has specialized in municipal finance since 1974.
He has served as the firm’s lead attorney on many municipal bond offerings with a client roster that includes the Automobile Club of Michigan, DaimlerChrysler, DuPont
, and Prudential Life Insurance.
Lewis holds a law degree from the University of Michigan.
Power Play: Lewis is a former director of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and a former chairman of the National Association of Securities Professionals.
Marsha E. Simms
Partner
Weil, Gotshal & Manges
New York, NY
Contact: 212-310-8000
Career Highlights: Simms oversees debt financing and restructuring in industries such as retail, telecommunications, energy, and manufacturing.
She also has represented major lenders in debtor-in-possession financing and exit financing of newly reorganized companies. Simms is a graduate of Stanford University Law School.
Power Play: Simms was counsel for Leucadia National Corp. and Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s insurance and investment holding company, in the FINOVA Group acquisition.
She is currently representing Sotheby’s Inc. and Estee Lauder Inc. in bank financings.
Alphonso E. Tindall Jr.
Partner
Nixon Peabody
New York, NY
Contact: 212-940-3000
Career Highlights: Tindall has represented every major investment bank in the U.S. as underwriter’s counsel on more than $5 billion of financings.
He also has participated in virtually every kind of finance transaction from Connecticut to California. He holds a law degree from the University of Connecticut.
Power Play: Tindall is past chairman of the National Association of Securities Professionals, a nonprofit organization whose primary focus is the representation of minorities and women in the financial industry.
Barron F. Wallace
Partner
Vinson & Elkins
Houston, TX
Contact: 713-758-2222
Career Highlights: Wallace specializes in the issuance of municipal bonds and sales for traditional tax-exempt financings for cities, counties, and state agencies. The Michigan Law alumnus represents 12 urban redevelopment authorities and tax reinvestment zones responsible for stimulating over a billion dollars of new investments in Houston and Galveston.
Power Play: Wallace secured $130.2 million bond financing for Houston Area Water Corporation, and $881 million bond financing for Texas Public Finance Authority.
BANKRUPTCY
Steven Cousins
Partner
Armstrong Teasdale
St. Louis, MO
Contact: 314-621-5070
Career Highlights: Cousins serves as chair and founder of the firm’s Financial Restructuring, Reorganization, and Bankruptcy Department.
A fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, Cousins is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America. He earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Power Play: Cousins was lead counsel for the Creditors’ Committee in the 54 Apex/Clark Oil/Copper Mountain cases, which was one of the largest privately held companies to have ever filed Chapter 11. He has been involved in numerous corporate reorganizations, including Continental Airlines, Kmart, Enron, and Alamo Rent A Car.
Reginald W. Jackson
Partner
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease
Columbus, OH
Contact: 614-464-6400
Career Highlights: Jackson has practiced for more than 20 years in the commercial, collection, and bankruptcy areas with an emphasis on representing secured creditors, creditors’ committees, and debtors in Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings and workouts. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Power Play: Jackson recently served as lead Creditors’ Committee counsel in the Primary Health Systems Inc. Chapter 11 case that involved a multihospital reorganization. He also served as Creditors’ Committee counsel in the Rax Restaurant Chapter 11 case.
Clifton R. Jessup Jr.
Partner
Patton Boggs
Dallas, TX
Contact: