The law firm of McGuireWoods continues to expand its footprint in the Southeast.
Isaac Yilma has joined the firm as a public finance partner in its Atlanta office. Yilma has more than 10 years of experience working on major financings for infrastructure, affordable housing and economic development projects. Previously, he was at Squire Patton Boggs.
Yilma has served as bond counsel, disclosure counsel and underwriters’ counsel in connection with publicly offered and privately placed tax-exempt and taxable financings for local governments, airports, water and sewer systems, special taxing districts, sports facilities, higher education institutions and affordable housing developments.
He has represented clients in connection with some of Georgia’s most notable governmental and economic development financings, the firm said.
“McGuireWoods is a national leader in developing sound, innovative financing strategies to help clients achieve their objectives,” Yilma said. “I am excited to join this talented team and I look forward to putting my experience to work for our clients.”
Yilma is the second to join the firm’s Atlanta office as a partner in 2022, following the arrival of Kristen McDermott Woodrum in its healthcare practice.
The Atlanta public finance team also includes partner Kenneth Neighbors.
“Isaac is a highly respected and sought-after bond counsel whose skill and insight enhance our public finance presence in the Southeast and nationally,” said Chris Greene, managing partner in the Atlanta office.
Kay McNab, chair of McGuireWoods public finance practice, told The Bond Buyer the firm was far from done in hiring attorneys in the region and around the country.
“We are very interested in adding dynamic and nimble practitioners to all of our offices,” she said. “As a firm we already have existing strong offices throughout the Southeast, the West, et cetera and those are already focusing on healthcare, energy, transportation, economic development. So adding strong public finance practitioners to those existing offices is definitely something that we want to do.”
The firm is looking for great lawyers who have connections in their communities as well as across sectors in the public finance industry, she said.
McNab said Yilma’s background meshed nicely with the firm’s focus on areas such as affordable housing, infrastructure and economic development.
“So, we’re excited to see the work that he brings into the firm, but also having him working with our other really highly skilled practitioners in these spaces,” she said.
McGuireWoods' public finance lawyers have extensive experience in using public-private partnerships, special revenue, tax and assessment pledges, lease financings and tax and revenue anticipation notes to achieve their clients' goals.
“We have a strong team currently in Atlanta led by our partner Ken Neighbors, whose practice is sophisticated — he does a significant amount of P3 work,” she said. “So we are very much looking forward to having Isaac added as part of that team. I think it’ll be really fascinating to see this dynamic young group in Atlanta and see where they take the practice.”
The firm has served as bond counsel to more than 250 counties, cities, towns, service authorities, sanitary districts and other issuing entities in the United States.
In 2021, the firm ranked fourth overall in the Southeast region, working on $3.13 billion of deals in 65 issues, a market share of 4.3%, according to data from Refinitiv.
