Raymond C. Fricke

Ray’s practice is dedicated to transactional law and specializes in municipal bond transactions. Since 1989, Ray has acted as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, issuer’s counsel, bank counsel, borrower’s counsel, trustee’s counsel, credit provider’s counsel and special swap counsel in connection with general obligation bonds, revenue bonds and double-barreled bonds. Transactions include bonds issued by municipalities, airport authorities, hospital districts, state agencies, school districts, park districts and other municipal entities for municipal improvements, water and sewer, housing, municipal deficit, electric utility, industrial development, solid waste disposal, airport, healthcare and higher education financings.

Ray has substantial experience with:

• Taxable and tax-exempt bond issues.
• New money and refunding offerings.
• Build America Bonds, Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds and Recovery Zone Facility Bonds.
• Public and private placements, continuing disclosure and blue-sky matters.
• Tender offers and financings utilizing products such as interest rate swaps, caps, forward purchase and escrow float agreements.
• Tax increment financings.
• Special service area financings.
• Special assessment and municipal lease (installment payment contracts and certificates of participation) financings.
• Revolving credit agreements, construction and term loans, standby bond purchase agreements, reimbursement agreements and letters of credit.

Previously, Ray was a partner at Katten Muchin & Zavis. Prior to entering the practice of law, Ray was an investment banker with a Chicago securities firm specializing in the issuance of municipal bonds.