About Lewis Greenbaum

As bond and underwriter's counsel, Lewis Greenbaum advises state and local governments, nonprofits and public-private partnerships on a range of general obligation and revenue bond financings. With a public finance practice spanning more than 48 years, Lew has been involved in hundreds of high-profile public projects and public-private partnerships.

More than 48 years' experience in public finance law

Lew also advises on public finance legislation. He is the co-author of the Local Government Debt Reform Act and the Municipal Bond Reform Act, two important statutes designed to modernize the public finance law of Illinois. Lew drafted the legislation that authorized tax increment allocation financing for the District of Columbia.

Lew's clients include the City of Chicago, the Chicago Board of Education, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the University of Illinois, the State of Illinois, the Illinois Finance Authority and many Illinois municipalities.

Lew has counseled on public-private initiatives, including the Gallery Center in Washington, DC, projects for the cities of Chicago, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Allentown. He also helps on major airport and public utility projects, such as the Snettisham Hydroelectric project in Juneau, Alaska, the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project in Alaska, St. Louis Lambert Airport and Indianapolis Airport.

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Practice Focus

  • Public financing
  • Public-private partnerships
  • Airport and public utility projects
  • Public policy and legislation

News

Publications

Practices
Industries
Education
  • Georgetown University Law Center, JD
  • New York University, BA
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
  • New York
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Municipal Law, 2009–2025
  • Chambers USA
    Public Finance, 2023–2024
  • Leading Lawyers Network
    Top 10 Public Finance Lawyers, 2015
  • Super Lawyers
    Illinois, 2005, 2007, 2009–2024
Award Methodologies