Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP is pleased to announce that Rafael Perez, whose practice focuses on public finance for financial institutions, corporations and state agencies, has joined the firm as a partner in the Public Finance Department. Perez will reside in the firm’s growing office in Madison, New Jersey.
Perez has worked on a wide variety of public finance projects, acting as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, trustee’s counsel and borrower’s counsel. He represents investment banks, corporations organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, for-profit corporations, cities, townships, boroughs, states and their agencies and authorities. He has also represented corporations and financial institutions in transactional and general corporate matters in the United States, Mexico and South America.
Previously, Perez was a partner at Cozen O’Connor, where he was co-chair of the Public and Project Finance practice group and had served as chair of the Diversity Committee. Before joining Cozen, Perez was executive director of the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority, where he conducted financing and development of a variety of facilities for the state’s public and private universities and colleges. He currently serves as chairman of the board of trustees of New Jersey City University.
“Ray’s impressive experience in public finance will substantially enhance our presence in New Jersey and New York,” said Walter J. St. Onge, the head of Edwards Wildman’s Public Finance Department. “In addition, our clients will benefit from his background in state government and higher education. We are delighted that he has joined the firm.”
Perez earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York.
