Public-Private Partnerships
With the rise of privatization of infrastructure projects in the United States, numerous federal, state and local governments, as well as investors, lenders and private sector companies have looked to Holland & Knight lawyers and public policy advisors for legal counsel and governmental advocacy support for their varied interests.
The Latest Innovations in Structuring and Finance
Holland & Knight Public-Private Partnership lawyers have critical public procurement, public finance and project finance know-how and our experience encompasses the full range of public-private collaborations. Being a national law firm with a wide depth and breadth of experience and expertise, we can assist with all types of legal issues associated with a P3 project whether involving procurement laws, real estate, environmental regulation, or tax. We have the capability to represent either public or private parties in all types of infrastructure arrangements including: privatizations, public-private partnerships, concessions, leases and alternative public-private funding structures. We also have also experience with diverse P3 models ranging from the short term to longer-term arrangements.
Transactional Services Tailored for Each Step of Your P3 Project
Our guidance extends from early development and construction planning, through P3 finance, project negotiation, and building. Our lawyers have confronted the myriad issues impacting infrastructure development, including the practical, political and environmental challenges.
Florida Project Concentration
Holland & Knight originated in Florida, and while our firm has grown both nationally and internationally, we maintain strong ties to our regional roots. The Public-Private Partnership Team has taken the lead on numerous Florida P3 projects and our active involvement has included:
- drafting and successfully lobbying for state statutes that expend public-private funding
- participation in numerous legislative initiatives for bills involving health care, rail and stadium financing
- involvement with issuers throughout the state in matters impacting public-private funding
- being chosen by the State to act as special bond counsel for the first privatization of a Florida state prison
- serving as Florida counsel to a proposer team on a major roadway improvements projects by the Florida Department of Transporation
- serving as Florida counsel to a proposer team in connection with the proposed lease of an existing toll road by the Florida Department of Transportation
Diverse Initiatives and Multi-Sector Representation
The Public-Private Partnership Team has diverse experience that spans numerous project types and industry sectors. Following are some of the public-private partnership initiatives and transactions in which we have achieved successful outcomes for clients:
- international airport joint ventures – both formation and structuring of joint venture groups, and negotiation and preparation of agreements involving environmental laws, public-private funding, and payment mechanisms
- power facilities – specifically the acquisition of government-owned facilities by private utilities; notably, one utility's sale of its publicly owned power facility to a privately regulated power company
- leasing as a public-private funding technique – including the analysis of the state and tax law aspects of financing through lease, lease purchase, leveraged lease and related techniques
- toll roads and rail systems – that involved the analysis and planning for private toll and high-speed rail systems owned privately, but supported publicly
- hospital facilities – including a highly successful, complex privatized joint venture between a county hospital authority and a private non-profit organization
Other privatizations that round out our portfolio and showcase capabilities we can apply to your projects involve waste waste systems, parking facilities, sports stadiums, convention centers, and gateway and plaza facilities, among others.