Denise is a public finance attorney with more than 22 years of experience serving as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, trustee counsel, disclosure counsel and bank or purchaser’s counsel in municipal finance transactions. She is experienced with transactions involving large public and private issuers and the issuance of private activity bonds, as well as governmental bonds that are payable from taxes and other public funds. Denise has experience with financings for airports, transportation, logistics, solid waste, single and multi-family housing, 501c-3 financings, gas and electric utilities, economic development, manufacturing, general obligation, sewer and water, and tax increment financing. She is also experienced with derivatives, privatization and public-private partnership (P3) transactions. Denise has extensive experience with airport and logistics, including financing and leasing and is familiar with FAA airport rules and regulations. Denise has also worked on general, non-finance local government issues, including economic development, tax abatement, annexation, open door and public records issues.
Denise is the head of the public finance team at Frost Brown Todd, as well as the head of the Aviation and Aerospace Industry team. Denise utilizes her aviation, P3 and economic development experience in both roles, assembling the correct mix of people and skills to best match the client’s needs.
Lawyers have a reputation for being risk-averse and advising clients not to do something, often because the idea is novel. Clients will attest that Denise does everything she can to avoid this. In her experience, if she can get to the reason why the client wants to pursue a particular course of action, there is likely a way to achieve the desired results while working within the legal rules.
Represented an airport in a bond transaction that involved the creation and implementation of an entirely new and modernized Bond Ordinance governing their operations and future debt.
Represented an underwriter on a large state highway financing involving the State’s takeover of a failed P3 transaction.
Represented an airport in a series of financings over eight years for construction of a new terminal.
Represented an airport in the takeover and reuse of a facility on the airport upon the tenant’s bankruptcy and has worked with the airport for 20 years to manage, lease, and reuse the facility.
Indiana University Maurer School of Law, J.D., 1997
Indiana University, Bloomington, Kelley School of Business, M.B.A., 1997
Boise State University, B.B.A., 1994
Rising Star Award, Women in Public Finance, 2009
Graduate, Indianapolis Bar Association, Bar Leader Series
National Association of Bond Lawyers
Indiana Association of Cities and Towns
Central Indiana Women’s Business Council, past Board Member
Women in Public Finance, past National Board Member
Indianapolis Bar Association
Indiana Bar Association
Member Personnel Committee, Member
Public & Private Finance Team, Leader
Financial Services Steering Committee, Member
Mobility & Transportation Steering Committee, Member
Aviation & Aerospace Subteam, Chair
June 3, 2021
July 16, 2020
April 30, 2020
April 29, 2020
April 21, 2020
February 13, 2020
November 13, 2017
March 27, 2017
June 23, 2015
January 6, 2015