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Robert Dawson Joins Local Government Team
Published on: 1/30/2009
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA--Robert E. Dawson, former Petersburg City Attorney, has joined the Local Government practice group at the law firm of Sands Anderson Marks & Miller, firm President M. Pierce Rucker reported today.
"Robert has a impressive background in municipal finance as well as experience with the full range of legal issues faced by local government," Rucker commented. "We are pleased that he has chosen to join our firm and we're eager to make his expertise and knowledge available for our clients' benefit."
Dawson served for two years as the City of Petersburg's City Attorney after being appointed by the City Council to serve as chief legal advisor. In that role, he developed formal legal opinions, recommended appropriate legal changes in the City code, regulations and policies; handled municipal real estate matters, prosecuted and defended lawsuits on behalf of the City; and supervised and directed legal staff and outside legal counsel.
"Our clients will receive sound leadership and counsel working with Robert," said Daniel M. Siegel, chair of the local government practice group and head of the municipal bond team. "His rich experience in local government matters, as well as his creativity and skill in municipal bond representation will enable them to better navigate the tough legal and financial waters they find themselves in currently."
In his private practice before serving the city, Dawson served as bond counsel and as counsel to borrowers, issuers and underwriters on a variety of tax-exempt financings, including general obligation bonds, current and advanced refunding bonds, industrial revenue bonds and "subject to appropriation" financings for water and sewer and public school facilities. He also represented the interests of telecommunications providers before local governing bodies and drafted and negotiated cable television franchise agreements.
Siegel noted that the municipal bond team and the firm had assisted with a record number of bond closings during the year for clients in Virginia and North Carolina. Local governments all across the country are seeking new sources of funding for large scale projects due to the fall in real estate values and tax revenue.
Founded nearly 170 years ago, Sands Anderson has 70 lawyers practicing among its offices in Richmond, Christiansburg, Fredericksburg and McLean, Virginia, and Raleigh, North Carolina. In 2011, it was ranked 11th in the Virginia Lawyers Weekly annual listing of the state's largest law firms. Sands Anderson provides a full range of legal services to corporations and businesses, healthcare providers, financial institutions, state and local governments, the insurance industry and individuals.