Charles Anthony “Tony” Solimine has joined the public finance leadership of New Jersey law firm Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer.
Solimine began a new role this month as a shareholder with the firm’s public finance team in Woodbridge.
He represented hundreds of New Jersey school districts in bond deals, capital financings, lease transactions and energy improvement financings for 16 years at McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC starting in 2003.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for me to join a dynamic firm,” Solimine said. “Its central New Jersey geographic location allows me to service the wide client base I have throughout the state.”
While at McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, Solimine assisted school districts with energy improvement finance transactions, especially for solar and renewable projects. Lisa Gorab, assistant managing director and public finance practice leader, said Solimine will be a great asset as the firm focuses more heavily on executing energy efficiency infrastructure projects that yield long-term savings for school districts.
“We’re trying to be innovative,” Gorab said. “We want to be proactive.”
Wilentz captured a 21% share of the New Jersey bond market in the first half of the year through advising on 18 transactions and generating $765.6 million in aggregate gross proceeds, according to data from Refinitiv. The firm ranked second among bond counsel in New Jersey by deal count and third by value.
Solimine graduated from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark in 2003 and earned a master’s degree in education from Rutgers Graduate School of Education in 2000. He is on the executive committee of the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials and is organization’s immediate past president.
Solomine replaces the late Anthony Pannella Jr., who died last year after many years at the firm including service as its finance group chair. The firm has four public finance attorneys.
“We know he is going to be an integral part of our client-focused practice,” Gorab said. “We think it’s a great fit.”
