Laura Bassett serves as bond counsel in numerous revenue bond transactions for water and sewer infrastructure improvements as well as airport financings. She also advises numerous Michigan county drain commissioners and other issuers of bonds to finance drainage systems and water and sewer system improvements through the issuance of drain notes and bonds and capital improvement bonds, and counsels other Michigan local governments and school districts on tax-exempt and taxable financings, including debt issued in connection with capital project financing, special assessment projects and borrowings, refinancings, cash flow borrowings, pooled financings and intergovernmental and public-private collaborations. Her public law experience also includes advising clients on election and campaign finance laws and open meeting and procedural matters.
Education & Credentials
Education
Wayne State University Law School
J.D., 2008University of Michigan
Ph.D., History of Art, 2003- Fulbright Scholar to the Netherlands for doctoral research, 1999-2000
Kalamazoo College
B.A., Art History, 1992- magna cum laude, with honors; Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admission
Acknowledgements
- DBusiness Magazine
- "Top Lawyers," Public Finance Law, 2021-2023
- Michigan Super Lawyers®
- "Rising Star," Bonds/Government Finance, 2013-2015
Prominent Assignments
- Represented a large regional water and sewer service provider as bond counsel on a revenue bond transaction for that combined the issuance of tax-exempt bonds to refund taxable bonds and effectuate a tender transaction along with new money bonds for capital projects. The transaction included a complex pricing process with the simultaneous sale of two separate credits (water and sewer) on multiple liens and with overlapping maturities to achieve savings.
- Represented a county water resources commissioner regarding the development of a unique regional collaboration aimed at improving water quality by removing wet weather discharges into local waterways.
Professional Involvement
- State Bar of Michigan, Government Law Section, Member
- Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners, Education Committee, 2024-present
- Michigan Women in Finance, Board of Directors 2012-2017, Executive Committee 2014-2017
Community Involvement
- Citizens Research Council of Michigan, Board of Directors, 2019-present
- BRAVO: Friends of Cranbrook Schools’ Performing Arts Board of Directors and Executive Committee, 2022-present
- The Heidelberg Project, Detroit, Honorary Advisory Board Member, 2017-present
- The Heidelberg Project, Detroit, Board of Directors 2007-2015, Board President, 2013-2015
- Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan and Michigan Nonprofit Association, Strategic Alliance, Advisory Board, 2010
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Publications/Presentations
- Bond and Note Financing Under the Drain Code, Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners Conference, February 13, 2020
- Legal, Financial and Construction Aspects of Financing Public School Improvements, The Metro Bureau Virtual Conference, November 17, 2020
- School Legal Update, Start&Spaces Leadership Services, Inc. & Michigan Association of School Administrators Success Start Kick-Off, Lansing, Michigan, 2015 and 2016
- Regional Collaboration, Michigan Municipal League Elected Officials Academy Core Weekender, Frankenmuth, Michigan, 2014
- The Latest in School Reform, Michigan School Business Officials Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2013
- Tax Increment Financing as a Tool for Redevelopment: Attracting Private Investment to Serve a Public Purpose—The Example of Michigan”, The Urban Lawyer, Vol. 41, No. 34, Fall 2009
- Takings in the Big Picture: The Impact of Prop. 4’s Eminent Domain Restrictions on Urban Redevelopment in Michigan”, 53 Wayne L. Rev. 899 (2007)