Peter J. Whitmore

Member

Denver, Colorado

Phone: 303.299.8438

Fax: 303.298.0940

[email protected]

Areas Of Emphasis

Education

  • LL.M. in Taxation, University of Denver (1999)
  • J.D., University of Iowa College of Law (1990)
    • With Distinction
    • Editorial Board, Journal of Corporation Law
  • B.A., University of Iowa (1987)
    • With Honors

Peter Whitmore advises clients on governmental bonds of all types with a primary focus on state law and disclosure law issues pertaining to the issuance of tax-exempt debt by local governments.

Peter represents local governments, underwriters, banks, and other participants in public finance transactions, with particular emphasis on financings for special taxing districts, authorities, cities, and school districts. His experience includes general obligation bonds (limited tax and unlimited tax), water and wastewater revenue bonds, sales tax bonds, other special revenue bonds, tax increment bonds, and lease purchase transactions.

He has advised on a wide variety of public infrastructure projects, primarily focused in Colorado and Nevada, with additional experience in other states. These projects include streets, highways, water improvements, sanitary sewer improvements, and park and recreation improvements for commercial and residential developments. He also has experience with financings for other public projects such as detention facilities, town halls, fire stations, and education projects such as public schools and administration buildings, colleges, and universities.

Peter is an active member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers.

Experience

  • Represents banks in connection with loans to, and leases with, a variety of Colorado local governments and government entities, including cities, school districts, urban renewal authorities, and special taxing districts.
  • Serves as special disclosure counsel to Colorado and Nevada local governments, government authorities, water and sanitation districts, school districts, cities, counties, and special taxing districts in bond financings.
  • Represents bond underwriters and private placement agents in bond financings.

Publications & Presentations

PUBLICATIONS

 

PRESENTATIONS

  • “Tax Levying Authority and Practices” presentation to the Colorado Metropolitan District Homeowners’ Rights Task Force Established by House Bill 23-1105, February 5, 2024.
  • 2022 Piper Sandler & Co. Special District Conference(panelist)
    Denver, Colorado | May 5, 2022
  • Presenter of numerous Sherman & Howard client seminars on topics including bank loans to local governments, public finance disclosure developments and proposed ballot initiates.
  • Metro Housing Coalition’s 2016 Political Forum (panelist)
    Highlands Ranch, Colorado | September 28, 2016
  • New SEC Rules (panelist)
    Colorado Municipal League Annual Seminar on Municipal Law, Colorado Springs, Colorado | October 11, 2014
  • Current Trends in Special District Finance
    Special District Association Annual Conference, Keystone, Colorado | September 12, 2014
  • Debt Issuance 101
    Public Finance Options for Development and Redevelopment in Colorado: Continuing Legal Education Conference | October 2, 2012
  • How to Survive an Audit of Your Municipal Bonds by the IRS
    Special District Association Annual Conference, Keystone, Colorado | September 19, 2012
  • Proposed Constitutional Ballot Initiatives
    Special District Association Annual Conference, Keystone, Colorado | September 23, 2010
  • Statewide Ballot 2010: Municipal Finance Implications
    Colorado Municipal League Annual Conference, Breckenridge, Colorado | June 24, 2010
  • Selected Municipal Law Topics
    Colorado Bar Association, Real Estate Section Meeting | September 11, 2008

Professional Activities

  •  National Association of Bond Lawyers
    • Securities Law and Disclosure Committee
  • Federal Securities Laws of Municipal Bonds Deskbook, Seventh Edition, contributor (2017)
  • Sherman & Howard, Public Finance Practice Group Leader (2003 – 2011, 2020 – 2021)
  • Appointed by Governor John W. Hickenlooper to the Colorado Municipal Bond Supervision Advisory Board for a 4-year term (2017 – 2021)

 

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

  • Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, which provides foster care, refugee, asylee, immigration, adoption, disaster relief, elder care and other services in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Montana, board member
  • One Good Turn, former board member
  • Friends of the Haven, former board member

Highlights

  • Public Finance Law, Denver, Best Lawyers in America (2019 – 2024)
  • Justice Linda K. Neuman, Iowa Supreme Court, law clerk (1990 – 1991)
  • Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge John A. Jarvey, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, law clerk (1991 – 1992)