With decades of experience in public finance, tax and development incentives, Debbie Rush works with public entities, investment bankers, banks, and developers on public finance transactions of all types.
Focusing primarily on development incentives, Debbie represents both underwriters and developers in financing transactions, helping pull together public finance, private equity, capital stack, and other financings to complete multimillion-dollar projects. These representations have included serving as underwriter, bond, bank, and developer counsel on hundreds of tax-exempt and taxable financings of municipal, public-private, retail, and commercial projects, such as multi-family housing developments, single-family home communities, shopping centers, and many more.
Anticipating issues. Solving problems. Being responsive. Never missing a deadline. These are the baseline components of Debbie’s practice that have resulted in clients she has worked with for more than 25 years. Making transactions proceed smoothly means being nimble as circumstances change and recommending solutions to clients, not just offering options. Debbie is not only willing to get to the bottom of a transaction, it is what drives her every day. She takes great satisfaction in anticipating a need or issue and resolving it before it becomes a problem—even before her client is aware of it.
Professional
- American Bar Association
- Missouri Bar
- Illinois Bar Association
- Illinois Tax Increment Association
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
- Missouri Economic Development Financing Association
- National Association of Bond Lawyers
- Women in Public Finance
Community
- Downtown STL, Inc., Chair, 2017-2018; Vice Chair, 2016-2017; Board of Trustees, 2016-2018
- Downtown Community Improvement District Board, Chair – Finance Committee, 2012-2016; Board of Trustees, 2010-2016; Co-chair – Government Affairs Committee, 2011; Secretary, 2011
- Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School, Chair – Finance Committee, 2012-2017; Board of Trustees, 2011-2017
- FOCUS St. Louis, Board of Trustees, 2012-2016; Leadership St. Louis, 2003-2004
- Forsyth School, Chair – Finance Committee, 2004-2008; Board of Trustees, 2002-2008
- Listed in “The Best Lawyers in America”, 2012-2025 (by BL Rankings)
- Listed in Missouri & Kansas “Super Lawyers”, 2007-2014
I enjoy anything outdoors. In fact, I’m trying to visit as many national parks as I can, even in Europe. My desire is to never stop learning – it infuses my love of travel and reading, but also infuses my practice of law.