Public Finance Attorney Jonathan A. Ballan, who has provided counsel on some of New York’s most significant infrastructure and economic development projects of the past two decades, has joined Harris Beach PLLC as partner and head of a new Infrastructure and Public-Private Partnerships practice.

In his new role, Jon will lead attorneys in working with clients and deal teams on structuring complex strategies for financing and managing large-scale public and private projects to completion.

Jon comes to Harris Beach with deep experience in public finance that includes numerous major developments that are defining the landscape of New York City and New York State, such as:

• Renovation and privatization of 27 service areas on the New York State Thruway, named Bond Buyer’s Public-Private Partnership (P3) Financing Deal of the Year.

• The $4 billion reconstruction of LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B, one of the largest public-private partnerships in U.S. aviation history.

• A new stadium for the New York Yankees, which required changes in federal law to complete and was named a Bond Buyer Deal of the Year finalist.

• Construction financing for the Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn, home of the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association.

• A $2 billion headquarters for Goldman Sachs near Ground Zero.

• Creation of New York Liberty Development Corporation (NYLDC) to assist New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

“Jon has a 360-degree view of the challenges of financing and managing significant development projects. He has delivered for clients in various roles in transportation, infrastructure, education, sports, non-profits, government and industry,” said Christopher D. Jagel, Partner and Chief Executive Officer, Harris Beach PLLC. “His experience broadens the already-extensive capabilities of our team in supporting showcase projects statewide with unique solutions that keep our state moving forward.”

Jon focuses his practice on project finance, public authority finance, stadium finance, economic development, housing finance, project finance, government relations, and privatization and securitization of public assets. He has served as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, underwriter’s counsel, borrower’s counsel, developer’s counsel, and trustee counsel for tax-exempt and taxable transactions for projects spanning the economy.

In addition to his legal background, which includes 20 years as a partner in Big Law, Jon has high-level experience in public service for the state and city of New York. Through appointment of the Governor of New York and confirmation by the New York State Senate, Jon served as chairman of both the Municipal Assistance Corporation for the City of New York and the Chairman of the New York Public Asset Fund.

He also served five years on the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees public transit infrastructure in New York City and New Jersey, and on many other public boards addressing housing, health care and the environment.

Harris Beach Public Finance and Economic Development attorneys deliver creative and unique solutions to ensure the completion of major projects statewide. Our team represents over two dozen Industrial Development Agencies, 30 local development corporations and almost every major New York state agency. Attorneys in the group also represent more than 90 municipalities, school districts and special improvement districts and as well as leading underwriters as their counsel on major state and local bond transactions.

About Harris Beach
Founded in 1856, Harris Beach and its subsidiaries provide legal and professional services to clients across New York state, as well as nationally and internationally. Harris Beach is among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal and ranks as a BTI Elite law firm based on in-depth interviews of more than 600 corporate counsel at the world’s largest and most influential companies. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, not-for-profit organizations, and individuals. Principal industries Harris Beach represents include cannabis, education, energy, financial, food and beverage, health care, insurance, manufacturing, medical and life sciences, real estate developers, science and technology, veterinary medicine, and state and local governments and authorities. Our more than 210 lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Long Island, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, and White Plains, as well as from offices in Washington, D.C., New Haven, Connecticut and Newark, New Jersey. For more information, go to www.harrisbeach.com.