Bricker & Eckler LLP adds six Ohio public finance attorneys, plans for growth

Bricker & Eckler LLP welcomed six new public finance attorneys to the firm in 2022. Tyler Bridge, John Flis, Julia Konieczny and Adam Seeley joined as associates, while Mike Ringle and Max Ungerman joined as staff attorneys. All six hires are based out of the firm’s Columbus, Ohio office.

“We have been thrilled with our success at attracting Public Finance talent,” said Caleb Bell, Chair of the firm’s Public Finance Practice Group. “Our 2022 hires include a mix of former public officials, public sector lawyers, trained bond counsel, and bright attorneys fresh out of law school. Our expanded team helps Bricker provide an “all in” approach for communities that seek more than just bond counsel services, but also economic development advice and consulting services to support their needs.”

“The Bricker Public Finance team has been growing by leaps and bounds,” said Jim Flynn, Bricker’s Managing Partner. “Our firm’s 2023 expansion into the Cincinnati and Kentucky markets will bring added public finance and economic development depth to our clients and communities in those markets.”

Tyler Bridge works with Ohio public entities, including the state’s growing communities, to help them finance development projects and meet their economic goals. He has experience with several state and local economic development incentives, such as Community Reinvestment Area (CRA), Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and other development-focused programs. Prior to becoming an attorney, Bridge served as an economic development consultant, and was a state and local tax intern with several global accounting firms.

John Flis partners with public and private entities to accomplish their project finance goals as part of bond and economic development matters. He is familiar with each stage of funding for all types of projects including large, complex transactions. Flis has vast knowledge of public law, especially related to legal research, document management, administrative hearings and litigation. He is a former attorney with the Ohio Department of Taxation and has held legal positions within the State of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Julia Konieczny advises both public and private clients on their municipal finance transactions. She serves as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel and bank counsel on a variety of governmental and conduit municipal securities transactions, in addition to helping clients navigate their continuing disclosure compliance issues. Her clients frequently include governmental issuers, underwriters, banks, nonprofit borrowers and for-profit companies, as well as education and healthcare entities.

Adam Seeley’s practice focuses on economic development and local government counseling, as well as administrative, environmental and energy law. His experience covers TIF, CRA, enterprise zone administration, appraisal, real estate transactions, contract negotiation and drafting, civil litigation, and administrative compliance. Prior to joining Bricker, Seeley served as in-house staff counsel for the Franklin County Auditor’s Office, Real Estate Division.

Mike Ringle collaborates with public entities of all types and sizes to help them fund their capital projects. He is knowledgeable of both public law and innovative financing structures, guiding his clients throughout each phase of routine and complex transactions. As a certified public accountant (CPA), Ringle is qualified to offer counsel on state and local tax matters. Additionally, he has vast experience working within public offices, allowing him to understand his clients’ position in unique transactions, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and other real property tax exemptions.

Max Ungerman works with public sector entities to help them finance a variety of development projects. He is experienced in both tax increment financing (TIF) and property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, and has worked with the formation of joint economic development districts (JEDD). He drafts ordinances and resolutions on behalf of municipalities and works with municipal officials for document execution. Ungerman also creates client engagement letters, drafts inducement letters, and incorporates edits into township law books.

On January 19, 2023, Bricker and Cincinnati-based law firm Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP announced plans to merge effective April 3, 2023. Once merged, the firm will operate with over 200 attorneys under the name Bricker Graydon LLP, with offices in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Marietta, Barnesville, Lebanon and Liberty Township, Ohio, as well as Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky and Lawrenceburg, Indiana.