Of Counsel

Timothy J. Carson is of counsel on the Public Finance Team in the firm's Corporate & Securities Practice Group.  His practice has been concentrated in public sector law, especially public finance.  During his 35-year professional career he has represented more than 100 Pennsylvania local government units and state agencies as special counsel for public finance matters, as well as many financial institutions that provide funding to public entities for infrastructure projects.

Tim has experience as bond counsel, underwriters' counsel and special counsel in the financing of a wide variety of public projects, including schools, airports, water and sewer systems, highway and transit facilities, open space acquisition and preservation, health care institutions, commercial and industrial development, urban redevelopment, ports, housing, student loans and solid waste disposal/resource recovery facilities.

He has had unique experience in Pennsylvania transportation matters, both as a lawyer and as a public sector board member.  In many of these engagements he has played a leading role in formulating and advancing innovative funding strategies.

Public Policy/Governmental Relations.  Tim has had extensive interaction over 30 years with Pennsylvania state and federal elected officials through service in leadership capacities for various executive and legislative agencies, commissions and advisory committees, as well as professional and political organizations.

Transportation Policy/ Finance.  He pioneered work in use of innovative transportation financing structures and programs, often involving unique public-private and public-public partnerships. Tim has been involved in the creation of various transportation development and business improvement districts, tax increment and tax assessment financings for highway and bridge improvements, and design-build and more extensive P3 procurements and financings for highway/bridge projects, service plaza construction and public transit facilities.  He has played leadership roles in the drafting and formulation of major transportation funding and P3 enabling legislation in Pennsylvania. 

Presentations.  Tim is a frequent speaker and panelist at national seminars, conferences and symposia on the subjects of public finance and the development and regeneration of the nation's infrastructure.  He is a nationally and internationally recognized commentator on the use of public private and public public partnerships for public infrastructure financing, and was prominently featured in the May 7, 2007 Business Week cover story, “Roads to Riches,” in the October 29, 2007 Time article, “They Really Do Own the Road” and numerous other publications and radio/television programs.

More recent presentations at national transportation finance conferences: “Pennsylvania and the ‘Other’ P3: Public Public Partnerships,” The Bond Buyer, 9th Annual Transportation Finance/P3 Conference (11/18/08); “The Future of Transportation Funding in Pennsylvania Act 44,” American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE), 2008 National Conference (06/13/08); “The Emergence of Highly Leveraged Public Toll Facilities,” National Federation of Municipal Analysts, 2008 Advanced Seminar on Transportation Debt (01/17/08); “Pennsylvania and the Public Monetization Option,” International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, 2007 Transportation Finance Summit (12/04/07); and “High Leveraged Public Deals,” The Bond Buyer, 8th Annual Transportation Finance/P3 Conference (10/19/07).

Publications.  Villanova Law Review (Vol. 19, pgs. 533-547); St. John's Law Review (Vol. 47, pgs. 730 and 746); former author of the municipal finance column in the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Municipal Law Section Newsletter.  Editorial Board, The Pennsylvania Lawyer (1986-89).  “The Pennsylvania Turnpike: A Golden Goose in the Brave New P3 World” (March, 2007).

Statutory Drafting/Formulation. Co-draftsman, Pennsylvania Transportation Partnership Act (Act No. 47, signed into law by Governor Thornburgh on July 9, 1985).  Primary draftsman, Senate Bill 1158 (P3 enabling statute), unanimously passed by the Pennsylvania Senate on June 26, 2010.  Instrumental in formulation of Act 44 of 2007, signed into law by Governor Rendell on July 18, 2007.  Commentator, most recent proposed P3 enabling legislation for Pennsylvania (currently being worked on by Pennsylvania House and Senate Transportation Committees and Governor Rendell's office).