Rhonda Thomas is a public finance attorney who leads complex, large-scale projects for public- and private-sector clients across the country. Frequently these projects include innovative, first-of-its-kind financing elements that contribute significantly to project funding.
With an eye for discovering non-traditional structures and funding sources, Rhonda has been at the forefront of major deals across the country. Her experience includes work on multi-million and billion-dollar projects for transportation, education, public safety, convention centers and sports stadiums. Her experience representing both public and private entities provides her with insights on the range of issues and business considerations at play in structuring transactions. Rhonda’s transactional experience includes a wide-range of structures, including public procurements, response to RFPs, P-3s, sale / lease-leaseback transactions, outsourcing contracts, and design-build.
Rhonda’s experience includes representation of the City of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Transit Authority over 12 years in connection with its procurement and ongoing implementation and upgrade of its open standards fare collection system, service as outside general counsel to the St. Louis Metro System handling all of its legal matters including construction and implementation of its light rail system, and representation of the University of Missouri in connection with a wide-range of transactions including development of Missouri Research Park. For entities embarking on major multi-year system updates and improvements, Rhonda acts as a key project manager who oversees procurements of public contracts in excess of $20 million for construction and development, complex software systems, customer service, and electronic payment applications.
Rhonda has a strong commitment to the client’s ultimate project goals. She applies creative, outside-the-box thinking to solve problems and discover non-traditional funding sources. She further supports her clients by identifying addresses legal and practical hurdles before they arise while providing strategic counsel on matters related to litigation or bid protest.
- Crain’s Chicago Business “Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago”
- Recognized as a Corporate Woman of Achievement by the National Association of Women Business Owners
- Citation of Merit Award from the University of Missouri School of Law, the highest award the law school bestows on its graduates