United States • Transport
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Rail and road: finance

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Mayer Brown

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Mayer Brown‘s transportation finance practice is praised by clients for its ’multidisciplinary approach, industry expertise, client-centric culture, and emphasis on diversity and inclusion’. The team’s fields experience in advising a broad spectrum of clients, including equity sponsors, lenders, and public entities and other parties in various transaction structures, including asset sales, Public-Private Partnerships and refinancing, among others. The team is retained by a significant portfolio of clients, including KPMG, Wells Fargo Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities, and other lenders in various rail project financing, such as Brightline West. Chicago-based Joseph Seliga is the department head, and advises clients in matters involving rail infrastructure, mass transit, and public-private partnership transactions for government entities, developers and lenders, among other clients. David Narefsky  is a key member of the team for government rail infrastructure transactions, including Brightline, public metros, and advising the California High-Speed Rail Authority on financing matters. Stephanie Wagner oversees transactions pertaining to rail concession and mass transit projects, and is noted as an ‘expert in her field and a strong advocate’. 
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Mayer Brown has exceptional professionals who are widely respected within their fields and known for their contributions to the firm and legal profession. The stand-out people I work with are Stephanie Wagner, Rachel Smith, and Gabriela Chavez-Barrientos.'

  • ‘Mayer Brown stands out for its multidisciplinary approach, industry expertise, client-centric culture, and emphasis on diversity and inclusion. These strengths, combined with the firm's delivery of exceptional legal services, make it an excellent choice for clients seeking strategic legal counsel on complex matters.’

  • ‘The firm has access to deep resources internally and externally so that it may provide services whenever needed and meet the client's needs and deadlines. The firm also stays within stated budgets, works efficiently and cares about achieving the client's goals.’

  • ‘Joe Seliga is a true partner with a client; his temperament provides a calming influence to stressful situations. I truly enjoy working with him. Stephanie Wagner is an expert in her field and a strong advocate; I feel protected by her as a client and have tremendous respect for her depth of knowledge. ’

Key clients

  • Gateway Development Commission (GDC)
  • KPMG/Michigan Department of Transportation
  • Morgan Stanley
  • ACS and Glydways
  • University of Michigan
  • Texas Department of Transportation (Grand Parkway Transportation Corporation)

Work highlights

Represented Morgan Stanley as lead underwriter on multiple tax-exempt financings, totalling approximately 1.65 billion to support the development of Brightline West, a privately developed passenger rail network connecting Las Vegas with Southern California
Represented Morgan Stanley as lead underwriter on multiple tax-exempt and taxable financings, totalling approximately $7.5 billion, to support the development of Brightline Florida, a privately developed passenger rail network.
Representing the Gateway Development Commission (“GDC”) on its multi-billion dollar program to construct and rehabilitate rail infrastructure assets along the Northeast Corridor, including advising on all aspects of the construction procurement and financing.

Practice head

Joseph Seliga

Other key lawyers

Stephanie Wagner; David Narefsky; Rachel Smith; Gabriela Chavez-Barrientos.

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