The law firm of Leon | Alcala, PLLC is pleased to announce the addition of its newest partner, Ben Morse, to lead the firm’s public finance group. Morse was previously associated with the law firms of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in the firm’s Austin and Houston offices and Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP in its Houston office. Morse has represented public school districts, cities, special purpose districts, counties and other governmental entities in public finance transactions. His experience includes representing issuers, underwriters and developers in municipal bond and economic development transactions for a variety of governmental projects, including water, sewer and electric utilities, educational facilities, transportation projects and hotel/convention center facilities. “I am thrilled to join a law firm that focuses on public education,” said Morse, who brings a passion for public education to his municipal bond practice. “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to build upon the firm’s growing public finance practice and to offer my school district clients the firm’s extensive experience in all aspects of school law,” he added. Ben is particularly experienced in strategies related to the conduct of bond and other special and general elections. He has had a primary role in some of the largest bond elections in the State of Texas, including the $3.5 billion Houston METRO Bond Election held in November 2019, the $2.5 billion Harris County Flood Control District Bond Election held in August 2018 in response to Hurricane Harvey, and most recently, the $2.439 billion Austin ISD Bond Election held in November 2022. In addition to his public finance work, Ben has negotiated a variety of economic development agreements involving special districts, economic development corporations, cities and other governmental entities. He has negotiated a number of development reimbursement agreements involving municipal utility districts and other special districts, as well as similar agreements involving tax increment reinvestment zones (TIRZs). Ben has worked extensively on matters involving the Texas Economic Development Corporation Act and has been involved in the preparation and negotiation of a variety of performance agreements and other contracts involving Type A and Type B economic development corporations. Leon | Alcala partner, Sara Leon, noted that “Ben’s significant experience working in all aspects of municipal public finance will add depth and experience to the firm’s public finance practice. We have had the experience of working with Ben over the past several years on school district bond elections and transactions, and we are delighted to add his skills to our team.” Ben is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and the University of Texas at Austin. He will be joining the Austin office of the firm, but Ben will continue to represent clients in Houston and across the State.