Public Finance Tax Associate

Miller Canfield; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Miller Canfield's Public Finance Group is seeking an associate attorney to join its nationally recognized team. You will work on sophisticated tax-exempt financing transactions and tax matters, advising state and local governments, schools, universities, hospitals, and underwriters.

We welcome candidates with up to 5 years of legal experience or recent graduates who have tax, finance, municipal law, or transactional interests.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Michigan bar admission or eligibility.
• Interest in tax law, public finance, municipal law, or related fields.
• Strong analytical, research, and writing skills.
• Ability to manage complex matters and work in a team.

Responsibilities

• Assist with tax analysis and opinions related to tax-exempt financings.
• Support transactions involving general obligation, revenue, and other bond financings.
• Participate as bond, tax, issuer, underwriter, and disclosure counsel.
• Conduct legal and tax research on municipal securities and tax rules.
• Assist with structuring, drafting, due diligence, and closings.
• Advise on post-issuance compliance, arbitrage, rebate, and IRS/SEC obligations.
• Work on infrastructure, economic development, healthcare, housing, and PPP projects.

Skills

0-5 years experience

Analytical skills

Research skills

Writing skills

Team collaboration

Tax/public finance interest

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Michigan bar admission or eligible

CPA credential

Tax LL.M.

Accounting background

Job description

Miller Canfield is seeking an associate attorney to join its nationally recognized Public Finance Group. This position offers a unique opportunity to work on sophisticated tax-exempt financing transactions and related tax matters. We are open to candidates with up to 5 years of legal experience as well as recent law school graduates who have a strong interest or experience in tax, finance, public finance, municipal law, or transactional practice. Prior public finance experience is not required. Candidates with a CPA credential, accounting background, Tax LL.M., finance experience, or coursework in taxation are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You'll Do

Work as part of a collaborative team advising state and local governments, schools, universities, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, underwriters, and other participants in the municipal finance market. Responsibilities may include:

• Assisting with tax analysis and opinions related to tax-exempt and other tax-advantaged bond financings.
• Supporting transactions involving general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, qualified 501(c)(3) financings, exempt facility bonds, pooled financing programs, multifamily housing financings, and other public finance transactions.
• Participating in a wide range of public finance roles, including bond counsel, tax counsel, issuer's counsel, underwriter's counsel, and disclosure counsel.
• Conducting legal and tax research involving federal tax rules applicable to municipal securities and tax-advantaged financings.
• Assisting with transaction structuring, document drafting, due diligence, and closings.
• Advising clients regarding post-issuance compliance, arbitrage and rebate requirements, ongoing IRS and SEC obligations, and other regulatory matters.
• Working on innovative infrastructure, economic development, healthcare, housing, and public-private partnership projects.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to practice or eligible for admission in Michigan
• 0-5 years of legal experience.
• Demonstrated interest in tax law, public finance, municipal law, finance, accounting, or related fields.
• Exceptional analytical, research, and writing skills.
• Ability to manage complex matters and work collaboratively in a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA or accounting background.
• Tax LL.M.
• Undergraduate, graduate, or professional experience in accounting, finance, economics, or a related field.
• Experience with tax, public finance, municipal securities, structured finance, or other transactional practices.

Why This Opportunity?

This role offers an exceptional opportunity to develop a highly specialized practice at the intersection of tax and finance. Associates work directly with experienced practitioners and clients on sophisticated transactions that help finance critical infrastructure, education, housing, and economic development initiatives. We take the work seriously and ourselves less so—we value good judgment, good humor, and a team that shows up for each other. This is a in‑person position in our Detroit office, joining a group that takes pride in doing excellent work in a respectful, down‑to‑earth environment.