Partner

Christine M. Chale is a partner in the firm. She practices primarily in the areas of municipal and public authority finance, municipal and public authority law, and not-for-profit project development.

Ms. Chale acts as bond counsel for general obligation bonds issued under the New York State Local Finance Law, for water and sewer projects, industrial and commercial development revenue bonds, multifamily housing bonds, solid waste financings and 501(c)(3) project bonds. She acts as counsel to issuers, underwriters, borrowers, lenders and trustees in connection with public finance matters. Ms. Chale has extensive experience with a broad range of public financing structures including lease financings, PILOT agreements, and current and advance refundings. She assists local issuers with all aspects of bond financing, including planning, preparation of resolutions and other documentation for the issue, coordinating with registered financial advisors, bond insurers and underwriters, providing assistance with federal tax and securities matters, and rendering of bond counsel opinions.

Ms. Chale acts as counsel to municipalities, public authorities and not-for-profit corporations regarding real estate development, conservation easements and land preservation, procurement and contracting, economic development loans, grant agreements, local laws, special legislation, ethics, planning and zoning, and general governance matters. She acts as general and special counsel to public authorities. She provides assistance with special district proceedings, including water and sewer districts, transportation corporations, and fire districts.

Ms. Chale has represented not-for-profit corporations in connection with financing and development of a variety of projects, including day care centers, elderly and low income housing, and recreational facilities. Ms. Chale has acted as lender's or borrower's counsel in connection with multifamily housing developments involving low income housing tax credits, Section 8 assistance, and GNMA and FNMA programs.

Ms. Chale is a member of Red Hook Rotary Club and serves as the Chair of the Youth Exchange Program for District 7210 in the Hudson Valley area. She regularly provides pro bono services to Columbia County Habitat for Humanity in connection with their active home construction program, with 19 homes completed and closed since 1997. Ms. Chale has served on the Boards of Trustees of Poughkeepsie Day School, the Board of the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency and the Board of Friends of Clermont. Ms. Chale has been admitted to practice in New York since 1993. She previously practiced in Minnesota for ten years in the area of municipal finance.

BAR ADMISSIONS

New York, 1993; Minnesota, 1983 (non-practicing)

EDUCATION

University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
J.D. (Cum Laude) - 1983

University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota
B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) - 1980
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa