So far this year, government bond issues in New Jersey have increased in number but decreased in value when compared with the first half of 2014. Bond counsel rankings, meanwhile, have experienced some shake-up.
According to data provided by Thomson Reuters, there were 180 bonds issued with a total value of $3.35 billion in the first half of this year, compared with 147 issues worth a combined $5.01 billion in the first half of last year.
Scott Kobler, a partner in the public finance practice group at McCarter & English in Newark, said, “I think the year has been extremely active.”
“The best thing for public finance is the combination of an improving economy and low interest rates,” Kobler added.
Kobler’s firm occupies the No. 2 spot on the bond counsel rankings for the first half of the year, in which a total of 19 firms are represented. Firms are ranked based on the total value of bond issues they advise.