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Steven H. Gerdes
Partner
Assistant
Marsha Cook713.223.2300 x3361
Steve focuses his practice on the tax aspects of state and local government obligations. During his career, he has covered the full range of tax-exempt obligations appearing in the marketplace, including governmental new money, commercial paper and working capital financings, and current and advance refundings. These transactions also include exempt facility bond financings such as seaport and airport financings, student loan financings, solid waste and sewage financings, single- and multi- family housing financings, as well as professional sports facility and development district financings.
His clients have include cities, counties, school districts, universities, and other types of political subdivisions within the State of Texas, investment banking firms active in Texas, and other law firms requiring the services of special tax counsel.
Representative Matters
Served as lead tax partner on new money and refunding bonds issued and mortgage-backed securities sales in the last five years by the Texas state housing agency, which provided over $1 billion dollars of financing for the agency's single-family mortgage loan program for first-time homebuyers.
Served as lead tax partner in connection with bonds issued during the most recent five years exceeding $1 billion dollars for a premier Texas public university and a premier Texas private university that included new money financings for a variety of improvements at a number of campuses and research centers, refinancings of commercial paper, advance refundings of prior debt, and qualified hedges.
Served as co-lead tax partner on $2 billion dollars of financings for a state-wide unemployment compensation program.
Served as lead tax partner on $500 million dollars of financings for a Texas regional mobility authority of toll road project and related infrastructure.
Served as lead tax partner in representing a municipality on its taxable and tax-exempt financings for a new professional football stadium.
Served as lead tax partner on numerous tax-exempt financings for a municipality's airport system including refinancings and airport expansions.
Served as lead tax partner for a large independent school district in issuing bonds which provided over $500 million of tax-exempt capital project financings.
Served as lead tax partner on the State of Texas Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes, Series 2008, which provided $6.4 billion of tax-exempt working capital financing.
Education
J.D., Harvard Law School, 1980
B.S., University of Illinois, 1977
Bar Admissions
Texas
Affiliations
Fellow, American College of Bond Counsel, 2008 - present
Panelist, Bond Attorneys' Workshop (1984-2004, 2007), Steering Committee (1997 - 1999)
Faculty, National Association of Bond Lawyers Arbitrage Seminar (1988-1994), Vice-Chair (1993), Chair (1994)
Tax-Exempt Finance Committee, Section of Taxation
American Bar Association
Member and Former Chair, Tax-Exempt Finance Committee, Section of Taxation, State Bar of Texas
Director, Vivian L. Smith Foundation for Neurologic Research
Noteworthy
Best Lawyers, "Lawyer of the Year" (public finance law - Houston), 2012
Best Lawyers, 2005 – 2012
