Ranked in 1 Practice Areas
1

Band 1

Public Finance

Michigan

1 Years Ranked

About

Provided by Kester K. So

USA

Practice Areas

A member of the Firm resident in the Lansing office, Kester So focuses his practice on public finance and utility law. Kester serves as bond counsel and underwriter’s counsel on a variety of bond issues involving State of Michigan level issuers, including State offices and university and community college facilities, city, county, village, and township financings, including local building authorities, general obligation, tax increment, and utility revenue bonds, as well as health care financings. He has been involved in state trunk line bonds, the renovation of the State Capitol, and the construction of Heritage Hall, county jails and justice centers, airports, new hospitals and medical centers, and power plants located throughout the State and in Ohio.

Professional Memberships

Elected to the Board of Directors of the American College of Bond Counsel; Chair of the Member Selection Committee, American College of Bond Counsel, July 2023; Fellow, American College of Bond Counsel; State Bar of Michigan, Member (Government Law, Real Property Law, and Health Care Law Sections; Former Chairperson (twice) of the Public Corporation Law Section Council, now known as Government Law Section); Ingham County Bar Association, Member; Member of the Hall of Justice Committee of the State Bar, by appointment of the State Bar President; National Association of Bond Lawyers, Member; Former editor and current contributor to Briefly; Case law summary contributor to Michigan Municipal League publication

Education

University of Michigan

A.B.

University of California College of Law, San Francisco

J.D.

Awards

Municipal, Public Finance, Energy and Utilities Law

Best Lawyers in America®, 2012-2024

"Lawyer of the Year," Utilities Law

Best Lawyers in America®

2021

"Lawyer of the Year," Public Finance Law

Best Lawyers in America®, 2015, 2020

"Lawyer of the Year," Municipal Law and Public Finance Law

Best Lawyers in America®, 2016, 2022

Government Finance Law

Michigan Super Lawyers®, 2014-2023

"Leader in the Law"

Michigan Lawyers Weekly

2013

Hall of Fame

Michigan Lawyers Weekly

2023

Elected to the Board of Directors

American College of Bond Counsel

Fellow

American College of Bond Counsel

Chair of Member Selection Committee

American College of Bond Counsel

2023

Served as bond counsel to the MFA for unemployment insurance bond issue, which was named National and Midwest Region Deal of the Year

The Bond Buyer

2012

Served as underwriter’s counsel for Detroit blight removal bonds, which was named Midwest Region Deal of the Year

The Bond Buyer

2021

Served as bond counsel to the MFA for Wayne County jail and justice center financing, which was named Midwest Region Deal of the Year

The Bond Buyer

2018

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

USA

Public Finance - Michigan
1
Band 1

Kester So has wide-ranging experience in the public finance space and is regularly engaged as by government entities and education institutions as bond counsel on municipal financings.

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