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Introduction
Sebastian Torres-Rodriguez represents issuers, underwriters, and borrowers on a variety of public and project finance transactions.
Sebastian previously worked as a senior legal advisor to the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (AAFAF) and represented the Government of Puerto Rico and its instrumentalities on matters related to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, including municipal debt restructuring and public finance affairs. Sebastian also served as general counsel to the Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation during the issuance of its restructured sales tax bonds in 2019.
My focus
Infrastructure projects are the building blocks of economic growth. Every economy needs reliable infrastructure to, among other things, enable trade, power businesses, create new opportunities, and improve the livelihood of its communities. This is why I focus my practice on providing legal advice to state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, investment banks, and financial institutions in connection with the financing of infrastructure projects that have a positive impact.
My experience working with the issuance and restructuring of distressed municipal securities has provided me an in-depth experience and capability for providing legal solutions for our clients as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, and underwriter’s counsel. This entails thinking innovatively about financing and refinancing structures so that our clients meet their capital needs and feel confident in the face of any future challenges or opportunities that might arise.
Looking ahead
Sustainable or environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, has steadily gained traction in the U.S. municipal market. Increasingly issued by state and local governments to fund public projects that can have a positive social or environmental impact, municipal bonds can clearly align with sustainability goals. As a bigger appetite for building a more sustainable bond portfolio develops, federal regulators and self-regulatory organizations are looking for ways to understand how ESG practices are being integrated into the municipal securities market, as well as how to engage in information-gathering and rulemaking to protect investors, issuers, and the public interest. Earlier this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Municipal Securities signaled that it’s taking a closer look at issuer disclosure under Rule 15c2-12, which could grow to include elements of ESG disclosure.
In the news
- Press Release
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity selects three Nixon Peabody attorneys for 2023 programs
Feb 9, 2023In this press release, Nixon Peabody LLP is pleased to announce that three attorneys have been selected to participate in Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) programs for 2023.
- El Nuevo Dia
The Highways and Transportation Authority’s adjustment plan goes into effect
Dec 7, 2022This article, which covers a debt restructuring of the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority outstanding indebtedness, mentions NP as legal advisors on the new indebtedness. The NP team includes Project Finance & Public Finance practice group leader Virginia Wong from New York, Washington, DC partners Mitch Rapaport and Carla Young, Los Angeles partner Angelica Valencia, New York associate Sebastian Torres-Rodriguez, and New York senior paralegals Carolyn Yi-Medina and Patrick McGovern, all of the Project Finance & Public Finance group.
- 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
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
Admitted to practice
New York
Bar of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Education
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, B.A.
University of Puerto Rico School of Law, J.D.
Professional activities
- Board member, Young Professionals in Infrastructure
Languages
Spanish
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllVirginia Wong
Partner / Practice Group Leader, Project Finance and Public Finance- New York
- Office:212.940.3028
- vwong@nixonpeabody.com
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Julie K. Seymour
Partner / Strategic Impact Partner- Chicago
- Office:312.977.4353
- jkseymour@nixonpeabody.com
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Mitchell Rapaport
Partner- Washington DC
- Office:202.585.8305Mobile:202.288.4005
- mrapaport@nixonpeabody.com
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