Public Finance and Elections
Memberships
National Association of Bond Lawyers
Bond Buyer’s Municipal Marketplace (the “Red Book”)
Louisiana Police Jury Association
Louisiana Bankers Association Bank Counsel
Louisiana Municipal Association
National Association of Government Financial Officers
Recent and Ongoing Transactions
$20,000,000, Utility Revenue Bonds, City of Ville Platte, Series 2024, Bond Counsel
$100,000,000, Utility Revenue Bonds, City of Opelousas, Series 2024, Bond Counsel
$1,200,000, Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2024
$85,000,000, Public Improvement Sales Tax Refunding Bonds (Tender Purchase), Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District, Series 2023, Bond Counsel
$10,000,000, Revenue Bonds (ESSER Projects), St. Landry Parish School Board, Series 2023, Bond Counsel
$700,000, Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, Town of Duson, Series 2023, Bond Counsel
$12,000,000, Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority Revenue Bonds (City of Monroe), Placement Agent Counsel
$4,500,000, Limited Tax Bonds, Terrebonne Recreation District 2,3, Series 2023, Bond Counsel
$490,000,000, Insurance Guaranty Association, Special Assessment Revenue Bonds, Series 2022B, Bond Counsel
$142,000,000, Insurance Guaranty Association, Special Assessment Revenue Note, Series 2022, Bond Counsel
$50,000,000, Parish of Terrebonne, Taxable Hurricane Recovery Revenue Bonds, Series 2022, Bond Counsel
$12,000,000, South Lafourche Levee District, Hurricane Recovery Revenue Bonds, Series 2022, Bond Counsel
$25,000,000 Evangeline Parish Law Enforcement District, Revenue Bonds, Series 2022, Bond Counsel
$1,500,000, Consolidated Sewer District No. 1 of Pointe Coupée Parish, Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2022, Bond Counsel
$9,500,000, Lafayette Public Trust Finance Authority, Borrower's Counsel, Series 2022
$50,000,000, Opelousas School Improvement District No. 2, St. Landry Parish School Board, Series 2022, Special Counsel
Bond Attorney • Underwriter Counsel • Lender Counsel • Special Counsel
LaFleur & Laborde has represented the issuer, the lender, the underwriter, and virtually all of the parties in bond issuance, including new money, current and advanced refunding, modified Dutch auction refinancing, and both taxable and tax-exempt. The firm's public finance clients include state agencies and authorities, parishes, cities, towns, villages, school districts, and numerous special purpose districts. In addition to serving as bond counsel, Eric LaFleur regularly serves as counsel to national investment banking firms in the underwriting or placement of state and local government bonds. He takes the perplexing concepts and terminology used in public financial transactions by providing a straightforward and candid approach to developing plans for political entities to meet their financing objectives. LaFleur received national recognition for his work on reform and a complete rewrite of local public finance law and was twice featured on the cover of the nationally published The Bond Buyer.
With good reason, LaFleur coordinates the efforts of the Public Finance Group. LaFleur's unique experience sets him apart from legal professionals in public finance. During a 20-year term in the Louisiana Legislature, LaFleur served a record number (19 years) years on the budget and finance committees of the Louisiana Legislature, four (4) years as a member of the Louisiana State Bond Commission, and four (4) years as Chairman of the Louisiana Senate Finance Committee, the most influential legislative committee in financing state government. As a member of the Louisiana State Bond Commission, he reviewed and critiqued hundreds of bond issuance applications, and as Senate Finance Chairman, LaFleur coordinated and oversaw the passage of six (6) multi-billion dollar budgets. Stephanie Laborde, also a former Louisiana State Bond Commission member, served as a Louisiana governor's Commissioner of Administration. In that capacity, she was involved in decision-making at the highest state government level. With two former Louisiana State Bond Commission members and extensive experience in government finance, Eric LaFleur and Stephanie Laborde bring knowledge to the bond issuance process that sets the firm apart from all others.
With over 50 years of combined practice experience and over two billion dollars in closed transactions, the Public Finance Group at LaFleur & Laborde has earned a reputation as one of Louisiana's leading public finance law firms. The firm employs the most innovative communications, research, and data processing technologies to prevent unnecessary delays to successful financing. In a timely and professional manner, the LaFleur & Laborde Public Finance Group works diligently to ensure that the most cost-effective means of financing is achieved. A hallmark of LaFleur's success is experience, knowledge, and a transparent, candid, and hands-on approach.
Reform:
Disclosure Obligations
In 2014, Senator Eric LaFleur receives national recognition for the reform measures proposed by his bill, SB 384. With the successful passage of that bill, Louisiana became the first and only state to include a review of compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission's Rule 15c2-12 during an issuer's annual state required audit. Citation to the provisions of that law are regularly seen in official statements of issuers.
LaFleur received national recognition for his efforts with front page coverage on The Bond Buyer.
Rewrite of Louisiana Public Finance Law
In 2018, Senator Eric LaFleur receives national recognition for a lengthy legislative review and rewrite Louisiana bond laws. LaFleur engaged with public finance attorneys throughout the state to provide clarity and reform to public finance laws that had not been reviewed or updated since the 1950s.
LaFleur received national recognition for his efforts in The Bond Buyer.