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
    • Environmental
    • Franchising & Distribution
    • Government Investigations & White Collar Defense
    • Healthcare
    • Intellectual Property
    • International Services
    • Labor & Employment
    • Litigation
    • Private Wealth & Advisory
    • Project Finance
    • Public Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Regulatory & Government Relations

    Industries

    View All

    • Cannabis
    • Consumer
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Healthcare
    • Higher Education
    • Infrastructure
    • Manufacturing
    • Non Profit
    • Real Estate
    • 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.

    • 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.

    1. Home
    2. People
    3. Sharone LevyPeople
    1. Home
    2. People
    3. Sharone LevyPeople

    Sharone Levy

    Counsel


    • Chicago
    • Office+1 312.977.4449
    • sharonelevy@nixonpeabody.com
    • Download vCard
    • LinkedInX (Twitter)EmailCopy URL
    • LinkedIn Profile

    Introduction

    Sharone Levy serves as counsel in taxable and tax-exempt financings for municipalities, state universities, state agencies, transit systems, public utilities, airports, sewerage and solid waste facilities, multi-family housing, hospitals, universities, and other 501(c)(3) entities, including tax increment, unsecured, secured, and credit-enhanced public and private offerings. Sharone also regularly volunteers with Illinois Free Legal Answers.

     

    Practice Areas

    Public FinanceHealthcareHealthcare FinanceGeneral Obligation BondsBank CounselPublic-Private Partnerships (P3)Disclosure CounselMuseums & FoundationsPublic PowerWater & Wastewater ManagementFinancial Restructuring & BankruptcyEconomic Development Bonds

    Industries

    Higher EducationNonprofit OrganizationsHealthcare

    My focus

    My primary practice focuses on representing issuers, underwriters, purchasers, borrowers, and credit-enhancement providers in municipal financings, including counseling clients regarding business, tax, and securities compliance risks. I regularly draft, negotiate, and review various commercial contracts and agreements, including sales agreements, trust indentures, lease vendor agreements, credit agreements, security agreements, guarantees, promissory notes, board resolutions, offering documents, escrow agreements, term sheets, letters of credit, certificates, and legal opinions.

    I advise commercial banks and other financial institutions in negotiating, documenting, and structuring secured and unsecured transactions, including acquisition financings, intercreditor agreements, and asset-backed financings. I focus on guiding clients and industry groups on best practice compliance initiatives and private use restrictions.

    My specific interest in public finance stems from prior experiences working in state and local government and as a credit rating analyst. I enjoy partnering with municipalities and other borrowers to bring essential projects and economic opportunities to life.

    Since joining Nixon Peabody I’ve expanded my practice to include counseling borrowers in distressed municipal debt transactions in ongoing compliance matters and structured refinancings. This includes advising corporate boards on the mechanics of ongoing IRS and SEC compliance obligations and negotiating with indenture trustees, bondholder representatives, and vendors on forbearance and other distressed financing alternatives. I’ve also broadened my practice to advise commercial banks in structured lending and asset-backed security transactions.

    Representative experience

    • Represented the Illinois Finance Authority in multiple amendments required by the cessation of LIBOR
    • Served as underwriter’s counsel in connection with the refunding of $153 million auxiliary system bonds by a large state university
    • Served as bank counsel in connection with bondholder consent to amend and restate an auxiliary system bond resolution to modernize antiquated covenants
    • Served as bank counsel in connection with the purchase of certificates of participation issued on behalf of a state university
    • Served as bond counsel and borrower’s counsel to a nonprofit college in connection with a mandatory tender and remarketing
    • Served as borrower’s counsel for a real-estate secured letter of credit and standby substitutions
    • Served as bond counsel on a healthcare project financing placed with high yield investors
    • Served as bond counsel to a Fortune 500 global corporation in connection with multiple remarketings and ongoing tax and securities regulatory compliance
    • Served as co-bond counsel to a large municipality’s issuance of $280 million general obligation bonds
    • Advised numerous borrowers in connection with default management and work out negotiations
    • Counseled first time nonprofit borrower in connection with secured borrowing
    • Assisted with structuring of a health facility P3 transaction
    • Served as co-transaction counsel on a tender/exchange of tax-exempt bonds

    Looking ahead

    The IRS and SEC will continue to focus on compliance matters, including an increased interest in privately placed transactions. A continuing increased rate environment, combined with federal money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, will contribute to lower numbers of new issuances and refundings for municipalities, but I anticipate continued demand by nonprofits to fund new projects and upgrades.

    Insights

    • Speaker, NABL U Presents—The Workshop, “The Role of Issuer’s Counsel—Before, During, and After Bond Issuance,” Chicago, IL, October 14, 2022
    • Moderator, The Bond Buyer Infrastructure, “State of the Union: An Overview of the State of the Muni Industry,” Chicago, IL, September 13, 2023
    • Speaker, NABL U Presents—The Workshop, “The Role of Issuer’s Counsel in a Bond Transaction,” Chicago, IL, October 20, 2023

    In the news

    • The Bond Buyer

      People on the move in public finance

      This roundup of notable moves in the public finance sector includes the arrival of Chicago Project Finance &emp; Public Finance counsel Sharone Levy to NP, highlighting her practice and past experiences.
      March 25, 2022
    • Crain’s Chicago Business

      People on the move

      This roundup of notable Chicago-area moves and promotions includes the arrival of Chicago Project Finance & Public Finance counsel Sharone Levy to NP. The article provides a brief description of Sharone’s practice and past experiences.
      March 21, 2022

    Admitted to practice

    Illinois

    Education

    University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., with distinction; Articles Editor, Iowa Law Review; Burton Award for Legal Achievement, 2001
    University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy Studies, M.A.
    University of Pennsylvania, B.A.

    Professional activities

    • Chicago Women in Public Finance, Board of Directors (2019 - 2024), President (2022)
    • Chicago Children’s Theatre, Board of Directors (2019 - 2023)
    • Women in Public Finance, Member
    • National Association of Bond Lawyers, Member
    • AJC Marshall Society, Member

    Recognition

  • Selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 in the field of Banking and Finance Law and Public Finance Law; recognized since 2024
  • Pro bono services

    • Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2008–2018
    • Pro Bono Achievement Award, 2008

    Insights And Happenings

    View All
    • Event

      The Workshop 2023-National Association of Bond Lawyers

      Oct 18, 2023
    • Press Release

      Nixon Peabody welcomes Sharone Levy to Project Finance and Public Finance practice

      March 4, 2022
    View All

    Professionals in the Practice Area

    View All
    • Virginia Wong

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

      Partner / Strategic Impact 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
      • Office:+1 212.940.3182
        Mobile: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
    • © 2023 Nixon Peabody. All rights reserved
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Statement of Client Rights
    • Supplier Diversity Program
    • Nixon Peabody International LLC
    • PAL