years, including on the MTA’s landmark $17.32 billion bond restructuring program. I take pride in my ability to work as a team with my colleagues in the Public Finance group on transportation projects funded in whole or part by federal grants and loans, including Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loans, federal highway trust fund moneys, and full funding grant agreements.

    Stadiums and Arenas

    I am experienced in representing governmental as well as private entities in tax-exempt and taxable debt financings involving the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), and National Basketball Association (NBA) teams and their stadiums and arenas. This experience includes work on the stadium financings for the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Twins, and Nets and representation of the County of Erie, New York, in connection with the Buffalo Bills lease and related Ralph Wilson stadium renovations and the County of Loudoun, Virginia, in connection with the Loudoun United FC lease and soccer facilities financing.

    Multi-family Housing Facilities

    I represent multi-family housing facilities in various financings, including the New York State Housing Finance Agency. My experience includes tax-exempt commercial paper programs; variable, auction-rate, and option bonds; multiple forms of revenue bond financings, including many supported by various types of credit facilities; debt restructurings; pooled loan transactions; and derivative products, such as interest rate swaps.

    Disclosure and Compliance

    I spend a significant portion of my practice advising clients on regulatory developments and their compliance requirements. We serve as disclosure counsel (and often in our role as bond counsel) for some of the largest issuers of municipal debt throughout the United States and regularly advise clients with respect to their primary and secondary market disclosure responsibilities. I currently serve as counsel to the Bond Dealers of America, tracking all regulatory and practice developments within the municipal markets, drafting comments to regulatory organizations regarding regulatory developments, and preparing memoranda and other communications to assist municipal market professionals.

    /Looking ahead

    Increasing guidance and regulatory oversight, designed to improve disclosure and increase transparency in the municipal securities market, will continue to impact all municipal market participants. I follow these actions closely to educate our clients about the implications of these actions and advise them of their changing disclosure and compliance responsibilities so they can avoid being targeted by regulators.

    /Insights

    • “Trends in Energy Finance,” The Workshop 2024 - National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL), Chicago, IL, September 19, 2024
    • “Energy Finance Panel,” The Workshop 2023 - National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL), Chicago, IL, October 19, 2023
    • “Issuer Disclosure Requirements for Selling ESG, Sustainable Bonds,” BondLink & Nixon Peabody's At the Forefront of ESG, Social Media, and COVID-19 Disclosures Conference, June 10, 2021
    • “Disclosures and due diligence obligations during the COVID-19 crisis,” presentation to Indianapolis Bond Bank, May 22, 2020

    /In the news

    • The Bond Buyer

      MTA set to debut bonds backed by real estate transfer tax

      This article covering the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s first bonds backed by its real estate transfer tax mentions NP for serving as co-counsel to the MTA. The NP team includes New York City partners Liz Columbo, Adam Gordon, and Johnny Hutchinson; Washington, DC partner Carla Young; New York City senior counsel Ken Lind and counsel Abbie Olsen; and New York City associate Georgia Sackey, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance practice.

      Jan 13, 2025
    • The Bond Buyer

      New York Power Authority lights up market

      This article covering New York Power Authority’s $404.4 million of green revenue bonds brought to market this week mentions NP for serving as co-bond counsel on the deal. The NP team includes New York City partner Liz Columbo, Washington, DC partner Mitch Rapaport, New York City counsel Abbie Olsen, Washington, DC associate Noah Lebowitz, and New York City associates Kate Stack and Paul Dewey, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance practice.

      Oct 24, 2024
    • Florida Politics

      Takeaways from Tallahassee

      This roundup of statewide news includes New York City Project Finance & Public Finance partner Liz Columbo’s recognition as the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s 2024 “Associate Member of the Year,” honoring an associate member who exemplifies extraordinary service and dedication to FMEA and Florida’s public power community.

      Aug 3, 2024
    • The Bond Buyer

      New York TBTA to sell green bonds backed by state’s payroll mobility tax

      This article covers the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority of New York’s plan to sell $300 million of tax-exempt green bonds, which will be used to finance transit and commuter projects in New York City. The article mentions NP for serving as bond counsel in the sale. The NP team includes New York City partners Liz Columbo and Adam Gordon, Washington, DC partner Carla Young, New York City senior counsel Ken Lind, and New York City associates Paul Dewey, Georgia Sackey, and Katharine Stack, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance practice.

      Jan 16, 2024
    • The Bond Buyer

      Massachusetts public power agency closes bond deal for solar project

      This article covers the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company closing on a $15 million issuance of green bonds to complete the long-term financing of a solar project that will help six participating utilities meet the state’s upcoming emission targets. The article mentions NP for serving as bond counsel in the deal. The NP deal team was led by New York City partner Liz Columbo and included Washington, DC partner Mitch Rapaport, New York City counsel Barry Rothchild, New York City associate Paul Dewey, and senior paralegals Carolyn Yi-Medina and Patrick McGovern, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance practice.

      Jan 10, 2024
    • Crain’s New York Business

      2023 Crain’s Notable Women in Law

      This article recognizes New York City Project Finance & Public Finance partner Liz Columbo as one the publication’s “Notable Women in Law” for 2023, honoring New York City attorneys who have performed consequential legal or pro bono work, served as mentors, promoted inclusivity, and assumed leadership roles in civil or philanthropic endeavors.

      June 19, 2023
    • The Bond Buyer

      $765M Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority deal draws focus

      This article covers client Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority’s $765 million Payroll Mobility Tax Senior Lien Refunding Green Bonds, which were priced Thursday in the primary market. The NP team serving as bond counsel on this deal includes New York City partners Ken Lind, Liz Columbo, and Adam Gordon; Washington, DC partner Carla Young; New York City counsel Abigail Olsen; and New York City associates Kate Stack, Paul Dewey, and Georgia Sackey, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance practice.

      Jan 5, 2023
    • The Bond Buyer

      Puerto Rico's restructured bonds will be exempt, and provide fresh high-yield liquidity

      This article on Puerto Rico’s restructured general obligation bonds mentions NP for the firm’s determination that the bonds will be tax-exempt. The NP team is comprised of New York City partners Virginia Wong, Ken Lind, and Liz Columbo, and associate Sebastian Torres; Washington, DC partners Mitch Rapaport and Carla Young; and Los Angeles partner Angelica Valencia, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance group.
      March 3, 2022
    • The Bond Buyer

      Market sectors and segments pointed volume down in the Northeast

      The article on the state of the municipal bond markets mentions NP for serving as bond counsel on the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority’s $1.24 billion payroll mobility tax senior lean deal for MTA Bridges and Tunnels. The NP team included New York partners Liz Columbo, Ken Lind, Adam Gordon, Chris Reitzel, and counsel Abigail Olsen, and Washington DC partner Carla Young, all of the Project Finance and Public Finance group.
      Feb 25, 2022
    • The Bond Buyer

      Santee Cooper approves $1.3 billion tender, exchange bond refunding

      This article on Santee Cooper’s board approving a $1.3 billion tender and exchange bond refunding mentions the firm for serving as disclosure counsel. The NP team representing the South Carolina-owned utility company includes partners Liz Columbo, Virginia Wong, and Barry Rothchild of New York, Mitch Rapaport of Washington, DC, and New York counsel Abigail Olsen and associate Sebastian Torres-Rodriguez, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance group. Washington, DC Corporate partner Lloyd Spencer and Los Angeles Project Finance & Public Finance partner Dan Deaton assisted with the analysis of securities laws related to the tender and exchange.
      Feb 9, 2022
    • The Bond Buyer

      Santee Cooper OKs bond deal oversubscribed more than five times

      This article on Santee Cooper’s revenue and refunding bond deal, which drew $3.5 billion in orders from investors, mentions the firm for New York Project Finance & Public Finance partner Liz Columbo’s work representing the South Carolina-owned utility company as bond and disclosure counsel.
      Oct 28, 2020
    • Law360

      Evaluating SEC Plan For New Municipal Issuer Disclosures

      Public finance partners Julie Seymour (Chicago), Liz Columbo (New York) and Dan Deaton (Los Angeles) published a contributed article on the SEC’s proposed amendment to Exchange Act Rule 15c2-12 and what it could mean for market participants.
      March 13, 2017
    • New York Law Journal

      Awards for Pro Bono Service

      New York City Public Finance partner Liz Columbo is named among the attorneys recognized by the City Bar Justice Center with its sixth annual Jeremy G. Epstein Awards for Outstanding Pro Bono Service.
      Oct 23, 2014

    /Admitted to practice

    New York

    /Education

    Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 1994
    Fordham University, B.A.

    /Professional activities

    • New York State Bar Association
    • National Association of Bond Lawyers
    • Two River Theater, Board of Trustees member

    /Recognition

    • Selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 in the field of Public Finance Law; listed in Best Lawyers since 2023
    • Crain’s New York Business “Notable Women in Law,” 2023
    • Recognized for exceptional standing in the legal community in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2024 for Public Finance (New York); also recognized in 2023
    • Recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in the New York Metro since 2018 for her work in Government Finance

    Super Lawyers periodically reviews lawyer credentials and solicits, reviews and evaluates peer feedback in determining who receives recognition. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or any other applicable state bar reviewing authority.

    Insights And Happenings

    View All
    • Press Release

      Nixon Peabody advises Bond Buyer ‘Deal of the Year’ winners in four categories

      Dec 9, 2024
    • Press Release

      Nixon Peabody attorneys and practice areas recognized by Chambers USA for 2024

      June 6, 2024
    • Press Release

      Nixon Peabody partner Elizabeth Columbo honored among Crain’s New York Business’ “Notable Women in Law”

      June 20, 2023
    View All

    Professionals in the Practice Area

    View All
    • Virginia Wong

      Partner / Practice Group Leader, Project Finance & Public Finance
      • New York City
      • Office:+1 212.940.3028
      • vwong@nixonpeabody.com
      Virginia Wong
    • Julie K. Seymour

      Partner / Lateral Recruiting Partner
      • Chicago
      • Office:+1 312.977.4353
      • jkseymour@nixonpeabody.com
      Julie K. Seymour
    • Daniel M. Deaton

      Partner
      • Los Angeles
      • Office:+1 213.629.6050
      • ddeaton@nixonpeabody.com
      Daniel M. Deaton
    • Scott R. Singer

      Partner
      • New York City
      • Office:+1 212.940.3182
        Mobile:+1 917.886.5967
      • ssinger@nixonpeabody.com
      Scott R. Singer
    • Jade E. Turner-Bond

      Partner
      • Los Angeles
      • Office:+1 213.629.6141
      • jturnerbond@nixonpeabody.com
      Jade E. Turner-Bond
    View All

    Subscribe to stay informed of the latest legal news, alerts, and business trends.Subscribe

    • People
    • Capabilities
    • Insights
    • About
    • Locations
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Alumni
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Statement of Client Rights
    • Purchase Order Terms & Conditions
    • Nixon Peabody International LLC
    • PAL
    © 2025 Nixon Peabody. All rights reserved